Dr. Anna's Top 10 Tips for Breastfeeding Moms + Babies

Disclaimer: I am not a lactation consultant, an IBCLC or an expert when it comes to breastfeeding.

I AM very experienced at feeling all of the raw, real and rewarding feelings that go along with learning how to breastfeed, experiencing struggles and overcoming them.

When I was pregnant, I knew that breastfeeding was going to be a part of motherhood for me. I was not aware how difficult or how big of a role it would play early on. Looking back now, it's so easy for me to see the areas that I neglected to prepare for. Breastfeeding is the biggest one. This is what has inspired me to share these tips, in hopes that you can be more prepared and have a smoother beginning to your breastfeeding journey.

Here are just a few of the lessons I've learned during late night feedings, panicked phone calls and texts to my midwife, and amazing tips from friends and loved ones:

1. Breastfeeding is a form of parenting - If we didn't stick with the breastfeeding challenges, life would be SO different for our little family of 3. When Ray was hungry, I nursed. If he was fussy, nursing him calmed him. When he was tired, I nursed him to sleep. Mamas, nursing is our super power. Take advantage and do NOT feel guilty. If you're concerned about bulding "bad habits" or wondering what will happen when your baby is cared for by someone besides you, look into biologically normal infant feeding. Your baby is SMART! He/she knows that things are different with Dad, Grandma, daycare, etc. They will adapt to those situations.

2.. Find Support ASAP - Connect with a postpartum doula, midwife, IBCLC, lactation consultant, chiropractor, Cranial Sacral Therapist, awesome Sister in law, etc. All of these people are there to help you! If you're currently expecting, find someone NOW who can support you when baby gets here. When it comes to challenges with nursing, there just isn't time to interview people or wait for an appointment. Establish the relationship as soon as you can, even if things are going well! If I didn't have the support system I had, our story would be WAY different.

3. Nursing to sleep

This is a super power. Don't let anyone convince you it's a "bad habit." It is biologically normal for babies to nurse to sleep. In the first few days and weeks you may have to try to keep them awake so they can fill their bellies, but when you know they've had their fill it's wonderful to let them drift off to sleep.

I nurse to sleep all the time. It minimizes the stress of bedtime and actually makes it enjoyable. It works really well for my husband and I. When I am not there to nurse him to sleep, my husband and other care takers have had great success getting him to sleep in their own ways. Other things you need to master when you nurse to sleep:

• Transitioning baby from your lap to another sleep surface

• Surrendering to being trapped with a really cute baby on your lap.

4. Your Babys Position When Nursing:

This can have an impact on how well your baby is able to latch. When you give birth to your baby, ideally you'll feed that cutie right away. When you first attempt to put them to your breast, you may be amazed at how strange it feels. In order for baby to be comfortable, you'll want to roll babe onto their side (facing your chest) and keep their hips, shoulders and head all in line. This is important because it's surprising hard to swallow if your body is twisted. Try it! Turn your head 90 degrees over your shoulder, take a big drink of water and swallow it. Doesn't that feel awkward? Our babies feel the same way if we try to turn their head to the breast instead of rotating their whole body.

Once you get good at this, encourage babies arms to hug your breast, one arm under and one arm over. At the beginning, you'll feel like you don't have enough hands. Keep trying, you'll find what works for you and your baby and then it will feel natural.

If you're having issues with baby nursing on one side, having a major difference in latch or seeing baby struggle at all, it's a huge sign that baby needs help! This is where chiropractic comes in.

Birth is really hard on the body. It's hard on Mama's body and really tough on babies. Those contractions were really strong and pushed your baby head first through the birth canal.

5. Your Position and Posture while Nursing:

As a chiropractor, I see women who are nursing babies struggling with pain in the neck, shoulders and midback. This makes sense as you're nursing and looking down at your baby so often. It's important to support your back, elevate your feet, find a good breastfeeding pillow

• Chiropractic care - As you try to figure out how to nurse your baby, your posture and comfort will be the least of your concerns. I felt so much tension in my neck and upper back. I began getting headaches! Get adjusted! This will help you feel more comfortable nursing while helping your to heal from delivery.

6. Perfecting the Latch

• The rooting reflex: Use this to your advantage. Stroke your breast starting on your babies cheek, moving towards the mouth. This stimulates the rooting reflex and baby will turn their mouth towards the nipple. Also, stroke from the tip of the nose down towards the mouth. This will encourage baby to open their mouth nice and wide. Then place your nipple aiming towards the roof for their mouth.

• Try different techniques like "the hamburger." This is where you hold your breast With your thumb on top and 2-3 fingers below your nipple. Squeeze, a bit harder than what is comfortable, then offer breast to baby. This helps them get a deeper latch.

• Nipple shields (and other helpful tools): Nipple shields are heavily debated in the lactation world. In my experience, it was a life saver. A nipple shield is a thing silicone shield that suctions onto your areola and nipple and provides an easier surface for baby to latch onto. While my body was in the process of adapting to nursing a baby, this was a really helpful tool.

• During this time, I kept trying to get my son to latch without the shield at least once each day. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it would make him more angry. Then finally, after our 4 week appointment where he got cranial sacral therapy, followed by a chiropractic adjustment, he latched beautifully! It was an amazing deep latch and he nursed his little heart out, on both sides! I was blown away. When it came time for his next feeding, I tried without the shield and he did it again! We never used the shield again after that day!

• I accredit this to his body work and the fact that my nipples were really changing! The nipple shield helped to pull out and expose my nipple. Over time, they were starting to stay this way, making it much easier for him to latch on.

7. Cluster feeding has a purpose:

• Oh, Cluster Feeding… It's a tough gig. In those first 3 months, baby is trying really hard to figure out what this outside world is all about. It's bright, it's cold, their wearing a diaper and clothes all the time, and their hungry! What is that feeling? They never experienced hunger in the womb! So they cluster feed. This type of feeding is associated with comfort, establishing your supply, nourishment, quenching thirst, etc. Let go of schedules and get familiar with your babies hunger cues. When you think or hear someone say, "They can't possibly be hungry AGAIN can they?!" Yes, they can. Nurse that baby. Remind yourself that this phase is SO short and enjoy your baby cuddles.

 

8.  Your body will change.

• I knew my body would change during pregnancy, but I had no idea how much it would change afterwards. When I first began breastfeeding, I learned that I have small, nearly flat nipples. This posed a pretty big challenge for us. Those first few days were really, really stressful. In order for me to feed my baby, I had to stimulate by hand or with a pump in order to get my nipple ready for baby to latch onto. Couple that with the engorgement that occurs when your milk comes in and it's like trying to latch onto a basketball.

• With support and encouragement from my friends, family and support, I kept trying and eventually was amazed at how my body changed and adapted. Nursing became easier the more I did it.
  

 

9. Have your supplies ready:

• Pump: it's helpful to have it set up and have a good understanding of how to use it before baby comes! I spent my 2nd night with baby, breasts completely engorged, unable to sleep, trying to figure out my pump to help relieve some pressure. Not a good situation!

• I used my pump mostly just to get my nipples ready for baby to latch onto. It worked great for that!

• Haaka!

• This deserves it's own category. The haaka is amazing for when your supply is getting established. If your leaky, you can just put the haaka on and it will relieve some pressure. When baby is latched onto one side, use the haaka on the other to catch the let down. I had no idea that both breasts would let down at the same time. They do, and it will get you or your baby all wet!

• Hot pack

• This feels amazing when your body is establishing supple. A hot pack and some breast massage will keep clogs and mastitis at bay.

• Pillows: A breastfeeding pillow, other pillows to support your body, different pillows to try when the breastfeeding pillow doesn't feel quite right, a pillow to elevate your feet. All necessary items.

10.  Your body is seriously amazing - it makes exactly what your baby needs.

There are so many mechanisms at work. The relationship between your body and your baby is deeper than we can imagine. Did you know that your baby latching to your nipple triggers your body to make milk that is specifically designed for your baby during that phase of life?

You were made for this and you are the perfect person to care for your baby! AND sometimes we all need a bit of support. Find your people and lean on them!

With Gratitude,

Dr. Anna

Your Pediatric + Family Chiropractor