Breastfeeding basics: The prenatal consult and more.
Breastfeeding basics: The prenatal consult, benefits of breastfeeding, latching, positioning, the early days, how do I know my baby is getting enough? My doctor told me to supplement.
Congratulations on the coming arrival of your new baby!
You may be wondering if a prenatal lactation consult is necessary for you. When you book a prenatal consult, we will be going over information that is specific to you and your situation. Ask any experienced mother and she will tell you every pregnancy, mother and baby are unique.. A prenatal consult is a good idea whether you are a first time mom, or have walked this path before.
What to expect: We will take a medical history; including any past pregnancy or breastfeeding experiences, medications, herbals, or medical problems. We can go over what to expect in the hospital or birthing center, what is normal and when to get further help once home. We can answer questions regarding how this breastfeeding process works! Many mothers have questions before the baby is born, one common topic is pumping. A sample service would include when to start pumping based on your situation, type of pump, assembly and flange fitting.
Some mothers have also had past breastfeeding experiences that didn’t go as they expected. Sometimes it helps to talk through how things went with an older child so you can go into the next experience with a plan and realistic expectation. For first time mothers, knowing what to expect eases their minds and reduces stress. How can you if you’ve never done this before? We want you to move into this experience with confidence. There is support available, and some insurances cover this service completely. We do all prenatal consults virtually for your convenience. We can’t wait to meet you!
Do you want the best start to breastfeeding success?
🤰🏼👩🏽💻Booking a prenatal consult with an IBCLC is extremely valuable. 🧑🏻⚕️Here are the reasons why.
Health history review. 💯🖊🔍This may impact milk production, affect management of engorgement, help prevent common issues like mastitis and susceptibilty to certain issues with supply. A clinical expert in lactation will navigate through your history and discuss a custom plan for your optimal success.
A list ✔️📋of what to buy and what not waste your money on. With so many products on the market, what really works or is needed?
Prepare your home. 🏡 This will cover where you nurse- a lactation station, pillows, pumps and nutrition.
What to expect the first week. 🤱🏾 🙅🏽♂️Avoiding common pitfalls.
Get to know your IBCLC. Why wouldn’t you want to meet a person who is proven to help provide the gold standard 🥇in lactation care. Your level of comfort and trust will skyrocket after a prenatal consult. Easing your mind and helping you feel more confident about breastfeeding.
The average mother breastfeeds longer than she is pregnant. All the prep and education that is spent on preparing for birth, why wouldn’t you do the same for your 4th stage of pregnancy- lactation❤️ Book your appt now! ☝🏻💻📲
Breastfeeding facts- benefits
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): "Breastfeeding ensures the best possible health and best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant."
Referring to breast milk as “nature’s perfect food” may seem cliché to some. However, the multitude of benefits for mom and baby make it a hard phrase to deny. And it is a widely accepted fact that breast milk cannot be created synthetically.
A Few Reasons Why Breast Milk Is So AMAZING!
Infants get antibodies, oligosaccharides and other powerful substances from milk that help feed healthy gut bacteria, strengthen and develop their immature immune systems. Colostrum, mothers first milk coats the baby’s gut, protecting it from pathogens by creating a closed system.
Mothers develop less postpartum depression because breastfeeding triggers the release of oxytocin (the "love hormone") that helps with relaxation and reduces stress. It also regulates and balances other hormones responsible for mood, energy and overall health.
Helps mother’s uterus return to its normal size and lessens bleeding she may experience after delivery. When the body lactates it helps a mothers metabolism by burning lots of calories and stored fat accumulated throughout pregnancy.
Saves time and money. It’s convenient, always available, made on demand and free. No need to purchase, measure or mix formula, and no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.
Is environmentally friendly because it produces no waste, packaging or pollution.
Breastfeeding is more than nutrition, its emotional fulfillment. Serving our hierarchy of needs; trust, love and need for belonging. Bringing them “home” to their mothers frequently creates this mental stability also noting a lower incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Breastfeeding is exercise for your baby! It’s the only activity they are programmed to do at birth. Along with using their bodies and reflexes, they use their mouths, which help with oral, facial and skeletal structure and development. Helping reduce the risk for ear infections (otitis media) and gastroenteritis.
These are just the tip of the ‘iceberg’ of the multitude of benefits of breast milk. To learn more about the benefits of breast milk and how to provide it to your baby: Book a Prenatal Prep Class!
The Early Days
It really begins before the baby arrives. To have an optimal head start you should PLAN AHEAD. First, PLEASE TAKE A BREASTFEEDING CLASS. The tools from this class are essential to a good head start for those first days and weeks of breastfeeding. Plan for HELP. The father of your baby, your significant other, your wife, your lover. They just went through birth with you. They’re probably tired too. And they need time to get to know the baby along with you. Grandparents, Sisters Aunts, POSTPARTUM DOULAS. These are all great people to have around as long as the role is to support your household and help in your recovery process from the work of labor and birth. START A MEAL TRAIN. If someone can bring you one healthy meal a day for the first 10 days it can be a game changer. One less thing to worry about for everyone in the house. Where will you be spending the most time with your newborn. We hope, closer to your bed. But I suspect it will be hard for you to shut out the outside world and do nothing. Breastfeeding is a lot of SOMETHING. Think of making milk as a superpower, and you are a superhero feeding your baby. It takes a lot of energy. So, Eat well, stay hydrated, and take your vitamins. Nap when your baby naps. Keep your baby close in a safe sleeping space so you can sleep comfortably while your baby does. In those first few days... SLEEP WHEN BABY SLEEPS. Breastfeed your baby every 1 to 2 hours on demand.
It will seem like a lot in the beginning because newborn’s will breastfeed (cluster-feeding) to bring the milk in. The colostrum in the first few days after birth is their little internal suit of armour to protect them in the outside world. It’s full of nutrition but it doesn’t have the fat content that “milk” has. So let them build their supply. This is why you should sleep or rest whenever your newborn does.
When your newborn is breastfeeding they do really well if you and your baby are skin to skin. Your baby’s best senses in these early days is the sense of smell, taste and touch. They are still adjusting to the outside world. Being next to your beating heart, the warmth of your breasts and the delicious milk you are giving them is the best adjustment to being born.
We call skin to skin, chest to chest, heart to heart the OUTER WOMB. This is the best place for your baby. YOU CAN NOT SPOIL A BRAND NEW BABY.
It’s hard to get your needs met when you are spending all this amazing quality time with yournewborn so plan ahead. Put little baskets of healthy snacks close to the areas where you spend the most time. On the table next to the couch, next to your bed.
Make sure your cup of water (and attitude) is always full. If you are struggling in the postpartum time. CALL FOR HELP! Your spouse, partner, family members. You can ask them for physical for help, they will help you. If you are feeling
emotionally overwhelmed, call for help. Your healthcare provider is there for you or they have resources to help you. If you are struggling with breastfeeding in ANY WAY, contact us. We’re just a phone call, computer monitor or car drive away. Your best beginnings are our goal. At Lakewood Ranch Lactation we’re on the journey with you. From the best days to the stress days. We take care of our superheroes so they can take care of our future.
How Do I know my baby is getting enough?
The breast is an exciting and overstimulating place for little ones. Their insticts to latch wont stop, and sometimes they just keep wanting to relatch once removed from the breast.
🧐How do you know they have eaten enough?
🧐When can they be handed off to another?
✅Typically after they have fed from both sides
✅ They fed actively for at least 10-15 mins on each side
✅ They fall asleep on the second side
🕙 Time for a swaddle and a snuggle🤱🏾
✅You also heard audible gulping throughout the feeding ✅ Baby appears satisfied.
Newborns will wake to feed every 1-3 hrs day and night!
🗝 But the key is they should achieve sleep after each feeding even if its only for 20-30 minutes.
⭐️ Remember these basics apply to a healthy term newborn.
⭐️ If you have a baby born early they may be sleepy all the time!
⭐️ This advice is for those term babies who just cant seem to get enough!
Help! My Doctor told me to supplement!
Do not fear. This is a common situation many families may find themselves in the first week home with your new baby. Remember supplementation should be pumped milk first, then formula if its not available. Many people associate the word supplement with bottles and formula. Hand expression, use of a hand or electric pump after each breastfeeding could provide you with all the food your baby needs! The first week of life babies need small amounts frequently. Typically around 1oz after breastfeeding 8-12 times per day is enough when using breastmilk. Breastmilk is very high calorically in the first week, therefore a smaller amount can pack a big punch! Each week the volume does increase, so consult with your pediatrician or IBCLC for guidance. If you have tried soothing, swaddling or changing for 15-20 minutes and they seem unsatisfied, feed them again! Yes they may need to feed twice in an hour. This is how babies create the supply they need. Supplementation helps when babies are born early, have jaundice or oral function issues. They simply cant do the work needed to pull the milk out themselves. So your help with pumping could be the easy solution. If you are supplementing, reaching out to an IBCLC to help you navigate the process will save you hours of stress and worry.
