You might be preparing yourself for the probability of your baby being born prematurely, but did you know what you can breastfeed your premature baby?
Most pregnancies last 40 weeks. A premature or pre-term baby is a baby born before the 37th week. Fortunately, thanks to modern medicine, 90% of premature babies survive and go on to live normal lives. Very premature babies are at a higher risk of developmental problems, being born at 23 to 24 weeks. Babies born before 32 weeks may need to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until they have developed enough to survive on their own.
Importance of breastmilk for premature babies
Breastmilk is extremely beneficial for newborns. DHA (a fatty acid vital for healthy brain and eye development) and immunoglobulin G (an antibody) are transported from mummy to foetus via the placenta throughout pregnancy. But since premature babies arrive early, they may not have received these important factors. However, the milk from the mums of premature babies contains more fats and immunoglobulin than milk from full-term babies.
Premature babies also have immature gastrointestinal tracts, so they need foods that are easy for them to digest. Breastmilk contains enzymes that help your baby with digestion and helps their intestines mature.
Breastmilk is extremely important for premature babies. You might want to consider donor milk from the milk bank if it is available to you to help to bridge the gap, rather than using formula.
Will I have milk
After the placenta is delivered after the baby is born, your pregnancy hormones drop, triggering colostrum production. Usually, a mum’s milk supply will be triggered by her newborn baby latching onto her breast and sucking, but if your baby comes early, he might not be able to feed at first.
You can reproduce the sensations by stimulating your breast and nipples with your hands or by using a pump, to collect colostrum to give your baby.
What if my preemie can’t feed from the breast?
Many babies born before 34 weeks struggle to coordinate their sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Until they have developed enough to do this, nurses will place a tube into their tummy to feed them. In this case, continue to pump and express milk until you can feed them. Talk to your healthcare professionals to find out how you can give your child breastmilk.
Hospital policy on breastfeeding preemies
Breastmilk is important for the best growth and development for your newborn, and especially so for premature babies. However, there are a few reasons why hospitals don’t encourage it.
Breastfeeding may not be a priority for hospital staff who are focused on other aspects of care; premature babies often have significant medical problems and needs.
Hospital routines also make it difficult for mothers to establish milk production and get the baby latching well. It’s also a difficult time for mothers, who will be worrying about the baby. Hence, they might not be able to build a good milk supply.
Kangaroo care
Kangaroo care is when parents keep their newborn skin-to-skin against their bare chests for extended periods, as it helps to calm and regulate the baby’s breathing and heartbeat. Preemies with kangaroo care often have better health. If possible, you can even breastfeed your premature baby during kangaroo care.
Looking after yourself
Recovery from pregnancy and birth is not easy, but the added stress from your baby being in the NICU can really make it difficult. It’s important to remember to look after yourself. The more smoothly you recover, the more strength and energy you must be involved in your baby’s care. This is the best time to say yes to as many offers of help as you can. It’ll make things easier for you and keep you going at a difficult time.
Here are the 8 most common questions for new mothers we get — these are some of the answers from our in-house lactation consultant, Joanna
If you’re a new mummy, this won’t be a comprehensive guide, but will hopefully give you some guidance into this brand-new world! And of course, if you have any other questions, feel free to contact your healthcare provider!
Is it normal to only have a small amount of colostrum, the first milk that comes out of the breast?
Yes! Most mums start with just a few drops of colostrum that helps fight infection, which is very important for newborns. This milk can be bright yellow, as it is rich in beta carotene. Mums will produce a few drops of this, to a few teaspoons in the first few days. Over the next few days, as breastfeeding and pumping increase, this milk will turn into transitional milk and change colour.
By week 2, the milk will turn cloudy white as the body introduces water. Breastmilk is 87% water, so your baby gets enough water to stay hydrated.
You may continue seeing elements of colostrum for the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding, but this will go away as the breast milk evolves to produce the carbohydrates and other nutrients the baby needs.
Will I have enough milk for my baby?
A common worry for mothers, and a justified one. Most mothers do have enough milk to exclusively breastfeed their baby for however long they wish. In Singapore, mothers are recommended to breastfeed for at least six months if you are able to. However, in many parts of the world, mothers may breastfeed for as long as 3-5 years.
Starting breastfeeding immediately after delivery leads to success and the increased production of breast milk. In the first week, the volume of breast milk will increase to satisfy the baby’s hunger.
However, if you are concerned about your supply there are many other methods you can try to increase your milk supply.
Is breastfeeding painful?
Breastfeeding should not be painful, but there might be some discomfort while both you and your infant are getting used to it. When there is a proper latch, the baby’s tongue and gums will massage the milk ducts on the areola which will lead to proper breastfeeding and milk production. On the other hand, if your baby has an improper latch, on the nipple, for example, it will cause low milk production and pain.
If breastfeeding is painful for you, be sure to check with a lactation consultant or your doctor.
If I use a breast pump, how long can I store my breast milk?
Generally:
fridge: 5 days
standard freezer: 3-6 months
deep freezer: 6-12 months
When thawed, it is good for 24 hours. Most mums store the breast milk in storage bags, which are typically provided with the breast pump and have a place to write the time and date you pumped it.
How long should I breastfeed?
You should breastfeed as long as they feel comfortable with it. The recommendation is to breastfeed for at least 6 months, and if possible to continue until the baby is 2 years old.
You can introduce appropriate forms of solids to infants any time after 4 completed months, and before 6 months. This helps to introduce infants to new tastes, textures and the development of feeding skills. Milk should be the main source of nutrition for infants in the first year of life.
By 1 to 2 years of age, toddlers should be getting more and more of their calories from food rather than milk.
What do I need for breastfeeding?
You may wish to get some of the following items:
Nursing bra: the cups come with clips so you can breastfeed your baby without having to remove your bra. For a better fit, get the bra in your last trimester.
Breast pads: these are placed inside your bra to absorb leakage from your breasts, especially when they are full, or if you are expressing only from one side.
Nursing wear: these are designed with cleverly hidden openings to make it easier for you to breastfeed in public
Breast pump: they are available in single and double pumps which can be either hand-operated or electric. This is a good investment as you can express and freeze your excess milk and reheat it later. This is a necessity for mums returning to work.
Breast milk containers or bags: lets you store and freeze your milk
How does breastfeeding work while I’m at work?
You don’t have to stop breastfeeding just because you are returning to work! Your baby can be fully breastfed even while you’re at the office.
Two weeks before your maternity leave ends, start expressing and storing your milk
Feed your baby just before you go to work, and as soon as you return home.
While at work, express and store your breast milk in the fridge (usually at lunch break and just before leaving)
Is it normal to not get my period while breastfeeding?
Having a baby causes many hormonal changes in your body, so it’s common to not have a menstrual cycle while breastfeeding. Over time, your body will return to a normal cycle. Everyone’s body is different, so there’s no set period of time which you’ll get your period again. However, a lot of mums get their period again around the same time they start introducing solids to their babies and sleeping more.
Why is my baby not gaining weight? And should I be worried?
If you exclusively breastfeed your baby, usually your baby will gain weight consistently if they latch well and feed often. However, if you’re breastfeeding and your baby is not gaining weight or is gaining weight slowly, they might not be getting enough milk.
Newborn babies should take in about 44-60ml of breast milk every 3 hours. Premature babies need more milk than term babies. Generally, your newborn can lose up to 10% of their body weight during the first 5 days of life. By the time they are 10 days to 2 weeks old, they should regain the weight they lost. After that, they should be gaining about 30g per day.
It is important to understand that every baby is different, and some babies just grow more slowly than others. If you are bringing your baby for regular checkups to the pediatrician and they don’t see an issue, then your baby’s weight is likely not a cause of concern. However, if this is a concern for you, always make sure to check with your pediatrician so they can advise your or provide you with ease of mind.
There are some reasons for a slow weight gain. If your baby is not getting enough milk to gain weight consistently, your pediatrician or a certified lactation consultant can help you find the problem and fix it.
Reasons for poor weight gain
Generally, there are 3 reasons as to why your baby is not gaining weight: not taking in enough calories, not absorbing calories or burning too many calories. This could be a result of intestinal issues, which means that they are unable to absorb calories well. Some kids also use a lot of calories due to certain health issues or being born prematurely.
Poor latch
A good latch allows your child to take in breast milk from your breast without getting tired or frustrated. If there is poor latch, or latching on to just your nipple, they won’t be feed very well or easily.
Infrequent breastfeeding
Breastfeed your newborn at least every 2-4 hours throughout the day and night for the first six to eight weeks. If they want to breastfeed more often, put them back to the breast.
Short nursing sessions
Newborns should breastfeed about 8-10 minutes on each side. As they grow older, they won’t need to breastfeed as long to get the breast milk out. However, during the first few weeks, try to keep your baby awake and actively sucking for as long as you can.
Pain or discomfort
If your baby is not comfortable because of a birth injury or an infection in their mouth, they may not breastfeed well, which causes poor weight gain.
Low or delayed milk supply
Some mothers have their milk come in quite late. Other mothers may experience low milk supply, which causes the child to have less milk when they breastfeed.
Learning curve
Some babies take a little longer than others to learn how to coordinate sucking, breathing and swallowing.
Sleepy baby
Newborns can be sleepy and not want to finish the whole nursing session, meaning that they don’t take in enough calories.
Risk factors
Some babies are more likely to face difficulties while breastfeeding. When a child is at risk for breastfeeding difficulties, the chances of growing and gaining weight at a slower pace are higher. Here are some of the risk factors that may affect your baby’s weight gain.
Being born premature or near term
Babies that are born before 37 weeks may not have the strength or energy to breastfeed for a long enough time to get all the breastmilk they need. They are also more likely to be sleepy and experience medical issues.
Oral challenges
It may be difficult for babies to latch on if their mother has hard, engorged breasts/ large nipples. However, infants with small mouths or physical issues like a tongue-tie or a cleft lip can have latching troubles regardless.
Jaundice
Babies with this medical condition makes them very sleepy and not interested in breastfeeding.
Reflux
Infants with reflux spit up or vomit after feedings. This causes them to lose milk from feeding and the acid from the reflux can irritate their throat and esophagus, which makes it painful to breastfeed.
Illness
Infants with an illness or an infection may not breastfeed well. They may not gain weight, or they might even lose weight.
Neurological issues
Neurological issues can impede their ability to latch and nurse properly.
Failure to thrive
Sometimes, if a child shows continued growth deficiency, they may become undernourished, which may be then diagnosed as failure to thrive. This could lead to developmental issues if left untreated. Children with this medical issue need continued medical supervision to address it. If you think your child may have this issue, do seek medical attention asap.
What to do
If you are concerned about your baby’s poor weight gain, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. Your pediatrician might suggest:
Checking your baby’s latch: make sure that your baby is latching on correctly. You can try asking your doctor, a lactation consultant, or a local breastfeeding group for help.
Breastfeeding often: Breastfed babies need to be fed every 2-3 hours and whenever they show signs of hunger. Unlike formula-fed babies, who need to be fed every 3-4 hours instead, breast milk is more easily digested and hence need to eat more often.
Keep your baby awake: Try to keep your baby awake and actively breastfeeding for about 20 minutes per feeding. To keep them awake, you can try tickling their feet, changing your feeding position, changing their diaper or burping them.
Address supply issues: If the problem is your low supply of milk, try to take steps to increase it. You can try breastfeeding more often, pumping between feedings, or try our lactation bakes and nursing tea.
Consider supplementing: if your pediatrician thinks it’s necessary, you may have to supplement your baby with additional feedings of either pumped breast milk or infant formula.
However, if all else fails, and your doctor advises it, you may decide to stop exclusively breastfeeding. You can exclusively pump, switch to formula, or do a combination of the two. Infant formula is a safe and healthy alternative and can ensure that your baby gains weight well. If you need to change your breastfeeding plan, try not to feel too down and remember that you’re doing what you need to do for yourself and your child.
Need one-to-one support? Concerned about weight gain? A lactation consultant can review latch and feeding with you.
Are you concerned about your milk supply? It’s a common question that many new mothers grapple with. Often, there’s a worry that you’re not producing enough milk for your baby. This concern is one of the primary reasons some mothers consider stopping breastfeeding. However, there’s reassuring news: Almost all women have the capacity to produce ample milk for their baby.
Before you worry further, let’s debunk some myths and provide you with clear indicators to help you understand whether your milk supply is sufficient.
As a new mother, it’s natural to wonder if you are producing enough milk for your baby. There are several common indicators that mothers often worry about, but it’s important to know that these aren’t always reliable signs of low milk supply. Let’s address these myths and focus on what truly matters.
Common Myths About Milk Supply:
Baby Taking a Full Bottle After Nursing: Babies may take more from a bottle due to its ease of feeding, not necessarily because they’re still hungry.
Not Leaking Milk or Missing the Letdown Feeling: Many women don’t experience leaking or a strong letdown sensation and still produce enough milk.
Feeling of Fullness or Emptiness in Breasts: This is often related to your body’s adaptation to breastfeeding and doesn’t accurately reflect your milk production.
Frequency/Length of Feedings: Babies feed at different rates and intervals; this can vary widely and is not a reliable indicator of milk supply.
Amount of Milk Pumped: Pump output is not always an accurate measure of how much milk you are producing.
Accurate Indicators of Adequate Milk Supply:
Regular Bowel Movements: If your baby is pooping regularly. (3-6 poopy diaper), it’s a good sign they’re digesting enough milk.
Consistent Urination: Multiple wet diapers a day (around 6 or more) indicate adequate hydration from milk.
Contentment and Sleep Patterns: A baby who is feeding well usually appears satisfied, sleeps well, and is generally not fussy.
Steady Weight Gain: Regular weight checks with your pediatrician can reassure you that your baby is growing as expected.
1. Baby’s Bowel Movements:
Newborn Stage: Expect at least 3-6 daily diapers with large, seedy, mustard-colored poops in 24 hours. This is a good sign your baby is getting enough milk.
After 2-3 Months: The frequency may decrease to one poop a day or even one every other day. This is still normal and indicates adequate milk intake.
2. Baby’s Urination:
Wet Diapers: Look for 6-8 diapers per day (good indication is when the indicator on the diaper changes from yellow to blue). For a sense of what to expect, a wet diaper should feel like it has about three tablespoons of water in it.
Color: Urine should be light yellow in color, which is a good hydration indicator.
3. Baby’s Behavior Post-Feeding:
Contentment: A content and ready-to-nap baby post-feeding is a good sign. It’s similar to how you feel after a satisfying meal.
Crying and Fussing: If your baby frequently cries or fusses after nursing, it could indicate hunger or a lower milk supply. However, remember that fussing can also be due to other reasons like colic,tummy ache, baby not feeling well etc.
General Activity: An active, alert, and generally healthy baby usually means everything is fine.
4. Baby’s Weight Gain:
Steady Increase: A consistent weight gain of around 120g to 200g per week is a clear indicator of good milk supply and adequate feeding.
What causes low supply?
Breastfeeding is a dynamic relationship between a mother and her baby, largely governed by the principles of supply and demand. However, sometimes this delicate balance can be disrupted, leading to issues with milk supply. Understanding the potential causes of these disruptions can help you identify and address any supply concerns you might be facing.
Factors That Can Affect Milk Supply:
Supplementing with Formula or Other Liquids: Breastfeeding works on a supply-and-demand basis. Supplementing with formula, juice, or water can reduce the demand signal to your body, leading to decreased milk production.
Bottle Preference: Babies may find it easier to get milk from a bottle due to the different sucking mechanism required. This can lead to a preference for the bottle over the breast, affecting the baby’s ability to nurse effectively and impacting milk supply. Try pace bottle feeding to reduce the risk of bottle preference.
Use of Pacifiers: While pacifiers can be soothing, they can also affect your baby’s latch and reduce the time spent breastfeeding, potentially leading to a drop in milk supply.
Nipple Shields: While helpful in some situations, nipple shields can sometimes reduce nipple stimulation or interfere with milk transfer, impacting the supply-demand cycle.
Returning to Work: The separation from the baby and the stress of re-entering the workforce can challenge a mother’s ability to maintain milk supply. Planning and strategies for pumping at work can help.
Scheduled Feedings: Sticking to a strict feeding schedule can disrupt the natural supply and demand cycle, potentially leading to decreased milk supply.
Sleepy Baby: In the first few weeks, some babies may be too sleepy to nurse frequently or effectively, necessitating more proactive feeding to establish milk supply.
Cutting Short Nursing Sessions: Ending feedings before the baby naturally stops can disrupt milk production. The latter part of a feeding is rich in fat, which is important for the baby’s weight gain and satiety.
Offering Only One Breast Per Feeding: While this can be fine once milk supply is established, offering both breasts can be beneficial if you’re working to increase supply.
Baby’s Health or Anatomical Issues: Conditions like jaundice, tongue-tie, etc., can hinder effective milk removal, impacting supply.
Maternal Health and Factors: Various factors like uncontrolled anemia, hypothyroidism, previous breast surgeries, hormonal imbalances (e.g., PCOS), certain medications, and smoking can affect milk supply.
Breastfeeding success often hinges on understanding and optimizing your milk supply.
Remember the golden rule: the more your baby drinks, the more you produce.
Here’s how you can encourage a healthy milk supply:
1. Correct Latching and Positioning:
A good latch ensures efficient, pain-free milk transfer from breast to baby. If you’re experiencing pain or your baby isn’t swallowing well, the issue might be with the latch or position.
Consult a IBCLC for help with latching. They can provide personalized guidance and support.
2. Hands-On Techniques:
Before nursing, apply warmth to your breasts, shoulders, and upper back to encourage milk letdown and flow.
Breast massage and compressions can also stimulate milk production.
3. Demand Feeding:
Consider demand feeding, where you nurse your baby whenever they show signs of hunger, regardless of frequency or duration.
Skin-to-skin contact during these sessions sends a signal to your body to produce more milk.
4. Using a Quality Breast Pump:
Pumping after feedings, or as often as possible, helps to “empty” your breasts, signaling your body to increase milk production. Remember, breasts are never truly empty as they constantly produce milk.
5. Hydration and Relaxation:
Stay hydrated by keeping water nearby during breastfeeding sessions.
Drinking lactation tea can also help you relax and potentially boost milk supply.
6. Power Pumping:
Mimicking cluster feeding through power pumping sessions can encourage your body to produce more milk.
7. Rest and Stress Management:
Adequate rest is crucial. If possible, have your partner or support person care for your baby while you take a break or nap.
Minimize stress, as it can negatively impact milk production.
8. Galactagogues:
Your doctor might recommend medications like metoclopramide or domperidone to increase prolactin levels and milk supply.
Rolled Oats: High in fiber and iron, oats are often recommended for nursing mothers. Iron deficiency has been linked to decreased milk supply, making oats an excellent dietary choice.
Brewer’s Yeast: A nutritional powerhouse, brewer’s yeast is rich in B-vitamins, protein, and essential minerals like selenium and chromium. These nutrients are not only vital for overall health but are also believed to aid in milk production.
Flaxseed: Flaxseeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for a baby’s brain development. They also contain phytoestrogens that might help in boosting milk supply.
SLB Bakes: Enhancing Your Milk Supply Through Galactagogues
In the realm of breastfeeding, diet plays a pivotal role in milk production. This is where SLB Bakes comes into the picture, offering a delicious and practical solution for mothers looking to naturally boost their milk supply.
What are Galactagogues? Galactagogues are foods, herbs, or medications that are believed to help increase breast milk production. They have been used traditionally in various cultures and are gaining popularity among new mothers for their potential lactation benefits.
SLB Bakes’ Special Ingredients: Our range of SLB Bakes products incorporates key galactagogue ingredients known for their potential to enhance milk supply. These include:
We understand that variety is the spice of life, especially when it comes to food. Our SLB Bakes series offers a range of options to cater to different tastes and preferences. From hearty cookies to fluffy muffins and versatile pancake mixes, each product is designed to be both nutritious and delicious.
When Supplementing is Necessary: If you’ve tried these strategies and still struggle to meet your baby’s needs ( and this should always be advised by a Dr), supplementing might be necessary. Remember to always offer the breast first to maintain your supply. Even small amounts of breast milk can provide significant health benefits.
Remember: You are not a failure if you need to supplement. Breastfeeding is about more than just nutrition; it’s about the bond you share with your baby. Supplementing is just another way to nurture and care for your little one.
Embrace the journey, and know that every step you take is about providing the best care for your baby.
Need one-to-one support? Not sure if it’s truly low supply? A lactation consultant can assess your situation and reassure you.
Please refer to the infographics for information regarding the covid-19 vaccine safety for breastfeeding mothers. If you have any other questions or concerns, just call MOH at 1800-333-9999 or consult with your healthcare provider.
5 Gifts ideas for new mums that they’ll actually use during Heightened Phase 2 of covid in Singapore
Of course, all mothers want the same thing: rest. But since we can’t wrap that up and give it to her as a present, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing.
We’ve compiled a list of gift ideas that new mothers will love; whether it is skincare to do an at-home spa, or yummy treats to feast on, or adorable clothes for her and the baby, we’ve got it all here on this list! No matter if it’s her first baby, or baby no. 3, she is sure to appreciate and love all these gifts. Especially with covid-19 around and a second wave in Singapore, she may not feel safe shopping around for herself, so you can be sure that she will appreciate new things.
We’d all love to head to the spa and get some facials done, especially in this stressful period. Unfortunately, the government just announced the closure of all facilities that require your mask to be off, so we have to settle for the next best thing. Ksisters is your one-stop shop for everything feminine related – skincare, makeup, clothes for mama and baby, jewelry, even other lifestyle goods! She can easily do an at-home spa day with their amazing skincare products. With their wide range of goods, we’re sure that mum will appreciate anything on this website.
It’s a common worry for any mummy wishing to breastfeed their child to worry about their milk supply. But not to fret, SLB’s gift hamper comes with everything a new mum needs! Lactation cookies and their other lactation bakes all help to increase your milk supply through the use of superfoods, and the gift set also comes with a nursing cover, soft toys and even a teething toy! If you know that mum is worrying about her milk supply, be sure to get these for her to ease her worry. She’ll also get to enjoy the yummy cookies, brownies… drool
Oeteo, a local supplier of baby clothes, has some of the cutest baby clothes we’ve ever seen. With covid rampaging around, it’s best for mum to stay at home to keep herself safe. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to shop for baby clothes, so you can help her out by doing the shopping for her! Oeteo’s newborn gift set is perfect for mum since it comes with all the clothes, blankets, mittens that she’ll ever need!
This gift set is curated perfectly for newborn babies, making it easy and efficient for mum to breastfeed! Hegen’s innovative, all-in-one express, store and feed system allows mums to use the same container for everything by simply switching out the attachment, so there’s no wastage. All the attachments mum will ever need are included in this gift set, so it’s perfect for her! Their patent pending one-handed closing system is perfect for mums who only have one free hand from holding the baby!
If mum is a fashionista, look no further than Jump Eat Cry! They have a nursing and maternity line, easily accommodating both nursing needs and a growing belly. Many people associate nursing clothes with un-fashionable articles of clothing, but these are trendy while still being functional! If you know the baby’s gender, you can even buy a matching set for mum and baby, so they can wear matching clothes and look adorable together. And make sure to purchase their gift packaging so it looks extra special!
All these gifts are great for mums, but at the end of the day the most important thing is that you stay by mum’s side and give her reassurance and encouragement! Make sure she knows that you’re there for her. Motherhood is amazing and incredible, but also frustrating and tiring. She will most definitely appreciate your support if you do!
SLB Eating Guide: SLB Eating instruction and Storage Guide
Thank you mummies for having SLB here with you in your marvellous breastfeeding journey! Now that you have the bakes with you, let us SLB eating guide you on how to have the bakes, the SLB eating instructions, how the bakes are suppose to help and things to take note of when you are having our bakes! Feel free to copy and save the above infographic so that you could do reference at any point of time.
How our Lactation cookies works?
Breastfeeding is a natural and nourishing gift for both mums and babies, offering numerous health benefits. However, many new mothers often worry about having insufficient breast milk supply. This can happen for various reasons, especially if you’re not nursing frequently enough.
Milk production follows the principle of supply and demand—the more you breastfeed or pump with proper latch and positioning, the more milk you produce. But for some mums, supply can still be low despite frequent nursing. That’s where galactagogues, like lactation cookies, come into play.
Singapore Lactation Bakes’ (SLB) lactation cookies are crafted with ingredients known to support milk production and help enhance your let-down reflex. To get the most out of SLB bakes, latch or pump immediately when you feel a let-down, as this signals your body to produce more milk.
For example, if you currently pump 5 times a day with 20ml each session, increased let-downs could lead you to pump 7 times a day with an extra 10ml per session, boosting your daily output from 100ml to 120ml. As your supply stabilises, you can slowly reduce the number of cookies while maintaining the improved output.
How long does it takes to see effect?
The SLB Lactation Eating Guide suggests starting with 8-10 lactation cookies and/or 1-2 muffins or brownies daily for optimal results. Some mums may feel fuller breasts or notice more frequent let-downs by the evening, while others might need a few days to see an increase in breast milk supply. Every body responds differently! Some mothers experience a boost within hours, others within 4-5 days, and a few may take 1-2 weeks.
Once your milk supply stabilises, you can gradually taper down your intake.
SLB’s cookies, muffins, and brownies are carefully crafted to support many mothers in boosting their milk supply, while also providing great taste and nutrition. Remember, each mum’s experience with lactation bakes varies, so it’s important to find what works best for you.
Can my family members / friends enjoy the lactation bakes?
Absolutely! SLB lactation bakes contain only whole, honest ingredients with no mystery hormones here. With energy-boosting oats and omega-3-rich flaxseeds, they’re a delicious and nutritious treat for everyone. Whether it’s dad’s gym bag, a toddler’s snack, or a treat for older family members, our bakes are suitable for all ages. Bring on the daddies, kids, and grandparents too!
Who should avoid eating lactation cookies?
Basically anyone in the family can eat the cookies! ( my 3, 5 and 8 year olds are my cookie testers!). However, Lactation bakes are not suitable for pregnant ladies but its ok to start eating them straight after birth.
We also have some Articles on breastfeeding such as how do you know if you are low supply do you have sore nipples or why your baby keeps drinking and well as some Breastfeeding Tips and pumping hacks that you could adopt to make your breastfeeding journey a little easier. Read thru our breastfeeding recipes too as we have compiled some easy recipe for you too! Lastly, Don’t forget to Eat SLB . Breastfeed. Repeat and continue to put baby to breast as often as possible, pump when necessary, stay hydrated and, most importantly, well-rested (yeah, right). Thank you for reading our SLB eating guide. I commend you for even reading this far.
More questions? read our FAQ for more infos or live chat us if you have more questions ya =)
*Our bakes are not intended as a replacement for professional lactation support. Our bakes provide nutritious and valuable lactation support for nursing mothers and their little ones only when used in collaboration with best breastfeeding practices and/or while under the care of lactation professionals.
The way your baby is cared for and nurtured immediately after birth significantly impacts their transition from the womb to life outside. Our modern culture commonly separates mothers and babies for routines procedures like cleaning, weighing and measuring. This leads to babies missing the critical skin-to-skin time with their mothers, which has both short and long term consequences for both of them.
As these procedures are not necessary to maintain or enhance the wellbeing of either mother or baby, there is no reason why they cannot be delayed beyond the first critical hour. The first hour should be focused on the baby’s first breastfeed and mother-baby bonding. Unless the mother or baby requires medical assistance, hospital protocols should support this time of new beginnings for both vaginal and caesarean births.
Personally, I requested for skin-to-skin right after birth and with the newborn checks not executed till much later. I was able to bond with Jo2 and Jo3 for at least an hour before the nurses carried them for their newborn checks.
What Is An Undisturbed First Hour?
Babies are born and immediately placed tummy down on their mother’s stomach. A warm blanket should be placed over both of them to keep the mother warm. This slows the production of adrenaline in her to aid in the production of oxytocin and prolactin; both hormones necessary for bonding and breastfeeding.
At this time, the mother’s needs are simple: warmth and a quiet, calm environment. It is important to remember that she is still in labour — she still has to birth the placenta and membranes, and her uterus needs to contract down.
Here are 6 important reasons why the first hour after birth should be undisturbed:
#1: Baby-Led Initiation of Breastfeeding
These days, it’s quite common for hospital staff to want the baby to begin breastfeeding within the first hour. However, early feeding is important for both the mother and the baby. It’s essential for bonding and helps to expel the placenta quicker and more easily, which reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage. It’s common for caregivers to assist the baby to latch onto the nipple, which is unnecessary in most cases. When babies who have not been exposed to medications are placed skin-to-skin with their mothers and left undisturbed, they will instinctually crawl to their mother’s breast and attach themselves to the nipple. This is now known as the ‘breast crawl’ and was first observed by Swedish researchers in the 1980s. Further observation discovered that babies are born with innate instincts that assist them in finding their mother’s nipple, like all newborn mammals. I noticed that with Jo3, it took her about 30 minutes to latch on instinctively, so don’t worry if your baby doesn’t want to latch immediately.
#2: Body System Regulation
Babies who are left skin-to-skin with their mothers for the first hours immediately after birth are better able to regulate their temperature and respiration. Newborns aren’t able to adjust their body temperature as well as older children and adults since they don’t have the same insulating fat levels, after spending 9 months in an environment that is perfectly temperature controlled. If babies lose too much heat, they have to use more energy and oxygen than they can spare to try and keep their temperature stable. An undisturbed first hour with skin-to-skin also reduces the risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels). Newborn babies can produce glucose from their body stores of energy until they are breastfeeding well and are more likely to do so when they remain skin-to-skin with their mothers.
#3: Promotes Mother-Baby Attachment
Prolonged skin-to-skin after birth allows mother and baby to get to know each other. Mothers who have skin-to-skin contact after birth are more likely to feel confident and comfortable in meeting their babies’ needs than those who had none. Attachment is critical to newborn survival and mothers are hard-wired to look after their young. The number of oxytocin receptors in a woman’s brain increase during pregnancy. After birth, she is more responsive to the hormone, which promotes maternal behaviour. Oxytocin is produced in large amounts when breastfeeding and during skin-to-skin. Mothers who had early skin-to-skin with their babies are more likely to demonstrate bonding behaviours later in their child’s life, such as kissing, holding, positive speaking and so on. Skin-to-skin is becoming a reality for more c-section mothers and skin-to-skin as you have in the first few days will really promote and help with your breastfeeding journey.
#4: Improves Breastfeeding Success Rates
Breastfeeding is more successful when babies have early skin-to-skin contact. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies in the first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Creating the right conditions for the initiation of breastfeeding would help promote longer durations of breastfeeding for many women. Babies who are left to self attach usually have a better chance of proper tongue positioning when latching. This can increase long term breastfeeding as mothers experience more ease and fewer problems when latching is not an issue.
#5: Protects Against The Effects of Separation
Babies are born ready to interact with their mothers – a newborn baby who has not been exposed to excessive medication will be very alert and gaze intently into their mother’s face, recognising her smell, the sound of her voice and the touch of her skin. Remaining with their mother is key to a baby’s survival and separation can be life-threatening. Babies are born with a mammal’s primal instinct to stay within the safe habitat of their mother, where there is warmth, safety and nourishment. When babies are separated from their mother they will protest loudly, drawing their mother’s attention to their distress. Babies undergo what is literally a cold turkey withdrawal from the sensory stimulation of their mother’s body. If they are not reunited with their mother despite their protests, they will go into a despair state – essentially giving up and becoming quiet and still. This is partly a survival instinct to avoid attracting predators, and their body systems slow down to preserve energy and heat.
#6: Boost Your Baby’s Immunity
Naturally, when babies are born, they emerge from a near-sterile environment in the uterus and are seeded by their mother’s bacteria. This essentially trains the baby’s cells to understand what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. This kickstarts their immune system to fight off infections and protects them from disease in the future. Research indicates that if babies aren’t given this opportunity to be exposed to their mother’s bacteria, their immune system may not reach its full potential, increasing the future risk of disease. If you’ve had a c-section, skin-to-skin and early breastfeeding is needed to increase your baby’s exposure to bacteria.
Here are the 9 stages of the golden hour
Why skin-to-skin is important
Immediate skin-to-skin for a minimum of one hour after birth is one of the most effective methods for promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Babies who have early skin-to-skin are more likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge, exclusively breastfed after discharge, and breastfed for longer durations. Here are some reasons why it’s important :
Keeps mother and baby together.
Promotes bonding between mother and baby.
Provides for earlier initiation of the first breastfeeding experience.
Reduces crying.
Helps the baby maintain body temperature better than a hospital warmer, as your body will alter your own temperature to warm or cool the baby to maintain a normal temperature.
Helps regulate the baby’s breathing and heart rate.
Help keep the baby’s blood sugar level stable.
Decreases pain for baby from any procedures done while skin-to-skin.
Reduces postpartum haemorrhage in mother.
Can reduce maternal stress and postpartum depression.
Increases the probability of breastfeeding as well as the length of time you will breastfeed your baby beyond the hospital time.
Skin-to-skin right after birth:
Mother is in a slightly reclined position.
The baby is placed on the mother’s abdomen, dried, and covered with a blanket until the cord is clamped.
Once the cord is clamped, the baby is placed chest-to-chest with the mother and remains there uninterrupted for at least one hour and preferably until the first breastfeeding is completed. This provides optimal physiological stability.
The Baby’s face is easily visible and uncovered, the neck is straight, knees are bent.
The baby may be naked or diapered.
Baby can be dried during the process of placing skin-to-skin then baby and mother are covered by a warmed blanket.
Other tests like Apgar scoring can be done while the baby is being held skin-to-skin.
Baby’s measurements can be delayed for up to six hours – they are not going to change dramatically in that time frame.
Time in a warmer will not be needed since the mother’s body will keep the baby warm.
Baby and mother are monitored by nursing staff during skin-to-skin.
Mother notices her baby’s feeding cues, like rooting or sucking on her hands and can guide baby to the breast for first feeding.
skin-to-skin can continue as mother and baby are moved from the labour suite to the postpartum setting with proper observation for safety.
Continued skin-to-skin:
Regardless of the birth setting – hospital, birth centre or home – skin-to-skin can be part of the normal care of the newborn.
The more that mother and baby are together, the easier it is for the mother to recognise the baby’s early feeding cues. More frequently baby will breastfeed, and a greater milk volume will be stimulated.
Mothers who “room-in” in the hospital will tend to practice skin-to-skin more frequently.
Mothers who practise skin-to-skin report greater confidence in their ability to feed and care for their babies.
Babies who “room-in” have more quiet sleep than those who are separated.
Remember that skin-to-skin can continue past the birth period and early postpartum. Many mothers have found that snuggling their baby can be soothing at any time and at any age.
Breastfeeding may be the most natural way to feed your baby, but it can take time and practice for you both to get the hang of it. Understanding how a good breastfeeding latch (also known as breastfeeding attachment) should look and feel can be a huge help in getting feeding established.
There’s no right or wrong way to hold and feed your baby, and each mum and baby will find their own preferred position to feed in. What’s important is that you both feel comfortable. Knowing a few different breastfeeding positions and techniques can be helpful as your baby gets bigger and you start to go out more. Read on to find out how to get a good breastfeeding latch!
A Proper Latch
Before breastfeeding, a mother needs to get into a comfortable position as feeding may take 5 minutes to an hour. Use cushions to support the back to prevent it from getting strained. Not only will it help with the back, but it will also help the baby to latch properly. To start feeding, bring the baby towards the nipple; do not bend towards the baby, as it will result in a poor latch and will hurt in the process.
Holding your breast in a “U” shape will help the baby with good latching. It also makes it easy for the baby to latch on. Keep hands 2 inches away from the nipple. Support the neck of the baby with your hand and gently bring the baby towards the breast.
Aim your nipple towards the upper lip of the baby and not towards the centre. If the baby does not latch on the breast, try rubbing the nipple on its upper lip. This way the baby’s head will tilt back. If the baby does not open its mouth, do not force it in but instead gently rub your breast against its mouth. Squeezing a little milk out and then rubbing will also help the baby open its mouth.
Make sure that the mother and the baby are chest to chest with its nose slightly above the breast. As the baby latches on to the breast, ensure that the nipple and areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple) is in the baby’s mouth. This is considered to be a good latch!
Basic Steps for Latching Positioning
Position yourself comfortably with back support, pillows supporting your arms and in your lap with your feet supported. Whatever feels most comfortable to you!
Position baby close to you with his hips flexed so that he does not have to turn his head to reach your breast. His mouth and nose should be facing your nipple (rather than having to turn his head to face your nipple).
Support your breast if needed so it is not pressing on your baby’s chin. Your baby’s chin should drive into your breast.
Attach or latch your baby onto your breast. Encourage him to open his mouth wide, and pull him close by supporting his back (rather than the back of his head) so that his chin drives into your breast. It helps to tickle his upper lip/nose with your nipple. This will encourage him to open his mouth wide and latch onto your breast. His nose will be touching your breast. Your hand forms a “second neck” for your baby by lightly supporting his neck (not his head).
Enjoy! If you are feeling pain, detach the baby gently and try again.
As you and your baby become more experienced and comfortable with breastfeeding, you’ll find that you can alter your positions in many ways, even from feeding to feeding. As long as you’re comfortable and the baby is nursing successfully, do what works best for you.
How to help your baby latch on the breast
1: Check your latching position.
Position baby close to you
Before you start, and whichever breastfeeding position you choose, make sure your baby’s head, neck and spine are aligned, not twisted. His chin should be up, not dropped towards his chest. Make sure you feel comfortable too – you could use pillows or cushions to support your back, arms or baby.1
2: Encourage your baby to open his mouth
Hold your baby close, your nipple level with his nose. Touch your nipple gently against his upper lip to encourage him to open his mouth wide. The wider his mouth is, the easier it will be to get a good latch on.
3: Bring your baby to your breast
Once your baby has opened his mouth wide and has brought his tongue over his bottom gum, bring him onto your breast, aiming your nipple towards the top of his mouth. Your baby’s chin should be the first thing that touches your breast. He should take a large portion of your areola into his mouth, with his bottom lip and jaw covering more of the underneath of the areola. It’s OK if you see part of your areola isn’t inside his mouth – we all have different-sized areolae and different-sized babies! Some mums find that gently shaping their breast at the same time as bringing their baby on to feed helps. Experiment and see what works.
4: Keep your baby close during latch on
Remember mums all have different breast shapes and nipple positions, so you may not always have that ‘textbook’ latch. Whenever possible, keep your baby close to you, with his chin in contact with your breast. Newborn baby’s noses are turned up so they can breathe easily while attached to the breast. This lets them coordinate sucking and breathing with ease.
5: Look and listen
As your baby feeds, your nipple will be against the roof of his mouth, cupped gently by his tongue underneath. The latch should not feel uncomfortable – it should be more of a tugging sensation. Watch your baby – at first, he’ll do short, rapid sucks to stimulate your milk flow (let-down reflex). Once the milk starts flowing, he’ll suck more slowly and deeply with some pauses, which may indicate he’s taking in milk – a good sign! You should see his jaw moving, and may also hear sucking and swallowing as he feeds. These are all good signs, but it’s also important to check your baby is producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight as expected.
6: How to break your baby’s latch on the breast
If your baby’s latch is shallow or painful, or he starts chomping on your nipple or brushing the end of it with his tongue, remove him from your breast and try again. Ease your clean finger gently inside the corner of his mouth to break his suction if you need to.
How To Confirm If Your Latch Is Good?
Knowing the right breastfeeding latching tips and being aware of common latching signs can make your problems go away in no time. It will make breastfeeding a seamless and hassle-free process. Here are the signs of proper breastfeeding latching amongst babies:
No pain – If the breastfeeding process feels smooth and less painful, then you’ve latched your baby on properly.
Comfortable positioning – Put pillows behind your lower back for added support. If you’re breastfeeding your baby in bed, put some pillows below your knees for cushioning and support.
Nipple inside baby’s mouth – When you’re breastfeeding correctly, the entire nipple should be inside the baby’s mouth
Tummy-to-tummy position – Position your baby in a way that her tummy faces yours during the breastfeeding process.
Head and neck alignment – Make sure the baby’s neck and head align in the same direction so that there’s no discomfort faced when bringing the baby close to your nipple.
Breast support – Support your breast in a way that baby’s chin drives into your breast and not the other way around.
Close positioning – Position your baby close to your nipples so that she doesn’t have to bend or turn her head to reach your breast.
Mouth and nose facing nipple – Your baby’s mouth and nose should face the nipple with the nose touching the breast during the breastfeeding process.
A level head and bottom – Your baby’s head should be at level with the bottom of his body during the breastfeeding process.
Wide mouth – Encourage your baby to open his mouth wide during the breastfeeding process.
The cheeks of the baby will look full, its chin must rest on the breast, and the nose must be free and above the breast. The baby does not make any noise except for swallowing. After the feeding, there will be no change in the shape of the nipple and the baby will look satisfied, any previous irritation disappears, and the baby might even fall asleep.
There will be no movement in the lower jaw of the baby. Instead of an up and down movement, there will be circular movements in the baby’s mouth. With good latching, the baby will be relaxed. If the baby is still restless then the latch is not done properly and will have to be redone.
Some videos to help
Here’s a video on how to get on a good latch for new mothers.
Here’s another awesome video on how to latch!
In conclusion
Remember, breastfeeding should not be painful. A good breastfeeding latch will help keep discomfort to a minimum. If your baby is not latched on well, problems like cracked and sore nipples can develop. Once a good position and latch are established, breastfeeding can be a wonderful, pain-free bonding experience between you and your baby.
If you are still experiencing any nipple pain, dryness or discomfort, try a nipple cream.
If you need further assistance, many hospitals have lactation consultants. Seek to work with a lactation consultant at the hospital or birthing centre in which you delivered. If you are already home, you can speak with your healthcare provider. You can also call a breastfeeding helpline or contact an independent lactation consultant. Join our breastfeeding community to ask fellow mummies for support too!
Last but not least like what Kellymom mentions
No matter what latch and positioning look like, the true measure is in the answers to these two questions:
Is it effective?
Is it comfortable?
Even if the latch and positioning look perfect (yes, even if a lactation consultant told you it was fine), pain (particularly after the first two weeks) and/or ineffective milk transfer indicates that something needs to change, and the first suspect is ineffective latch/positioning.
If the baby is transferring milk and gaining weight well, and mom is not hurting, then latch and positioning are – by definition – good, even if they look nothing like the “textbook” latch.
“Rules and regulations have no place in the mother-baby relationship. Each mother and baby dyad is different and what works well for one mother and baby may not work well for another mother and baby. The important thing to do is to look at the mother and baby as individuals.”– Andrea Eastman, MA, CCE, IBCLC in The Mother-Baby Dance
If anyone deserves a break, it’s a nursing mom! Your desire to have your little one take breast milk from a bottle every now and again so that you can get out of the house and go for a much-needed walk (or at least take a shower or a nap) is completely understandable. But are you worried that your little one won’t take to the bottle easily? Heard one too many “nipple confusion” sagas from friends and lactation specialists? Or has that theory been discounted by your paediatrician and your mother-in-law, leaving you more confused than ever?
What is nipple confusion during breastfeeding?
Nipple confusion is when babies who are used to sucking from bottles have a hard time getting back on the breast. They may have difficulty latching on and may protest the different size or texture. Nipple confusion sometimes occurs in young infants who are breastfed, given both a bottle and a pacifier within a few days of birth. Sucking on a breast, a bottle and a pacifier all require different sucking techniques. Young infants can become confused about which sucking technique to use for which kind of nipple.
A hungry infant who has difficulty sucking becomes quickly frustrated, making feeding your baby difficult and frustrating both for you and your child. While not all young infants suffer from nipple confusion, enough do that it poses a real problem for many new parents.
Is nipple confusion real?
Most babies have no problem switching from breast to bottle and back again. Others, particularly those who take a little longer perfecting the art of suckling at the breast, do find it hard to transition from breast to bottle, and then back to the breast. This is why most experts agree that you should wait until your newborn gets the hang of breastfeeding (about three weeks) before you break out the bottle.
If breastfeeding hasn’t hit its groove by the three-week mark, wait a little longer before introducing the bottle.
Why do you need to hold off before you switch off? If you don’t wait until your baby has perfected her breastfeeding skill, there’s a risk she’ll give up breastfeeding sooner than you’d like.
Does your baby know the difference between breast and bottle?
Newborns catch on pretty quickly they don’t have to work nearly as hard to get milk from a bottle with a rubber (or silicone) nipple as from your breast. To breastfeed, your baby needs to master the fine art of taking your nipple far back into her mouth and then using her tongue to pump out the milk (which can take a minute or so before it starts flowing). With a tilted bottle, a baby has gravity on her side: She can suck with her lips and get all the milk she wants right away. So the baby suffering from nipple confusion may not be befuddled so much as opinionated. She prefers the bottle. And why wouldn’t she? It’s the quicker, easier route to a full belly.
The main reason for developing nipple confusion for bottle-feeding
The main reason for nipple confusion is just simply the fact that bottle feeding for a breastfed baby is completely different from natural breastfeeding. Regardless of what’s in the bottle, it is all about “your breast vs the bottle”, in which your baby has to suck in 2 different ways.
Additionally, the difference in:
Mouth muscles used while sucking from the breast are more than in the baby bottle.
His tongue moving differently in each situation.
The elasticity of breast skin vs the bottle teat.
The milk flow rate from the breast and the baby bottle
Nipple confusion can result at the end of breastfeeding and is a big issue.
Note
Usually, breastfeeding mothers face the nipple confusion issue when they tend to pump/express breastmilk before returning to work or study.
Here are the measures you should take to avoid and fix nipple confusion during mixing between breast and bottle feeding.
When to introduce the bottle
Give breast-only feeding the recommended three weeks for your milk supply to get well established and for your newborn to really master the technique, and then feel free to give yourself that longed-for break.
Tips for introducing the bottle
Some babies take to bottle-feeding right away, others protest. If you’ve got a stubborn bottle feeder on your hands, be ready to offer a choice of formula, nipple sizes and style, and formula-feeding times until he decides which one he prefers. If your baby baulks at breast or bottle, here’s a game plan for handling that nipple confusion (or preference!):
What to do if your baby won’t take a bottle
Go back to square one. Revisit the basics of latching on and remind your baby how soothing breastfeeding can be by cuddling her skin-to-skin. It may require a few sessions of fumbling at the breast before she gets back on track, but it’ll be worth it!
Make it easier. Get your milk flowing (either manually or by pumping your breast milk) before your baby starts to eat, so she doesn’t have to work that hard for the milk. (Just pump enough to get things dripping; you’re not looking to fill a bottle just yet.)
Time it right. She should be in the mood for a meal (aka hungry) so she’s motivated to give it a try…but not so famished that she can’t get her baby brain around relearning an old trick. If she’s starving, she may not have the patience to latch on or suck hard enough to get the milk she wants—and that might lead to a full-blown frenzy of frustration, which can throw both of you off track.
Back off on the faux nipples. If the whole switching process has given your baby a bad case of nipple confusion, just stick with breastfeeding till she’s got it down solid. (This means you’ll need to put away the pacifiers too, just in case she’s gotten too fond of sucking for satisfaction with her lips.)
What to do if your baby prefers breastfeeding
Let Daddy do the feeding. Sometimes a baby is just too attached to Mom’s nipple, so hitting the bottle while Mom is so close by (yet buttoned-up) seems wrong. But it may be a different story if someone else is bringing on the bottle — whether it’s Dad, Grandma, or your best pal. But don’t worry that you’ll always need a Mommy stand-in at feeding time — once your wee one gets the hang of the bottle, she won’t care who gives it to her!
Try different nipples types. If one nipple doesn’t succeed, try, try another one. Just watch the flow rate. The milk should come out fast enough that your baby doesn’t get frustrated…but not so fast that she can’t keep up with the flow. A drop a second when you turn the bottle upside-down is just right.
Make bottle feeding as much like breastfeeding as you can. Interact with your baby. Switch arms halfway through so she has something different to look at. Burp her. But remember that while some newborns want bottle feeding to be just like breastfeeding, others take to it better if the experience is completely different. So if that’s the case with yours, try a different location or even a different position.
To avoid nipple confusion
No bottle introduction or pacifier during the first month
Avoid giving your breastfed baby a pacifier
Start introducing the bottle 3 weeks before work to give him a space to learn the new skill
How to fix nipple confusion?
You can do that by decreasing the gap as much as you can between breast and bottle. The whole idea of how to fix nipple confusion is to mimic the natural process of breastfeeding.
While you try to introduce the artificial nipple, do your best to decrease the difference between the natural nipple of you and the synthetic bottle nipple.
Breastfed baby breast refusal may be due to the type of bottle
The ordinary classic baby bottle has 2 huge disadvantages with regards to nipple confusion:
It is light in weight
It has a narrow/small bottle nipple.
And for that, it is much easier for your breastfed baby to get his milk from the regular bottle rather than your heavy, wide breast. By the time, he would prefer this small/light nipple rather than your breast. So, it is far from your heavy, wide breast nipple.
How to fix that?
Pick a wide base baby bottle that has a wide nipple to mimic the size of your breast. Also, the wide neck bottles are closer to your breast regarding their weight. And remember that your breast is like a heavy sandwich for your breastfed baby to latch on to it.
Nipple confusion makes your baby refusing the breast due to the flow rate
Breast milk ejection from the breast is a time-consuming process. This process is mediated through the lactation hormones, Oxytocin and Prolactin. Your breastfed baby may take around 2 mins to receive the breast milk during natural breastfeeding.
However, the milk comes easily and quickly in the case of bottle-feeding.
How to fix that issue?
Try to choose the slow flow rate teat to make the process slower. On the fast flow bottle nipple teat, it may make it easier for your baby to get choked.
Another way to mimic the slow milk rate of breastfeeding is to apply pauses while bottle-feeding. Don’t let your baby latch on to the bottle for the whole 10 mins of feeding, as gravity makes the milk flow faster from the bottle compared to the breast.
So, what to do instead?
During bottle feeding, you can control the flow by making pauses every 2 minutes for 10 seconds. These pauses will stretch the time needed to finish the milk from the bottle.
By doing that, you mimic breastfeeding sessions’ duration and flow rate. This lets your baby switch between both ways of feeding without feeling a huge difference.
Did your breastfed baby latch onto the bottle properly?
Your baby having a good latch during breastfeeding is crucial for a successful breastfeeding journey. After latching onto your breast deeply, he should do so on the bottle as well. A shallow latch on the bottle is a probable cause of nipple confusion.
What is the solution for a bottle shallow latch?
Simply, ensure that your baby is catching the wide base of the bottle rather than the tip. Like what happens in the normal latching process while breastfeeding, where your baby is catching the most of your areola within his mouth.
How to achieve that?
First, you should stimulate your breastfed newborn for the wide mouth opening. This could be done by raising the bottle at a higher level than his mouth.
Then hit his nose with the tip of the baby bottle tip.
Naturally, he would widen his mouth opening to catch the bottle nipple.
The second step is to pick the widest mouth opening and insert gently and deeply the bottle. You can control this process by grabbing your baby’s head using your hand.
How to balance breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
Bottle or breastfeeding doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice. By spacing out feedings, finding a formula baby likes almost as much as mom’s breast milk, and making sure nursing time includes lots of skin-on-skin bonding, you’ll be able to enjoy the flexibility of both.
sources
What to Expect the First Year, 3rd Edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.
