Breastfeeding tips

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Breast feeding

Many nursing mothers have trouble finding the time to devote to their baby's increased feeding needs during this adjustment period. Often, understanding how and why this happens and that it is only temporary can help. Slow down and enjoy the job of feeding your baby; a job that only you can do. Ask for and accept help with other responsibilities to free your time for feeding.

THE 6 O'CLOCK SYNDROME

Babies frequently seem fussy and want to nurse more frequently late in the afternoon and into the evening, when everyone else (especially you) is tired. You may feel too tired to nurse again or assume that you just don't have any more milk to give. It may be tempting to give your baby a bottle of formula while you attend to other responsibilities.

But remember, bottle feeding your baby formula when you are tired or your milk supply seems low will signal your body to produce less milk which will result in more fatigue and frustration for you and your baby. Breastfeeding a baby on demand is full-time and exhausting work. Your body needs energy to produce enough milk. Be sure you get adequate nutrition, rest, and sleep. Taking good care of yourself is necessary if you're going to take good care of your baby.

BABY'S STOOLS

Your baby's bowel movements (stools) during the first two days will be black and tar-like (sticky and soft). Early and frequent breastfeeding during the first 48 hours will flush this sticky stool (meconium ) from the infant's bowels. The stools will become yellow-colored and seedy. This is the normal stool consistency for a breastfed baby and should not be confused with diarrhea.

During the first month, your baby may have a bowel movement after each breastfeeding. This frequency decreases with age. Don't worry if bowel movements occur after every feeding or every three days, as long as the pattern of bowel movements is regular and your baby is growing well (gaining weight).

NIPPLE CONFUSION

The human breast and nipple are very different from a bottle and nipple. A baby has to learn to adapt to the type of nipple used. Exposure to a rubber nipple can create nipple confusion for your baby and make breastfeeding more difficult, especially during the first two weeks. After that, your milk supply will be well established, you both will be comfortable with the technique and routine of breastfeeding, and occasional use of a rubber nipple will cause less nipple confusion.

Review Date: 08/29/2005
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.