A-Z Of Breastfeeding
Your Newborn

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Breastfeeding is the ultimate bonding experience with your newborn.

Throughout the ages, women have breastfed their babies, and yet it’s not necessarily something that comes naturally. Breastfeeding is a bit like learning to ride a bike. You’ll have a few false starts, but once you get the hang of things, you’re well on your way to success.

Unfortunately, some mothers struggle more than others and may choose to bottle feed their babies instead.

But we want to encourage you to persist with nursing your baby because the breast is best.

In this article, we’ll cover the importance of breastfeeding your baby, latching technique, whether to feed on demand or every other hour, how long to feed, and much more.

Should you like, you can use the below quick links to jump ahead

Why breastfeed?
What are the different types of breastmilk?
How to breastfeed?
How to get baby to latch correctly?
When to feed your baby?
How long should your baby feed?
Is your baby getting enough food?
Breastfeeding tips
How to relieve engorged breasts?
Breastfeeding essentials
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Why breastfeed?

Breast is best, but breastfeeding doesn’t only benefit your newborn. It also aids in your recovery. Here’s why you should seriously consider breastfeeding your baby.

Benefits for your baby:

• Breastmilk contains everything your baby needs to grow. It’s the ideal source of nutrition for your infant, and, best of all, it’s easy to digest.
• It contains antibodies that help build your baby’s immune system and fight off bacteria and viruses.
• It lowers your baby’s risk of developing asthma and allergies.
• Exclusively breastfed babies get sick less often. They are more likely to have fewer ear infections, upset stomachs, respiratory illnesses, and visits to the doctor than bottle-fed infants.
• Breastfed babies are at a lower risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses or being overweight later in life.

Benefits for mom:

• Breastfeeding rapidly burns calories helping you to get back to your pre-pregnancy figure and weight quicker.
• Feeding can also reduce how long you bleed post-pregnancy.
• It can lower your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
• You don’t have to spend time washing, sterilizing, and warming bottles, and you save on the cost of formula.
• You get to bond with your baby.

But if you discover that you enjoy breastfeeding, we recommend that you exclusively breastfeed (this means only feeding breastmilk, no water, other milk, drinks or food) to your baby for the first six months. From then on, you can introduce solids such as pureed vegetables and fruit and yoghurt. You can breastfeed for two years and beyond. The choice is yours.

What are the different types of breastmilk?

Your body has had nine months to prepare for the arrival of your baby, and it’s ready to feed him. There are three types of milk that new mothers produce:

1. Colostrum: This thick, sticky yellow liquid is much like a superfood. Rich in antibodies, it boosts your baby’s immune system and helps prepare their digestive track for your mature milk. Just two teaspoons of colostrum and your little one is filled. You’ll express it for the first three days of nursing.


2. Transitional milk: Between days three and four, your transitional milk comes in. It’s milky yellow and contains plenty of calories, fat, and protein to fill your little one’s walnut-sized tummy.


3. Mature milk: Resembling low-fat milk, mature milk is whitish-blue and packed full of nutrients and fats your baby needs. It’s a combination of foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk is watery and quenches your baby’s thirst. Hindmilk is the ‘food’ compartment at the end of the feed.  It usually comes in around day ten. Your breasts will feel full and heavy, and if you don’t nurse your baby, you may begin to leak milk.

Please note that exclusively breastfed babies don’t need water in the first six months because the foremilk provides enough fluids.

How to breastfeed?

While nursing comes naturally to some new mothers for many, it takes practice. Don’t be afraid to ask your midwife or a lactation consultant to help you position your baby correctly.

To help get you started, we’ve compiled a little information on the three types of nursing holds.

Before you begin, get comfortable. Prop yourself up with pillows and grab a few extra pillows to rest the baby on. Alternatively, you can also use a nursing pillow. You’ll want to try the different feeding positions and choose the most comfortable one. They are:

• The cradle hold, a favourite of many new moms. Place your baby lengthwise across your stomach and nestle his head into the crook of your arm. Use your other arm to support his bottom.


• The football hold, popular with mothers who’ve had c-sections. Tuck your baby under your arm facing up on the side you will be nursing. Guide his head to your breast.
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• The lying down hold, great for sleep-deprived moms. Lie down next to your baby (tummy to tummy). You’ll want something to lean against, so place a pillow behind your back and one between your legs to neutralise your spine. Make sure your baby’s head is at the height of your nipple or slightly lower. With your free hand, gently guide his head towards your nipple.

How to get baby to latch correctly?

A good latch can be the difference between a happy baby and bruised cracked nipples. Any mom who’s breastfed will tell you that an incorrect latch hurts, so you’ll want to get help the first few times you feed your infant.

You’ll also want to get your baby to latch shortly after birth. He’s moved from a warm and cocooned environment into a cold, harshly lit one, and he won’t be happy. The midwife or nursing staff will place your newborn on your chest and cover you with a blanket.

Skin to skin contact is best. Your baby can hear your heartbeat, a familiar sound, which calms him and you. It also stimulates your milk and encourages your baby to feed.

Here’s how to get your newborn to latch

1. Grab your nursing pillow or any pillow that you can rest your baby on.
2. Find a position where you feel supported and comfortable.
3. Pick up your baby and hold him, so he’s facing you. His little body should be pressed against your stomach.
4. If you’re starting with your right breast, place your right hand’s thumb and fingers around your areola.
5. Cradling your baby’s head, gently tilt it back. Brush your nipple back and forth over your newborn’s lips until he opens his mouth wide. 
6. You want him to scoop your breast into his mouth. You can achieve this by placing his lower jaw on first. It should be well below the nipple.
7. Then slowly tilt his head towards your breast, making sure his mouth covers the entire nipple and part of the areola.

You’re now ready to start feeding.

What if your baby latched incorrectly?

Even seasoned breastfeeding moms have times when their baby latches incorrectly. Breaking the suction is quite easy.

Gently push down on your breast, where your little one is suckling. Insert your finger into the corner of his mouth—this immediately breaks the suction.

Reposition your little one, hold your breast and tickle your nipple along his mouth to renew feeding.

What if your newborn doesn’t want to latch?

If your baby doesn’t want to latch or keeps falling asleep on the breast, he may be tired from the birth. This is especially true for babies who had a difficult birth and required assistance from the doctor.

Nursing staff will check your little one’s blood sugar levels by taking a blood sample from his foot. Depending on the reading, they may ask you to hand express the colostrum into a teaspoon and pour it slowly into your baby’s mouth.

When to feed your baby?

Every baby is different. While some would argue that you should feed every two to three hours, others believe that on-demand feeding is best. Hungry babies cry, so he’ll let you know when it’s snack time.

At first, you might feel like you’re feeding all the time. Don’t be alarmed. This is temporary. Once your mature milk comes in, your supply will increase, and your baby won’t need to feed as often.

Please note: Formula-fed babies don’t eat as often as breastfed babies because it takes longer to digest infant formula milk. They stay full for longer and require fewer feeds.

How long should your baby feed?

It differs from one baby to the next, but most feed between 20 and 30 minutes. Initially, a feed can take longer, especially as you and your little one get the hang of things.

You’ll want to empty the one breast before moving on to the other one. The last of your mature milk, known as hindmilk, is rich in calories and fats. And you don’t want to deprive your little one of this milk.

Let your baby decide when he’s had enough. Lift and wind (burp) him before placing your baby on to the other breast. It’s unlikely that your baby will drain this boob, so be sure to start the next feed on this breast.

Many babies fall asleep on the breast. This is entirely normal, but do make sure that you wind your little one. Trapped wind can cause terrible cramps and make your baby miserable.

Is your baby getting enough food?

There are a few ways to tell if your baby is getting sufficient milk. A happy, healthy, and well-fed baby:

• wets nappies regularly, about eight a day.
• consistently gains weight (in line with the weight chart).
• nurses for between 20 and 30 minutes each feed.

An unhappy and hungry baby:

• is fussy and irritable after a feed
• cries constantly.
• has hard, dark stools.
• feeds for under 10 minutes and can be quite lethargic.

If you’re worried that your baby isn’t getting the nutrition he needs, urgently contact Welwitschia Hospital to arrange an appointment with a paediatrician who will assess your baby and advise the best way forward.

You can find a paediatrician here alternatively call us on (+264) 64 218 911 or email hello@welwitschiahospital.com.

Breastfeeding tips

1. Keep a glass of water close by when feeding as you can get quite thirsty.
2. Allow your baby to empty one breast before switching to the next breast. This ensures that your little one gets all the components of breastmilk.
3. Keep a nursing pad in your bra during feeds as your unused breast will leak.
4. Nursing can be brutal on your nipples. In the first week, you may struggle with cracked or sore nipples. This is normal. Apply lanolin nipple cream after each feed, and set aside 30 minutes each day to sit in direct sunlight and bare your naked breasts to strengthen your nipples’ skin.
5. Eat well. What you put into your body is absorbed into your milk, so make sure you eat healthily. And don’t forget to still take your prenatal vitamins.

How to relieve engorged breasts?

Every mom experiences engorged breasts at some point during their breastfeeding journey. It can make for a comical moment, especially when your nipple projectiles milk like a fire hose. But it can also be incredibly uncomfortable and sore. Here’s how to get a little relief.

• Take a hot shower. The heat of the water draws the excess milk out of your breasts, providing you with much-needed relief.
• Place cabbage leaves in your bra (it works a charm, but is a little smelly)
• Express or massage out any built-up oversupply of milk in the shower to relieve the discomfort. You can manually express milk using your hand. Cup your breast and place your thumb about two or three centimetres above your nipple. Squeeze your breast while pushing the thumb down and towards the nipple.
• Place a cold compress or a bag of peas on your achy breasts. It can help to relieve your pain.

Please note that if you feel flu-ish or have a fever, and your breast is hard to touch, red and swollen, you may have mastitis. This can be painful and may require anti-inflammatories or antibiotics to clear. It’s best to seek medical advice.

Contrary to popular belief you can continue to nurse your baby on the infected breast or express the milk as the infection is in the tissue of the breast, not the milk-ducts. Feeding your little one won’t harm him, and it’s good for you. A build-up of milk can further exacerbate your condition and cause greater discomfort.

Breastfeeding essentials

If you’re serious about breastfeeding your baby, there are a few essentials you’ll want to consider investing in. 

• Supportive nursing bras. Underwire bras can be uncomfortable and aren’t conducive for feeding. Nursing bras offer adequate support, unclip with ease, and ensure you can feed your baby without exposing your breasts.
• A nursing cover to keep you covered.
• Absorbent breast pads. These little pads fit snuggly into your maternity bra and absorb any milk that leaks during the day.
• A handheld or electric breast pump should you like to express milk for bottle feeds. This is incredibly handy when going back to work, or for moms who want to get a good night’s sleep. Dads can get involved and feed their little ones during the wee hours of the morning. Medela is a popular brand.
• Bottles to store milk in. Once filled, these bottles need to go into the fridge immediately and be used within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can freeze them.
• Breastmilk packets to freeze your milk. If you’re diligent, you can build up an impressive breastmilk supply, ensuring you don’t need to supplement your baby’s diet with formula.
• A nursing pillow to rest your baby on during feeds.

Get Advice

If you’d like to learn more about having your baby at Welwitschia Hospital, download our Dear Baby Brochure, call us on (+264) 64 218 911 or email hello@welwitschiahospital.com. We’d love to share this journey with you.