Lamaze Magazine 2009

Elation Parenting or falling asleep; he may not want to nurse on the other breast. If he doesn’t, it will feel full when he is ready to nurse again, so start with that side. If you pay attention to your baby’s feeding cues, nurse him often and allow him to nurse until he is finished, you can be sure he is getting enough milk. look for these signs: | You will notice the change in his sucking: bursts of sucking will be followed by a pause as he swallows. You can also see the neck muscles move as he swallows milk. | The color of his stool will change from the dark meconium to mustard yellow by day four if he’s getting enough milk. By day six, your baby should have at least six wet diapers and three or more bowel movements in a 24-hour period. | Your baby should be gaining weight, although it may take 2 to 3 weeks for him to regain his birth weight. Some babies take a few days or even weeks to breastfeed effortlessly. If yours is not nursing frequently, you are unable to identify swallowing or he is not producing enough wet diapers and bowel movements, contact your health-care provider or lactation consultant immediately. also, keep in mind that it’s common to experience some discomfort during the first few minutes of breastfeeding. However, your nipples shouldn’t hurt throughout the entire feeding. If they do, it’s likely that your baby isn’t latching on properly (see box at right). If your baby is latched correctly and you’re still experiencing pain after a few minutes, you should seek help. most breastfeeding problems have simple solutions, but it’s important to get help sooner rather than later. many pediatricians and hospitals have lactation consultants on staff – and may conduct regular breastfeeding classes. Your local department of health may also have a referral service. See “Helpful resources,” page 25, for more. You and your baby were made to breastfeed. Have confidence in yourself and your baby’s ability, and treasure this natural bonding time. | Online: Read more at lamaze.org/magazine. You and your baby were breastfeed. have confidence in yourself and your baby’s ability. Photos (From toP): stewart Cohen/ageFotostoCk; James roderiCk (3) made to Breastfeeding Basics How exactly do you get started? First, remember to relax. Then follow these steps to help your baby latch on. The key to successful breastfeeding is getting the baby to latch on well. If your baby has a good latch, you’ll feel comfortable and she’ll feel satisfied. Start by positioning yourself well: Sit up in bed or on a chair and use a bed pillow or nursing pillow to support your arm as you feed your baby. Then choose a comfortable position for both of you and follow these steps. ■ To begin, place your nipple near your baby’s nose and wait for her to open her mouth very wide (as if she’s yawning). ■ When her mouth is open, quickly hug her to your breast, aiming your nipple toward the roof of her mouth. This helps achieve a deeper latch. ■ Your baby’s mouth should cover your nipple and much of the areola, and her lips should flare out. Don’t worry if you don’t succeed right away. Keep trying. lamaze maGazINe 2009 26 lamaze.orG http://www.lamaze.org/magazine http://www.lamaze.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Lamaze Magazine 2009

Lamaze Magazine 2009 Contents Essential Lamaze for Pregnancy Making Connections Body Beautiful Birth Day, Your Way Mother Knows Best Essential Lamaze for Birth Supporting Cast Labor Day Position Statement Comfort Zone Intervention Intelligence The Waiting Game Essential Lamaze for Parenting Nursing School Reality Check Sleep Tight Unforgettable

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.