I’m in no way expert in this area. But I did I learn a lot though my own experience, through the fellow moms at the yahoo group “Pumpmoms” and doing a lot of research on the web. And I am still learning….
Once of the best lesson I learnt is “BE OPEN MINDED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY HIGH EXPECTATION”
Yes. Stress is the number one killer of milk production. By saying that here goes my compiled FAQs.
Experiences on the first week
What is colostrum?
Your breasts produce colostrum beginning during pregnancy and continuing through the early days of breastfeeding. This special milk is yellow to orange in color and thick and sticky. It is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume (measurable in teaspoons rather than ounces), but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice
When does the milk come in?
When your baby is breastfed early and often, your breasts will begin producing mature milk around the third or fourth day after birth. Your milk will then increase in volume and will generally begin to appear thinner and whiter (more opaque) in color
How often should I feed the baby and how long?
In those first few days it is extremely important to breastfeed your newborn at least 8-12 times each 24 hours, and more often is even better. This allows your baby to get all the benefits of the colostrum and also stimulates production of a plentiful supply of mature milk. Frequent breastfeeding also helps prevent engorgement. The first few days or even weeks, it may seem like all you are doing is feeding the baby as the typical infant nurses for 45 to 1 hours and again wake up for a feeding about 20 minutes later. This is VERY VERY normal. Most likely, the baby will fall asleep after 5 minutes of sucking. This is very normal also. So, try to monitor the sucking and make sure that the baby indeed is actively sucking. If he does not, try to change the breasts/position to get get him into active sucking again.
What are the different positions to get the baby to latch ?
Breastfeeding positions and latching on are the most important parts of the entire nursing experience. It doesn’t matter how prepared a woman was during her pregnancy; how many books she read about breastfeeding; how many other women she talked to about their experiences: When a new mother holds her baby in her arms for the first time, it’s surreal…it’s beautiful…and, it’s daunting. “Whoa, this is awkward! I’ve never had to sustain a life with my breasts before!” But the truth is, babies are born with the instinct to latch-on and suckle. They might just need a little assistance with the positioning, which is where the mother’s practice comes in.
There are several guides and resources available to gain understanding on this topic from Kellymom.com. This is my favorite website on breastfeeding . And here’s the link
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html
What are the different supports available for Breastfeeding?
1. Meet with a lactation consultant
Before you leave the hospital, make sure you ask for and meet with a lactation consultant to check how the baby is latching and teach you the different types of holds.
2. Contact Laleche League
You could also contact Laleche League http://www.llli.org/ or locate a lactation consultant in your area . They typically charge about $40 as fee. But can give you at lot of resources
3. Get on breastfeeding/pumping support groups on the web.
There are several Breastfeeding support groups in the web. Some of them are:
1. Pump Moms group on Yahoo . This one has the most activity than any of the groups I have visited.
2. La Leche League Forum
http://forums.llli.org/index.php
3. Pumping Moms –Babycenter
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a7115/pumping_moms
What is let down?
When your baby begins to nurse, hormones are released that cause your milk to flow towards the milk stores behind your nipples. This is called the “let-down reflex”. Sometimes, just the sight or thought of your baby may start the reflex and make your milk flow. On the other hand, the let-down reflex can be delayed or inhibited by stress, pain, embarrassment or other unpleasant feelings. In these cases, the milk flow may be interrupted temporarily, anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. This situation can always be reversed. According to the World Health Organization, “It is not physically possible to “lose” your milk or your ability to breastfeed”.
The let-down reflex occurs every time you breastfeed. It may take a few minutes the first few times you breastfeed. Later, let-down will occur more quickly, usually within several seconds.
The experience of let-down is different for each woman. When your baby begins nursing, you may feel a tingling sensation, a prickling or even slight pain in your breast. Milk may start dripping from the breast that is not being suckled. You may also feel strong cramping in your uterus when your milk lets down. Oxytocin, which is the hormone that stimulates milk flow, also causes the uterus to contract. In fact, breastfeeding helps your uterus go back to its original size faster than if you didn’t breastfeed. These are all normal symptoms of the let-down reflex. You may experience all, or none, of these signs.
Techniques for let down
- Set aside a quiet place where you will not be disturbed during feedings.
- Make sure you are comfortable and relaxed. Position your baby correctly.
- Stay hydrated and keeps water nearby.
- Listen to quiet music.
- Wear nursing bras and clothes that are comfortable and easy to undo.
- Sometimes just thinking about your baby or nursing her can help let-down occur.
- Remember that your ability to breastfeed and the process of making milk is a very simple and natural physiological function. Don’t stress out about it.
Does my baby have Jaundice?
Jaundice is a common condition in newborns, jaundice refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.
Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn’s liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Reasons for this include:
•Newborns make more bilirubin than adults do since they have more turnover of red blood cells.•A newborn baby’s still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove adequate bilirubin from the blood.•Too large an amount of bilirubin is reabsorbed from the intestines before the baby gets rid of it in the stool.High levels of bilirubin — usually above 25 mg — can cause deafness, cerebral palsy, or other forms of brain damage in some babies. In less common cases, jaundice may indicate the presence of another condition, such as an infection or a thyroid problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should be examined for jaundice within a few days of birth.
Types of Jaundice
The most common types of jaundice are:
Physiological (normal) jaundice: occurring in most newborns, this mild jaundice is due to the immaturity of the baby’s liver, which leads to a slow processing of bilirubin. It generally appears at 2 to 4 days of age and disappears by 1 to 2 weeks of age.
Jaundice of prematurity: occurs frequently in premature babies since they are even less ready to excrete bilirubin effectively. Jaundice in premature babies needs to be treated at a lower bilirubin level than in full term babies in order to avoid complications.
Breastfeeding jaundice: jaundice can occur when a breastfeeding baby is not getting enough breast milk because of difficulty with breastfeeding or because the mother’s milk isn’t in yet. This is not caused by a problem with the breast milk itself, but by the baby not getting enough to drink
What to do if the baby has Jaundice?
In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 1 to 2 weeks of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. For high levels of jaundice, phototherapy — treatment with a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby’s liver to get rid of it — may be used.
More frequent feedings of breast milk or supplementing with formula to help infants pass the bilirubin in their stools may also be recommended. In rare cases, a blood exchange may be required to give a baby fresh blood and remove the bilirubin.
If your baby develops jaundice that seems to be from breast milk, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop breastfeeding. During this time, you can pump your breasts so you can keep producing breast milk and you can start nursing again once the condition has cleared.
If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital for treatment. Once the bilirubin level drops and the treatment is stopped, it is unlikely that treatment for jaundice will need to be restarted
Logging baby feedings/diapers
Following your newborn’s feeding and diaper patterns is a helpful way to make sure your baby’s growing on track. Here’s a chart that you can use to log your baby feeding information
http://www.kellymom.com/store/freehandouts/breastfeeding-log-2wk.pdf
Interpretation of color of poop
Tarry black poop, your baby’s first poop, is called meconium. You’ll never see it again once it passes.
Mustard poop is common for breastfed babies. Supposedly breastfed babies make sweeter smelling poop. I don’t know about you, but I’ve yet to meet a poop I’d call sweet.
Green poop is normal in the realm of baby poop. “Green”, “poop”, and “normal” all in one sentence. It’s so surreal.
Orange poop is also par for the course. I don’t know if it’s a par 3 or par 4. It’s definitely not a birdie.
Yellow poop – hello yellow! (It’s late, I’m tired, and I’m running out of cutesy ideas.) Yellow is normal.
Multiple color and color-changing poop – as long as the colors are listed above (sans meconium reference), there’s nothing to worry about. Baby poop changes colors on a frighteningly regular basis.
Chalky white poop could indicate that there is no bile from the liver to digest food. Call the doc.
Tarry black poop, when NOT the first poop, could mean there is blood in the digestive tract. Call the doc.
Bright red blood in poop means blood has been expressed very close to the anus (i.e. no time to turn black.) Call the doc.
Diarrhea
Constipation
Gassiness
Allergies
Give Water?
Gripe water?
Can I spoil the baby by holding too often?
Bottle feeding? How many ounces a day? How to calculate how much my baby should be feeding?
What type of bottles?
Do I need a Sterilizer? What type?
Do I need a bottle warmer?
Warming techniques.
How long can you keep the breast milk out?
How long can you keep the formula out? (Chart)
When to start pumping?
What pump to get?
Electric/Manual/hospital grade?
Buy/rent?
Do I need to sterilize the pumping parts?
Medela accessories
Issues on Medela pump
Loosing suction what to do?
Quick clean bags
Do I need Wipes?
How often should I pump? How long?
How many ounces do you pump? What is the average?
Are you a LVP(Low volume Producer) or HVP(High Volume Producer)?
How to increase supply?
Supplements
Herbs
Prescription Drugs
What are your rights at work?
How to talk to your boss about establishing a schedule for pumping?
Tips for pumping
Hands free set up
-Types of Bras and which one to get
What size horn
Pumping pal’s horn
Pumping pals net
Oiling the horns
Breast compression
How to fit it in schedule?
How to manage cleaning parts?
Tracking/Charting Baby Feeding and pumping
Storage tips and Ideas –
-Freezer stash organization
-Should I get the storage bottles/bags?
Plugged ducts
Wraps and Nursing covers
Nursing Cover-Do I need one?
What is Baby wearing?
Benefits of baby wearing
Slings
Baby Bjorn
Slings
Wraps –Moby/Sleepy Wrap
Instructions for Moby wrap
Instruction to make your own sling
I wish someone told me this when I had the baby… 