The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend that babies exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life. Breastfeeding is beneficial for you and your baby, but it can also be emotional, exhausting and draining, even when things are going right. The decision to breastfeed or not is a very personal decision which can only be made by you.  If you plan on breastfeeding or have questions about breastfeeding, we are here to help. 

• breastmilk has the right amount of fat, protein, sugars, water, minerals needed for a baby’s growth and development
• as your baby grows, your breastmilk adapts to the changing needs of your baby
• breastmilk is easier to digest than formula
• breastmilk contains antibodies which protects babies from various illnesses and infections including earaches, diarrhea, allergies, & asthma
• breastfed infants have a lower risk of SIDS

• breastfeeding releases oxytocin, a hormone what causes the uterus to contract which helps it return to its normal size more quickly decrease the amount of bleeding you have after giving birth
• breastfeeding promotes bonding with your baby
• breastfeeding burns as many as 500 additional calories each day, which helps lose baby fat gained during pregnancy
• women who breastfeed have lower rates of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer

Women who encounter breastfeeding problems early on are less likely to continue to breastfeed unless they get professional assistance.  Most problems, if identified and treated early, will facilitate continuation of successful breastfeeding. The most common breastfeeding problems include:

• sore  nipples:  The most common cause of sore nipple is a baby not latching well.  An adjustment to the latch or positioning can help you and your baby to be more comfortable. With proper positioning and latch-on techniques, you can expect little or no nipple soreness.  Lanolin ointment or a small amount of breastmilk can be placed on the nipple to soothe and heal dry, cracked, or sore nipples.  
• engorgement:  This happens  when the breasts get too full of milk. This occurs if you go too long between feeding/pumping, or if you are still in the early stages and your supply is adjusting to your baby’s needs.  Engorged breasts are painful and make it more difficult for to latch baby onto the breast.  You may need to release a little bit of milk before nursing if this happens. 
• mastitis:  Mastitis is an infection in the breast. It is usually caused by milk which becomes “backed up” in the breast. Areas of the breast that remain undrained or experience blocked ducts are focal points for bacterial growth. The bacteria causes inflammation which results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and sometimes fever.  If you hav any of these symptoms, you will need to call the office for an appointment. Antibiotics are needed to treat mastitis.  These antibiotics are safe to take while breastfeeding. It is important for your baby to continue breastfeeding from the affected to help prevent the infection from turning into an abscess. Milk from the affected breast will not harm your baby. 
• low milk supply:  While breastfeeding frequently signals your breasts to procedure more milk for your baby, not all women are able to make enough milk for their bab(ies) to eat. This is especially true in the case of twins or multiples. If  you are having concerns about your milk supply, our providers can help!
• difficulty latching:  Certain conditions such as inverted nipples, a tongue-tied baby, cleft lip/palate, Downs syndrome, and prematurity can cause an improper latch. Our providers can help facilitate a proper latch with you and your baby, or assist you with pumping breastmilk and feeding it to your baby through a bottle.  

The goal is to have your baby’s lip around most or all of your areola when nursing, like fish lips.  To achieve this, position yourself comfortably with back support and the baby close to you. Their mouth and nose should be facing your nipple. You should support your breast so it is not pressing on your baby’s chin.  Encourage your baby to open their mouth wide and pull them close by supporting their back.  If you are feeling pain, detach baby gently and try again.

It is quite common to wonder if your baby is drinking enough breast milk. After your baby is born, your breasts will begin making colostrum.  Colostrum is a thick, sticky, nutritious yellow fluid that is important for baby’s immune system.  After a few days, your breasts will transition from the super-rich colostrum to mature milk to match your baby’s changing needs. Your baby will feed every 2-3 hours. This frequent nursing signals your breasts to produce milk for your baby.  

Knowing your baby’s feeding cues will help to guide you in when it is time to feed them. During the first 8 weeks of life, if it has been more than 3 hours since the last feeding, you may need to wake up your baby to eat. Each nursing session lasts about 15-45 minutes. 

Signs that your baby is not receiving adequate breast milk while nursing may include insufficient wet/dirty diapers, inadequate weight gain, and dehydration. Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers per day and at least 3 stools per day. After 10 days, your baby should be back up to birth weight. 

A breast pump can be a very useful tool to provide your baby with breastmilk. You can use it to collect and store milk when separated from your baby (such as when at work or traveling), to maintain your milk supply once your baby is sleeping through the night, or if you decide to exclusively pump and feed your baby breastmilk through a bottle.  Many insurance companies will provide a breast pump to you at no cost. If you plan on breastfeeding, call your insurance company and see what rules exists and if any forms or prescriptions are needed.

Breastmilk storage guidelines are important to ensure that your milk remains safe for your baby. In general, the following are recommended standards when storing breastmilk: 

• room temperature (60 to 80° F) – 4 to 8 hours
• insulated cooler bag (5 to 39° F) – 24 hours
• refrigerator (39° F) – 4 to 5 days
• freezer (0° F) – 3 to 6 months
• deep freezer (-4° F) – 6 to 12 months