Breastfeeding Resources

How to identify a good latch

Breastfeeding is a journey! You and your baby are learning together. 

Some ways you can tell if your baby has a good latch are:

• If the latch feels comfortable and doesn’t hurt or pinch
• If your baby’s chest is resting against your body
• If you can see little to no areola (depending on size of your areola and size of
  baby’s mouth)
• If you can hear or see your baby swallowing

Breastfeeding positions

Every mom and baby are different, and there are many breastfeeding positions you could try. Here are a few examples:

• Clutch or Football hold: helpful if you have large breasts, flat or inverted nipples, a strong let-down reflex or had a C-section. Also helpful if your baby likes to be more upright during feeding. Hold your baby at your side with baby lying on his or her back with his or her head at the level of your nipple. Support your baby’s head by placing the palm of your hand at the base of the head.
• Cross-cradle or transitional hold: useful if you had a premature baby with a weak suck because this hold gives extra support and may help baby stay latched. Hold your baby along the area opposite from the breast you are using. Support your baby’s head at the base of his or her neck with the palm of your hand.
• Cradle hold: an easy, common hold that is comfortable for most mothers and babies. Hold your baby with his or her head on your forearm and his or her body facing yours
• Laid-back hold (straddle hold): a more relaxed, baby-led approach. Lie back on a pillow. Lay your baby against your body with your baby’s head just above and between your breasts. Gravity and an instinct to nurse will guide your baby to your breast. As your baby searches for your breast, support your baby’s head and shoulders but don’t force the latch.
• Side-lying position: useful if you had a C-section, but also allows you to rest while the baby breastfeeds. Lie on your side with your baby facing you. Pull your baby close so your baby faces your body.

What to eat and drink while breastfeeding

It takes energy to breastfeed! Make sure to fuel your body and rest when you can.

• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. For example, it could be helpful to plan to
  drink a glass of water every time you breastfeed.
• Drinking a moderate amount (up to 2 cups a day) of coffee or other caffeinated
  beverages does not cause a problem for most breastfeeding babies. But too
  much caffeine can make a baby fussy or have trouble sleeping.

How to lower stress while breastfeeding

How to Lower Stress Levels while Breastfeeding:

• Ask questions! Learn what you can early on to help establish a good routine for you and your baby
• Remember you can use breastfeeding as time to bond with your baby
• Use your support system. Raising a baby takes a village!
• Be active if you can! Physical activity can help to improve mood and lower stress levels. If you are a new mother, ask your doctor when it is okay to start exercising after childbirth.

How to know if your baby is hungry

In the newborn stage, it might be hard to know how often to breastfeed.  Some signs your baby might be hungry are if they:

• Put their hands to their mouth
• Turn their head towards the breast or bottle
• Puckers, smacks, or licks their lips
• Clenches their hands

Different ways to pump

Choosing to pump can come with it’s own set of new questions. Here’s some
helpful information if you’re a pumping mom!

• You can use the hand expression. Use your hand to squeeze and press on your breast to remove milk. This gets easier with practice and can be a good option if you’re in an emergency situation or away from your baby.
• You can use a manual pump. This is useful for occasional pumping if you’re away from your baby once in a while.
• You can use an electric breast pump, which can run on battery or plugs into an electrical outlet. It can be easier for some moms since it can be portable. You can pump one breast at a time or both breasts at the same time. You need a place to clean and store the equipment in between uses.