healthy living Your Baby: The First Few Weeks

tongue movement. Nursing may be and another pillow on your lap to easier if you hold your baby skin­to­ support your baby. Next, get your skin as much as possible, without baby comfortable: clothing or blankets between you, so • Unwrap and undress your baby. that your baby has immediate access Leave only the diaper on. to your breasts. Swaddling is good for sleeping, but

Allow your baby to nurse for as long not for breastfeeding.

as he or she wants. If your baby is • If the room is cool, cover both of

still hungry after finishing the first you with a blanket.

breast, offer the second breast. Some • If your baby is upset, place the

newborn babies may nurse for about baby on your uncovered chest,

10 to 15 minutes on one or both skin­to­skin, in an upright posi­

breasts, but this varies. Some new­ tion. Sing or talk to your baby

borns get fussy if they aren’t constant­ until calm. Baby may start to move

ly held and nursed. Others may be into feeding position.

very sleepy and might have to be • Cradle your baby with one arm and

woken up for some feedings. You hold your breast with the hand of

should wake your baby up to eat if the other arm.

reastfeeding is the natural way more than 3 hours have passed since • Support your breast by placing your

Bto provide all the nutrition your the last feeding. thumb lightly above the areola (dark baby needs. Kaiser Permanente area around the nipple) and your Feedings should be timed from the endorses the American Academy of fingers under the breast. Do not beginning of one to the beginning of ’ guidelines to feed your place your fingers on the dark area. the next. baby only for the first 6 • Make sure that your baby’s head is months of life. Breastfeeding works Unless your baby’s doctor tells you to, at the level of your breast and that on a supply and demand basis: The don’t offer any supplements such as his or her nose is lined up with more your baby nurses, the more water or formula. your nipple. Your baby’s face, chest, milk you will produce. It may take and knees should be turned toward some time for your body to get into How do I help my baby you so that the two of you are a rhythm, so be patient and keep onto my breast? tummy to tummy. trying. Breastfeeding is a learned Find a comfortable chair to sit in. • Tickle the baby’s lips with your skill. It takes practice! Place pillows behind your back and nipple and wait for the baby to on your sides to support your body open wide. Getting a good start Breastfeeding should begin within WAYS TO HOLD YOUR BABY FOR BREASTFEEDING the first hour of your baby’s life. Nurse whenever your baby wants to eat (at least 8 to 12 times per day). This is called feeding on­demand, and it will help you establish a good milk supply. Put your baby to your breast at the first sign of hunger, such CRADLE HOLD CROSS­CRADLE HOLD CLUTCH OR LYING DOWN WHILE as stirring about in the bassinette, FOOTBALL HOLD FEEDING rooting, making sucking motions, or

HEALTH EDUCATION • Quickly bring your baby onto your breast. The cream does not avoid drinking alcohol and using your breast. need to be removed before feeding. tobacco and drugs because they pass • Make sure your baby is taking the • Apply breast milk to sore areas. into your milk and they can harm nipple and a good portion of the If sore nipples, engorgement, or poor your baby. Since too much caffeine areola in his or her mouth. latch­on persist, talk with your can cause poor sleeping and fussiness, • Make sure your baby’s lower lip is practitioner or a lactation consultant. try to limit your caffeine intake to 1 to 2 cups a day while breastfeeding. sticking out and that his or her How do I know if my baby is chin is touching your breast. Most medications are safe to take getting enough to eat? while breastfeeding, but there are a What can I do to prevent and Breastfed babies normally nurse very few that can be harmful to your baby. relieve engorgement (swollen frequently in the first couple of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and breasts)? months. Because of this, many new ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are safe Your breasts may become engorged mothers worry about whether their to take while nursing, but aspirin (swollen) during the first few days of babies are getting enough milk. Make should be avoided. You should let breastfeeding, or when you cut back sure to feed your baby whenever you your practitioner and your baby’s on nursing. Regular, frequent breast­ see signs of hunger. Your baby is pediatrician know that you are feeding is the best way to prevent getting enough to eat if, by the third breastfeeding. Let your pharmacist and relieve engorgement. day of life, your baby: and your practitioner know about all • Has 3 or more wet diapers every medications, including nonprescrip­ Here are some other tips: 24 hours. (Highly absorbent tion, over­the­counter drugs and • Take a warm shower or apply moist disposable diapers can make it hard herbal products that you take. Also, heat to the breast before nursing. to tell if your baby has urinated.) take medication just after you nurse • Express milk from the nipple and • Has 3 to 4 loose, yellow stools rather than just before nursing. areola area of your breast before every 24 hours, not meconium nursing to help with latch­on. (sticky, dark green stools).

• Apply a cool compress to the breast • Has brief active periods. Additional resources after nursing. • Makes swallowing sounds after • Take a pain reliever such as Aceta­ • American Academy of Pediatrics: every 1 to 3 sucking movements. minophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen healthychildren.org (Advil, Motrin). Avoid aspirin. You should feel some breast fullness • The American College of and may notice drippings from the Obstetricians & Gynecologists: How can I prevent sore or opposite breast while nursing. acog.org cracked nipples? Breastfed babies should be seen • International: Proper positioning will help you by a medical professional at between lalecheleague.org prevent soreness and cracking. 2 to 4 days of age and again at • The Nursing Mother’s Companion • Vary your nursing position from 2 weeks, to check for signs of by Kathleen Huggins (Harvard time to time to relieve the pressure successful breastfeeding. If you feel Common Press, revised 2010). on your nipples. Try sitting up, worried that your baby is not getting • Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven lying down, and switching between enough milk, please call your baby’s Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers different ways of holding your baby pediatrician or lactation consultant by Nancy Mohbacker and while breastfeeding. and ask to be seen. Kathleen Kedall­Tacket (New • Allow your breast milk to dry on Harbinger Publications, 2010) the nipple and areola Are there foods or medications • Visit your doctor’s home page at • When you are done nursing, break that I should avoid? kp.org/mydoctor to use online the suction by putting your finger In general, there aren’t any foods you health tools, view your Preventive in the corner of the baby’s mouth should not eat while nursing. It’s Health reminders, check most lab

between the gums. important not to diet while nursing results, and much more. • When using breast pads, make sure because you’re eating for both you • Contact your Kaiser Permanente they are clean and dry. and your baby. The best rule is to eat Health Education Center or

• Wash your breasts with water only. and drink enough to satisfy your Department for health information, programs, and other resources. • Use only pure lanolin creams on hunger and thirst. While you’re nursing,

This information is not intended to diagnose or to take the place of medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse any brand name: any similar products may be used. © 2007, The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Regional Health Education. 915800134 (Revised 4­12) RL 7.4