BREASTFEEDING, YOUR CHOICE AS A NEW MOTHER
While for millennia the question of whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed a newborn was obviously irrelevant, today you have a choice. Breastfeeding or not will therefore be one of your first decisions as a new mother.
Perhaps you have made up your mind a long time ago; perhaps you are still hesitant and need to better understand what breastfeeding entails?
The important thing, for you and for your baby, is that you feel calm and collected in your decision-making. This is a deeply personal choice that concerns only you and your partner and must be respected in all circumstances.
For most new mothers, breastfeeding is seen as a natural extension of pregnancy.
In fact, nearly 70% of French babies are breastfed upon leaving the maternity ward. This is certainly less than in Norway (where 98% of mothers breastfeed) but much more than in 2000 when, in France, only half of new mothers preferred to breastfeed.
Since then, information about the benefits of breastfeeding has proliferated, which undoubtedly explains this. With very few exceptions, all women can breastfeed their babies. Whether you are already convinced or still hesitant, know that while breastfeeding can sometimes have a few challenges, when done correctly and with a positive attitude, it is truly a source of benefits for you and your newborn.
Don't hesitate to ask your midwife or a lactation consultant to better support your decision.
A SOURCE OF BENEFITS FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY
Your breast milk is undeniably and wonderfully suited to your baby's nutritional needs, especially as its composition changes as your little one grows and even as the day progresses with each feeding.
The WHO (World Health Organization) and the PNNS (National Nutrition and Health Program) even recommend exclusive breastfeeding until the child is 6 months old.
But even for a shorter period, breastfeeding remains recommended because not all the characteristics of breast milk are transferable to commercially available infant formulas. In addition to this biological reality, there is, of course, the special bond that develops between mother and baby during this tender, nourishing physical contact.
For your baby - Breastfeeding is the first factor in the long-term protection of your baby's health, guaranteeing that they receive all the nutrients they need to develop properly.
Although the exact composition of breast milk varies from one mother to another, it is indeed precisely dosed in lipids, proteins and carbohydrates and contains just the right amount of vitamins and minerals.
- Your milk contains many antibodies, so it naturally protects your baby from the risks of infectious diseases (bronchiolitis, bronchitis, otitis, rhinopharyngitis...) but also from certain allergies, especially food allergies.
- According to the latest studies, breastfeeding also plays a beneficial role on the child's weight, considerably limiting the risks of obesity in childhood and adolescence.
For you
- Breastfeeding, with your baby close to you, is a unique experience that not only facilitates the establishment of deep bonds between you and your child, but also, between each feeding, offers you a feeling of well-being thanks to the release of hormones of the same name.
- By causing uterine contractions, breastfeeding helps your uterus to regain its size and tone more quickly.
- Various studies have shown that breastfeeding is a real asset for your health as a new mother: the risks of developing osteoporosis would then be much lower.
- By breastfeeding, you regain your figure more quickly, as each liter of milk produced allows you to burn approximately 800 kcal.
- Finally, breastfeeding simplifies your life: no bottles to prepare, no powder to buy in a panic on Sunday evening...
Those very first feedings? Rest assured.
You are convinced of the benefits of breastfeeding, but like all new mothers you have many questions about the onset and progression of lactation?
Rest assured, to make starting breastfeeding easier, there are just a few things to know... Yes, you will have enough milk. Lactation depends above all on your baby's demand.
It is indeed suckling that triggers the secretion of the two main lactation hormones, prolactin and oxytocin.
Your breasts have been preparing to produce milk since the beginning of your pregnancy, so have no fear: you will have milk.
And the more the baby nurses, the more you will have.
However, at birth and during the first 2 to 3 days, your breasts do not yet produce milk, but colostrum: this thick orange-yellow liquid has exceptional nutritional and anti-infective properties.
It contains everything your baby needs for its first few days, including all the antibodies that will protect it from the countless microbes it has encountered since leaving your womb!
During this very first period, it is therefore essential to offer the breast to your baby at every sign of waking.
Let him nurse for as long as he wants and make sure his feedings are effective by checking that he swallows regularly.
It is these frequent feedings that will stimulate your lactation and trigger the first milk let-down, 48 to 72 hours after birth.
Your breasts will swell, harden, and become a little painful.
By putting your child to the breast as soon as your milk comes in, and very frequently during the following days, you will relieve your breasts and naturally trigger the proper course of lactation.
Yes, baby will find your breast. When possible, your baby will be placed on your stomach right after birth and the very first feeding will take place within the first two hours of his arrival in the world.
You will then see him spontaneously seek the breast, crawling and turning his head left and right on your chest, until he grabs a nipple.
This reflex is perfectly natural for him because the olfactory secretion of your nipple is of the same nature as the amniotic fluid in which he was bathed for these nine months.
Let him search freely, without holding his head or pressing it against your breast, as this might cause him to recoil. Once he has found your breast, let him nurse as he pleases, for as long as he wants.
If a cesarean section or other complication prevented you from giving this first feeding so early, don't worry: the nipple-searching reflex will just be a little less developed and you will just need to gently guide your baby to the breast and present the nipple in front of his mouth so that he will nurse a little later.
Just as you trusted your little one to find your breast, you will do the same regarding the number of daily feedings. These vary from one baby to another.
On average, newborns want to nurse seven to eight times every 24 hours, but some may demand up to 12 feedings, or even more.
Trust your baby and simply respond to their needs, big or small!
Adopt the right habits on a daily basis.
Once back home, you will gradually find your own rhythm to continue breastfeeding as comfortably as possible, both for you and for your little one.
This nurturing relationship, however personal it may be, will benefit from taking these few tips into account: Anticipate and respect your baby's needs. During the first few weeks, it goes without saying that you will remain constantly close to your baby. So, offer your baby the breast every time they wake up.
Don't wait for him to cry, but rather watch for signs that he wants to nurse: if he turns his head, lifts it, opens his mouth, sticks out his tongue or sucks on whatever he finds, he's ready! Your baby will also determine the frequency and duration of feedings.
Give him this freedom without imposing a set interval between feedings. Don't panic or get impatient if a feeding lasts 10 minutes or 45 minutes: some babies are quick, and others like to take their time. And if your little one was born full-term and healthy, there's no need to wake him to feed, even if he sleeps for 6 hours straight or more!
Get comfortable. Of course, before each feeding, you'll want to wash your hands thoroughly. However, don't overdo it with the hygiene steps on your breasts: you'll eliminate the antiseptic and olfactory properties of your nipples, and your baby will be upset! One or two showers a day are enough.
Pay particular attention to your comfort during breastfeeding. It can take several hours each day during the first few months, and an incorrect position can lead to significant back pain!
If possible, find a quiet place, either lying on your side with your baby facing you, or sitting with your back well supported by cushions and your baby lying in the crook of your arm or better yet, on a nursing pillow.
The more attentive you are to your comfort, the more wonderful this time will be for you and your little one. Help your baby find a good position. Even if you have a preference, during the first few weeks, consistently offer both breasts to your baby to establish a good milk supply.
Give him one breast until he finishes, then at the end of the feeding, offer him the other... which he may or may not take. And switch at the next feeding. Pay particular attention to his position during breastfeeding.
During breastfeeding, your baby should be positioned so that their face is facing the breast, their little mouth at the level of the nipple, without them having to turn their head. Therefore, present the nipple in front of their mouth, ensuring that their head is tilted back.
Let him open his mouth wide and grasp the breast himself, making sure that he grasps the entire areola and not just the nipple.
This is very important to prevent painful cracks and also to ensure effective breastfeeding. If your baby has a poor latch, gently remove the breast and then stroke the groove between their nose and upper lip (the philtrum) with your nipple: by reflex, their mouth will open wide, allowing you to reposition them for breastfeeding in a better position.
Finally, make sure his chin is firmly against your breast to keep his nose clear. Then all you have to do is enjoy this sweet moment together, without imposing a time limit on either of you and without trying to track how much milk he's drunk.
Your little one knows their needs! After feeding, take care of your baby and your breasts. If your baby doesn't fall asleep after feeding, place them upright against your shoulder and gently pat their back: they may need to burp!
If he's fallen asleep, you can put him back to bed without waking him. Remember to take care of yourself after each feeding. Applying a specific breastfeeding balm to your nipples will effectively protect their delicate skin.
Check the effectiveness of your breastfeeding. Don't worry, your instincts will warn you if you're having difficulties! In the first few weeks, always avoid giving a supplemental bottle: your milk supply could decrease, your nipples could suffer from less stimulation, and your baby, feeling a little unsettled, might then have trouble latching on effectively. Several signs will allow you to easily assess how well your breastfeeding sessions are going.
This is the case when:
- During your feedings, your baby suckles eagerly and swallows regularly. Be aware that at the beginning, swallowing accompanies each sucking movement, then it becomes less frequent as the milk supply decreases.
- After breastfeeding, your baby, full, then lets go of your breast and falls asleep, with beautifully pink skin and totally relaxed muscles.
Your baby's diapers are thoroughly wet, and during the first few weeks, they will produce 4 to 8 golden-yellow, grainy stools each day. After that, bowel movements may become less frequent, down to one or two per day, or even less. As long as the stools remain soft and the diapers are wet with urine, there is no problem with constipation.
-Your baby is gaining weight steadily. However, there's no need to weigh him/her daily, or even worse, before and after each feeding: this would only serve to make you anxious.
If your baby is healthy, monthly weighings at your doctor's office are more than sufficient.
However, if it reassures you, you can weigh it yourself once a week: more frequently, the weight variations would not be significant.
The right steps to protect your breasts
Breastfeeding is sometimes accompanied by minor discomforts. Anticipating them will help you avoid unnecessary panic and, more importantly, know how to react so that breastfeeding remains a shared pleasure.
To avoid being bothered by leakage: During the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it is common to observe spontaneous milk leakage. This can happen, for example, when you hear a baby cry, if your baby hasn't nursed for several hours, or if you are thinking about them, after sexual intercourse, or during a strong emotional experience.
Rest assured, even if these excesses can be annoying, they are nothing to worry about.
Simply place a cotton pad in your bra to absorb them without worrying about it further.
To avoid cracks and fissures These cracks or fissures that all new mothers dread are often more frequent in women with fair skin and hair.
They usually only appear during the first few weeks of breastfeeding and can range from a simple irritated nipple to a bleeding fissure, sometimes making breastfeeding very painful...
But rest assured, specialists are adamant that they can easily be avoided by taking a few precautions:
- Don't strip the protective sebum from your breast skin by washing too frequently!
One or two showers a day with a mild shower gel are sufficient.
- Make sure your baby is breastfeeding in a very good position, facing the breast, with their mouth wide open and taking in the entire nipple.
- After breastfeeding, dry your nipple and apply a specific breastfeeding repair balm.
- If cracks have nevertheless formed, leave your breasts exposed to the air as much as possible and regularly apply a specific breastfeeding-friendly repairing balm to your sore nipples. To avoid engorgement, this painful hardening of the breasts you've been told about is absolutely not inevitable!
To avoid this, you should breastfeed your baby as often as possible.
And this should be done as early as possible, as engorgement is most common during the first milk let-downs. If the engorgement persists, you can manually express your milk by gently grasping the areola between your fingers and stretching it.
You can perform this action under a hot shower, which will facilitate the flow of milk.
If you are unable to express milk, don't hesitate to use a breast pump until your breasts soften and become comfortable again. To respond appropriately in case of mastitis: New mothers may sometimes experience significant and very painful swelling of one breast, which then becomes red and hot.
In parallel, fever, intense fatigue and diffuse pain may also occur... These symptoms, identical to those of the flu, are also those of inflammatory mastitis.
If you experience these symptoms, start by taking the following steps:
- Put your baby to the breast as often as possible, especially on the painful side.
- Rest, really, in bed, with your baby by your side. - Apply warm, moist towels to your sore breast, or conversely, cold packs (wrapped in a cloth to avoid burning yourself) if that provides better relief.
If you do not see any improvement within 24 hours, consult your doctor, who will likely prescribe antibiotics. However, be aware that mastitis does not require you to stop breastfeeding.
