Things nobody told me about breastfeeding:
Its a good idea to offer both sides.
Many new parents don't realise that this is a good idea. And there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there around whether to use one boob or two.
Once baby has finished the active feeding part of the feed with lots of deep sucks and swallows, they will move into lighter fluttery feeding with the odd swallow here and there. This is because the flow has slowed. They then either come off, go to sleep or some hang out for ages just flutter sucking. Put baby up on your chest, give them a cuddle and a light wind. They will likely start to woodpecker and suck their hand. Offer the other side! And they will have some pudding.
In the early days, it is a good plan to encourage baby to take the second breast. Babies can be a bit sleepy when they're new and sometimes they go to sleep after their main course. But when we are trying to establish milk production and to make sure baby is taking lots of milk, waking them to offer some dessert from the second side means they will take more. They often have a smaller feed from the second breast but that's fine. Next feed the dessert breast will become the main course.
Some will suggest putting baby back on the first side to ensure they get the fatty milk or hind milk. This is a bit of a myth. If anything, most babies need more milk not hind milk, so the other side will have a faster flow as it has not been used recently, and so baby will get more. True, we would not take baby off whilst they are feeding actively and swap.
Sometimes babies may want a cheese & biscuits course (a 3rd go back on side 1) and coffee (a 4th go on side 2). This is cluster feeding
If a baby is not feeding efficiently encourage baby to switch sides frequently so they get more fast flowing easy milk along with breast compressions to increase the flow and help move the fat down into the milk. Baby will take more milk. We call this switch nursing.
Once feeding is going well, if baby does not want the second side, that is absolutely fine. Some breasts have a large storage capacity. Those with a smaller storage capacity will likely continue to use both sides.
#storiesforchildren #stories of breastfeeding #lactation #babyexpert #nutrionist
Its a good idea to offer both sides.
Many new parents don't realise that this is a good idea. And there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there around whether to use one boob or two.
Once baby has finished the active feeding part of the feed with lots of deep sucks and swallows, they will move into lighter fluttery feeding with the odd swallow here and there. This is because the flow has slowed. They then either come off, go to sleep or some hang out for ages just flutter sucking. Put baby up on your chest, give them a cuddle and a light wind. They will likely start to woodpecker and suck their hand. Offer the other side! And they will have some pudding.
In the early days, it is a good plan to encourage baby to take the second breast. Babies can be a bit sleepy when they're new and sometimes they go to sleep after their main course. But when we are trying to establish milk production and to make sure baby is taking lots of milk, waking them to offer some dessert from the second side means they will take more. They often have a smaller feed from the second breast but that's fine. Next feed the dessert breast will become the main course.
Some will suggest putting baby back on the first side to ensure they get the fatty milk or hind milk. This is a bit of a myth. If anything, most babies need more milk not hind milk, so the other side will have a faster flow as it has not been used recently, and so baby will get more. True, we would not take baby off whilst they are feeding actively and swap.
Sometimes babies may want a cheese & biscuits course (a 3rd go back on side 1) and coffee (a 4th go on side 2). This is cluster feeding
If a baby is not feeding efficiently encourage baby to switch sides frequently so they get more fast flowing easy milk along with breast compressions to increase the flow and help move the fat down into the milk. Baby will take more milk. We call this switch nursing.
Once feeding is going well, if baby does not want the second side, that is absolutely fine. Some breasts have a large storage capacity. Those with a smaller storage capacity will likely continue to use both sides.
#storiesforchildren #stories of breastfeeding #lactation #babyexpert #nutrionist
