Breastfeeding Tips To Get Started                    Trouble Shooting Tips

• Breastfeed your baby 10 to 12 times in 24 hours – keep a record of how often you nurse until your baby is breastfeeding well (see Breastfeeding Log page for a downloadable copy).
• Look for wet and poopy diapers as a sign that your baby is getting enough.
•  In the first week, wake your baby if she sleeps more than 3 hours at a time.
• Hold your baby skin to skin as much as possible.
• When its time to breastfeed, get into a comfortable position, perhaps with a stool for your feet and something to drink close by.
• Lay your baby on a pillow or boppy for support.
• Hold your baby so his belly is facing your belly and his chin is just below your nipple.
• Tickle your baby’s nose and lips with your nipple so she opens her mouth very wide. 
• Bring your baby quickly to the breast and make sure he gets a big mouthful and his lips are spread out like fish lips.
• Think about taking a big bite out of a very large hamburger… your lower jaw starts first and then you bring down your upper jaw.  This is how your baby should latch.
• Avoid pacifiers and bottles until breastfeeding is going very well.
• It is normal for newborns to suck, suck, swallow, pause.  Allow a 5 second pause, then tickle the cheek if she doesn’t start suckling again. This will encourage your baby to pay attention to nursing and prevent her from going to sleep too soon. 
• Allow your baby to nurse on the first breast until she is finished or takes herself off.  Offer a burp and change her diapers.  This will wake your baby back up.  Then offer the second breast to “top-off”.  At the next feeding, offer the “top-off” breast first.
• Every baby is different. Some babies like to nurse on both breasts at each feeding and some prefer just one breast.  Either way is normal and fine.
• Breastfed babies don’t swallow very much air so they don’t always burp. 
• Babies go through growth spurts at 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.  At about those times, they will act like they aren’t getting enough and will nurse much more often.  Don’t worry, your milk supply is not going down.  Your baby is just telling your breasts to make more so he can grow.

For Sore Nipples:

• Sore nipples are caused by your baby not latching well.  I can help you fix this.
• Change your baby’s position when breastfeeding, such as using the football hold sometimes. 
• Leave some breast milk on your nipples and air dry after feeding.  Breast milk has wonderful anti-bacterial properties. 
• Apply a lanolin cream that is safe for babies. 
•  Don't wait to get help.  Call me.

For Engorgement or Sore Areas in the Breast:

• Engorgement, the feeling of your breasts being overfull, happens if you skip a feeding or your supply suddenly increases. 
• Sore, hard areas may be plugged milk ducts.  They can lead to breast infections, which appear as hot, red areas on your breasts. 
• To be more comfortable and relieve the discomfort, take a warm shower or use a warm clothe on the sore area before feeding.  Gently massage the area during feeding.
• You nipples may be harder for the baby to take in, so hand express or pump for a few minutes to bring out the nipple before bringing your baby to breast.
• If you can, start your baby on the sorest breast first so more milk will be taken out.
• Between feedings apply cool compresses, such as a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a light towel.
• Get plenty of rest - take a nap when your baby sleeps.
• Drink plenty of fluids - try to have something to drink when you breastfeed.
• Call you doctor if the sore area becomes red, hot and/or you have a fever.  If you have an infection you may need antibiotics.  You need to continue to breastfeed your baby.  It will help you recover.  Neither the infection nor the antibiotics will harm your baby.  The infection is in the breast tissue and does not get into the milk.