Aim For Success
It all begins with an idea.
Do you know what the number one reason that women are not successful
breastfeeding is?
You might think sore nipples, or the demands of a frequently feeding
baby…but the most common reason that women don’t persevere with
breastfeeding is perceived lack of milk supply…and the operative word here
is “perceived”.
You can’t measure how much milk your baby is getting at a feeding.
Unfortunately, breasts don’t have that handy gauge on the side that tells you
the exact volume that your baby is transferring- clearly, a design flaw! In a
culture where we quantify everything, this is problematic. So often what is
absolutely normal newborn/baby behavior is perceived as a breastfeeding
problem. For example:
* Your baby wants to nurse “all the time”…we know in theory that it is
normal for a young baby to want to feed every couple hours, but in reality,
this can be overwhelming and exhausting. You barely have time to eat
anything and use the bathroom, never mind sleep before your little one is
looking to nurse yet again. Young babies need to feed frequently. They have
a small stomach (about the size of a ping-pong ball!) and the milk is quickly
digested. This is why breastfed babies have a reduced risk of SIDS. Rousing
and waking frequently to feed is what a physiologically immature human is
supposed to do.
* Your baby wakes up as soon as you put them down- especially at night (a
baby conspiracy!)…If you were bottle feeding and you were able to
visualize what your baby ate, you would probably just assume that he/she
needs a burp, or just a snuggle, or a walk around the house to settle down.
But if you’re breastfeeding and your baby wakes up right after being put
down, you assume that they didn’t get enough and this often leads to
“topping off” with a bottle- a slippery slope that leads to early weaning.
When a baby roots and puts their hands in their mouths, this isn’t always a
feeding cue. Sometimes they are just saying, “where are you mommy? I
need you!”
* Your baby has days where sometimes they really don’t seem satisfied
after nursing. Keep in mind that your baby has a tiny little tummy at first and
his/her volume needs are small. But as they grow, they need more. If you
were bottle feeding, you’d simply add more milk to the bottle. When you’re
breastfeeding and the baby needs more milk, they simply feed more often.
Breastfeeding is supply and demand, so when a baby feeds more frequently,
that tells your breasts to increase production- a perfectly designed system.
This can happen when baby has a growth spurt (typically, 3 weeks, 6 weeks
and 3 months are major growth spurts), or when perhaps your supply has
dipped a bit because you haven’t been eating or drinking enough, or have
been sick or had your period. If you allow your baby to eat when they are
hungry, the vast majority of women make enough milk for them to grow and
thrive and your supply will adjust accordingly to baby’s needs.
Remember that nursing is more than a feeding method. Sometimes your
baby is fussy and over-stimulated at the end of the day. Their nervous
systems are immature and after a day of sight, sound, touch, and sensory
overload, they are a raw nerve. They may want to hang out on the breast for
comfort- not because they aren’t getting enough. It doesn’t make any sense
to walk the floor with a screaming baby because “he doesn’t need to eat
again!” when you can curl up on the couch with a good movie and let your
baby hang out on the breast to settle down. How wonderful that we have a
built in baby-soother! No need for fancy gadgets.
The moms who are most successful with breastfeeding are the ones who
understand all this. They still feel exhausted and overwhelmed at times, but
knowing what is normal baby behavior and not a feeding issue goes a long
way to make it more tolerable. If your baby is not gaining weight or isn’t
having enough diapers (signs that they truly aren’t feeding adequately), seek
the help of an experienced Lactation Consultant. Pediatricians often are
quick to recommend supplementing, and while this can be appropriate in
some cases, figuring out how to fix the issue will preserve the breastfeeding
relationship.
Women have breasts for a reason…we are
made to feed our babies. Trust in your body’s ability to make enough milk
for your baby and try not to let these common misconceptions sabotage your
success!