The benefits of breastfeeding rather than formula-feeding babies are widely published. But reading about breastfeeding is easier than facing the difficult challenges a new nursing mother will encounter. Problems when beginning to breastfeed are common, but a new mother should not feel discouraged.

Learning to breastfeed is part of the process of becoming a mother. A new mother will become more proficient in her role with patience and practice. Although breastfeeding can be challenging at first, she should remember its benefits: watching her baby develop happily and healthily with the best opportunities she could give him or her.

Breastfeeding: Benefits for Baby

Breast milk is a rich, wholesome food, containing all a baby's necessary nutrients in balanced proportions and sufficient quantities. It is clean, easy to digest, and readily available at the right temperature. Breast milk contains enough water for the baby’s hydration need and antibodies that protect the child from infections, especially gastrointestinal and respiratory ones.

Additionally, breast milk prevents the development of allergies by protecting a baby’s gut. A possible reason for this is that the baby's introduction to foods that can trigger an allergy is delayed when he or she drinks breast milk, allowing his or her stomach time to develop fully. Breast milk also prevents harmful substances, such as chemicals, from passing in to the baby's blood. The physical sucking action can also aid a baby's jaw and tooth development.

Children who breastfeed also demonstrate enhanced cognitive and social development. Breastfeeding can promote a child's adequate growth and prevent stunting.

Breastfeeding: Benefits for Mom

Breastfeeding benefits a mother by helping her uterus contract back to normal size after pregnancy. When a mother or any female's nipples experience stimulation, her body releases a hormone called "oxytocin," which causes the woman's uterus to contract. Breastfeeding can also delay the return of menstrual periods for approximately three months after delivery (although this should not be considered an effective form of birth control). Additionally, it can reduce a mother's risk of premenopausal breast or ovarian cancer.

Since breast milk is “free,” naturally available, and hygienic it saves the mother the significant expense of baby formula and the work of having to sterilize bottles or mix formulas. Moreover, breastfeeding can increase the emotional bonding between a mother and her child in the first months.

The "Let-Down" Reflex

The "let-down" reflex is a term used to describe when milk is ready to flow from a mother's breast. The reflex starts a few seconds to several minutes after the mother starts breastfeeding. She might begin to feel a tingle in her breast, as milk starts dripping from the breast duct. The reflex might be triggered if a feeding is overdue, if a mother hears her baby cry, or even, sometimes, if a mother thinks about her baby.

Flow from the reflex might cause a baby to cough if the discharge of milk is too forceful. To avoid this, a mother can “spill” some of her milk beforehand, in order to reduce the amount her baby can suck at any given time.

Beginning

Before every feeding, a mother needs to wash her hands. To begin feeding, she should sit down comfortably, using pillows for extra support if needed. With one hand, she should place a thumb on the top of a breast and the fingers below it.

She should help her baby by touching its lips to her nipple until he or she opens them to suck. Then she should put the nipple all the way into the child's mouth while pulling the baby closer to her.

The baby will have latched on correctly if his or her lips cover nearly all of the areola (the darkened part of the nipple) and seem to pout out. The mother might need to push her breast away from the baby’s nose so that he or she can breathe more easily while feeding.

Feeding Positions

A mother can hold her baby in several positions while breastfeeding, as long as she ensures her baby does not need to turn or strain his or her neck or head. To enter a position called the cradle position, a mother must lay her baby sideways against her chest; one breast should be right in front of the baby's face. The baby should face the mother while the mother holds his or her head in the crook of her arm. One of the mother's hands and arms should support the baby’s back and bottom.

In another position, called the football position, the mother tucks her baby under her arm like a football; the baby's head rests on the mother's hand, while the mother supports her baby’s body with her forearm. This position can be comfortable when the baby is very small and is a good option for mothers whose midsections are recovering from a caesarean section.

A mother can also lie on her side with one or multiple pillows propping her head and shoulders, while her baby faces her; some women find this position more comfortable than the others.

Feeding Frequency

A baby should feed as often he or she wants. A mother should look for signs of hunger, including a baby chewing or sucking hands or fingers and crying. As the baby gets older and undergoes growth spurts, his or her frequency of feeding may change. At each session, a baby should feed about 15 to 20 minutes on each breast or until he or she is satisfied.

To know if her baby is getting enough milk, a mother should keep track of her baby's urination (ideally about six to eight times per day), how often her baby feeds (every one and a half to two hours is normal when breastfeeding), and if her baby is gaining weight. A baby should gain roughly one ounce a day consistently for the first three to four months of life. He or she should also produce six to eight wet diapers per day. Additionally, the baby should pass two to five (or sometimes more) stools a day.

A mother may need to increase the number of feedings per day if she thinks her baby needs more milk. There is considerable debate as to the maximum number of hours between feeding (such as during the night if you are lucky enough to have a newborn who sleeps at night). Many doctors feel a newborn should not go for more than about four hours without feeding (the length between feeding sessions should be counted from the time the baby begins to nurse). This often translates into waking the newborn up in the middle of the night to feed. Other experts feel it is unnecessary to interfere with a baby’s sleep, and that if they are hungry enough, they will wake up on their own. Mothers who choose this method must ensure that they will hear their baby’s cries by using a baby monitor or sleeping in the same room as baby.

Preventing Sore Nipples

Sore nipples happen in a mother when her baby has fed without latching onto her breast properly. Preventing sore nipples from developing is easier than treating them. To prevent sore nipples, a mother should take precautions that will let her baby latch on more easily to her nipples. She should air-dry her nipples between feedings.

It is okay to let milk dry on her nipples, but she should wash them with warm water and avoid soap or lotions that contain alcohol. Rubbing lanolin (a waxy substance) on her nipples can soothe them, but she should wash this off before feeding again. A mother should avoid using bra pads lined with plastic, too, and changing her bra pads between feedings can keep her nipples stay dry. She should feed her baby only when the let-down reflex happens as much as possible because this will ensure her milk is easily available and prevent the baby from sucking hard enough to hurt her. Additionally, breastfeeding at regular intervals can prevent breast engorgement (from too-infrequent feedings), so that the nipple is not too large for the baby's mouth.

If a mother does develop sore nipples, she can feed her baby first with the less-sore nipple before switching to the sorer one. (The baby's most vigorous sucking often occurs during the first few minutes.) Crushed ice applied to a sore nipple before nursing can ease discomfort by reducing blood flow through the vessels. When possible, a mother should position any cracked or tender parts of her breast at the corner of her baby’s mouth so that the damaged part experiences less pressure while her baby sucks. In addition, a silicone nipple shield (available over-the-counter at most drugstores) can be used to help protect the sore nipple until it heals.

A Mother's Diet

A breastfeeding woman should eat a balanced diet, including plenty of calcium and fluids. Her diet should include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, breads, meat, beans, and milk and other dairy products. To have enough calcium, she should consume five servings of milk, broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu or kale. She might need to limit her intake of caffeine and alcohol, which can seep into her milk and affect her baby. Since breastfeeding requires about 500 extra calories a day, women who have gained excessive weight will find it easier to lose weight. However, for thin women who may have not gained much weight, it is important to eat extra food to ensure that breastfeeding does not rob your body of required nutrients and proteins.

A mother should also avoid any food she suspects might be bothering her baby. She should take prescription and other medications only with approval from her doctor. A mother who smokes must quit smoking, because the chemicals from cigarettes can decrease her ability to produce milk and affect her baby. Spicy foods should also be avoided as they can cause an upset stomach and colic in breastfeeding infants.

Breastfeeding: A Learning Process

Breastfeeding is a learned procedure, even though it is as old as humans. A mother should allow herself several weeks to perfect the feeding technique, including finding the correct positioning and making sure her baby is latching properly. (Positioning and latching on can prevent most problems new mothers experience with breastfeeding.)

While she's feeding, a mother needs to feel relaxed, hold her baby tenderly, speak to him or her reassuringly, and let him or her rest securely against her breast. Once she has established a good breastfeeding schedule and procedure, her baby can also feel comfortable and relaxed.

To succeed and find a comfortable way to feed, a mother should get an early start on learning about breastfeeding, especially while she is still in the hospital and can consult her doctor and nurses. Lactation consultants are often available at both the hospital and at home to provide expert advice, guidance, and support for mothers who wish to breastfeed.

Finally, it should be noted that while breastfeeding provides invaluable benefits to both baby and mom, it is not always feasible or possible for everyone for various reasons. If a mother is able to breastfeed for only a few weeks or a few months, they should feel satisfied that their baby has received some real benefits during that time. Conversely, mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed should not be made to feel guilty. The baby formulas available today are excellent and provide very good nutrition as well.