Making Milk
This was shared at my Lactation Support group.
10 steps to make plenty of milk
1. Frequent feeds, not formula. The more often you feed, the more milk you will make. If you give formula, your body will make less milk.
2. All you need is breastmilk! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby have a diet of only breastmilk for the first six months – no other food or drink is needed.
3. Feed early and often. Feed at the early signs of hunger: if baby's awake, sucking on hands, moving his mouth or eyes, or stretching.
4. If he didn't swallow, he didn't eat. Looking and listening for signs of swallowing will help you know that your baby's getting enough.
5. Say no to pacifiers and bottles, at least in the first 4 weeks. Pacifiers may hide signs of hunger. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you should not use a pacifier for the first month if you're breastfeeding. If your baby has problems sucking, check with the lactation specialist about how to feed him without using a bottle.
6. Sleep near baby and nurse line down. You can rest while you feed your baby!
7. Have baby's mouth open wide like a shout, with lips flipped out. Help your baby open his mouth as wide as possible. He should be directly facing you: "belly to belly, chest to chest, and his chin should touch the breast." Proper positioning keeps you both comfortable. If you're having trouble with latch, get help promptly.
8. Watch the baby, not the clock. Feed your baby when she's hungry, and switch sides when swallowing slows down or she takes herself off the breast.
9. Go everywhere! Plan to take your newborn everywhere with you for the first several weeks.
10. Don't wait to ask for help, if you need it. If you wait too long to get the help you need, it may be harder to breastfed. Stick with it - it's worth it!
Reference: Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition
www.massbreastfeeding.org
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