How to Breastfeed & Breastfeeding Tips


 

 

 

 MOTHERHOOD:

''The days are long... but the years are short.''

- Gretchen Rubin

 

 

 

Breastfeeding is in our nature, but it does not always come naturally.  Both mother and baby often need assistance and encouragement to find their unique rhythm and relationship.  Our maternal instincts can get fuzzy when there is so much information (and ill advice!) out there. If you feel something is not right, seek help!!

Our favourite online breastfeeding resources: 

Go to a La Leche League meeting in your area and get the confidence and tips you need from other breastfeeding moms. This wonderful association encourages you to come while you are pregnant so you feel prepared and supported from day one.  You’ll also learn where to go if breastfeeding does not go as planned. Most cities have a breastfeeding support group (breastfeeding coalition, La Leche League groups or a hospital run breastfeeding clinic). Find the closest one to you and keep its phone number handy.

The International Lactation Consultant Association (www.ilca.org) is the best place to find a board certified lactation consultant in your area.  The true expert in the breastfeeding department, a lactation consultant can be of tremendous help trouble-shooting your breastfeeding obstacles. Identifying tongue-tie, perfecting the latch or just giving advice and confidence to the new mom are all in the job description.

Kellymom.com is an evidence-based wealth of knowledge on all things breastfeeding.  It is a phenomenal resource to answer questions, confirm instincts and keep us updated with the science of breastfeeding. 

Our community


Join our online community at Momzelle's Facebook page and on Instagram.  There are over 30 000 new moms like you!  We post relevant, informative and inspirational articles about breastfeeding and parenting.  We love to hear your thoughts and welcome comments!

We also share information and inspiring stories on our blog.

 

Please keep in mind that nothing on the internet can replace discussing any issues in-person with a qualified lactation consultant or health care provider. 

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breastfeeding logoAs you may already know, Health Canada and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond, as breast milk is the best food for optimal growth for healthy term infants.  Enjoy this special time, it is over too soon!

 

 

 Dr. Jack Newman's Articles and Videos

Dr. Jack Newman is a world-renowned breastfeeding expert and advocate.  We have listed his articles below. They are inspiring and very informative.


JACK NEWMAN, MD, FRCPC is a pediatrician. He graduated from the University of Toronto medical school. In 1984 he established the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada. He is a great defender of breastfeeding mothers rights and a pioneer regarding the promotion of breastfeeding in North America. His knowledge and advice has helped thousands of women to give the best possible start to their babies.

  1. Breastfeeding: Starting out right
    a) The importance of Skin-to-Skin contact
  2. Colic in the Breastfed Baby
  3. a) Sore Nipples
    b) Treatments for Sore Nipple and Sore Breasts
  4. Is my baby getting enough?
  5. Using a Lactation Aid
  6. Using Gentian Violet
  7. Breastfeeding and Jaundice
  8. Finger Feeding
  9. a) You should continue breastfeeding (Medications and breastfeeding)
    b) You should continue breastfeeding (Illness in the mother or baby)
  10. Breastfeeding and other foods
  11. Some breastfeeding myths
  12. More breastfeeding myths
  13. Still more breastfeeding myths
  14. More and more breastfeeding myths
  15. Breast compression
  16. Starting solid foods
  17. What to feed the baby when the mother is working outside the home
  18. How to know a health professional is not supportive of breastfeeding
  19. a) Domperidone 1
    b) Domperidone 2
  20. Fluconazole
  21. Breastfeed a toddler – Why on earth?
  22. Blocked ducts and mastitis
  23. Breastfeeding your adopted baby
  24. Miscellaneous treatments for problems: Cabbage leaves, Herbs, Lecithin
  25. Slow weight gain after the first few months
  26. When the Baby refuses to latch on
  27. Expressing Milk
  28. Toxins and Infant Feeding

Videos

First Latch
How to achieve the "asymmetrical" latch. Shows some drinking by the baby (see Third Latch for more obvious drinking), some nibbling.



Second Latch, Some Compression
Baby is mostly nibbling at the breast. Compression is being used to get the baby to drink more. Another "asymmetric" latch is shown. Note that after re-latching the baby drinks better than before, and compression is not necessary to get the baby to drink.



Third Latch
Shows baby latching on with "asymmetric" latch. Then later, video shows the baby getting milk. The pause in the chin tells us when the baby is getting milk and the absence of the pause means the baby is not getting milk. The pause can be seen even on the very first day of life, though obviously not as obviously, as the more milk the baby gets, the longer the pause. The pause does not represent swallowing, but rather the baby's mouth filling up with milk.



Compression
The technique of compression is demonstrated, and it can be seen that the baby drinks more milk as the breast is compressed. The mother starts the compression as the baby sucks, but does not get milk. It is important to work with the baby and compress only when the baby is sucking (moving his/her mouth).