For many first-time mums, breastfeeding is a mystery.
While many Nigerian women assume that breastfeeding should be as easy as brushing your teeth, for many new mums this is not necessarily so.
In fact, research has shown that a significant number of new moms encounter at least one breastfeeding problem in the early days of motherhood.
On our Facebook page we have featured a lot of questions from new mums who encounter breastfeeding problems like not lactating enough, engorged breasts, mastitis etc.
What many people fail to realise is how important getting the right latch is. Latch refers to how the baby fastens onto the breast. How your baby latches is actually more important than how you hold your baby.
A good latch means that the bottom of your areola (the area around the nipple) is in your baby’s mouth and your nipple is back inside his or her mouth, where it’s soft and flexible. A shallow, or poor, latch happens when your baby does not have enough of your breast in his/her mouth or is too close to the tip. A shallow latch causes your already-sensitive nipple skin to press against the bones in the top of the baby’s mouth. That can cause your nipple to get sore, crack, and bleed.
A majority of new mums struggle with feeding issues because of the failure in getting their baby to latch on properly and some find breastfeeding is painful and this can be attributed to an incorrect latch.
If you are a new mum, these six steps should help you get breastfeeding baby latched on correctly.
1. Do your homework
Before your baby arrives, ask as many questions as you have and read about breastfeeding and getting a good latch.
Also avail yourself of the free videos on Youtube where experienced instructors demonstrate latching with real babies or with dolls, so you can get more comfortable with the process. Connecting with other moms and new moms-to-be can be an invaluable source of support should you have questions or problems when your turn arrives.
2. Relax
The best breastfeeding advice is to relax! Remember that you and your baby are learning.
3. Get into position
Find a relaxed position that you can stay in for a while. Some experts encourage moms to breastfeed in a reclined position (usually about 45 degrees, though do what feels good for you), especially at the beginning.
Hunching towards your baby puts a strain on your neck, shoulders, and back. So bring your baby to you rather than the other way around.
4. Get a good latch
Encourage your baby to open wide. Sucking on the nipple alone is painful and may inhibit milk production, so try to fit your baby’s mouth around the entire nipple and the majority of the areola.
To do this, gently brush your nipple across his bottom lip, a sensation that triggers him to open his mouth wider. When inserting your breast, aim the nipple slightly upward, towards the roof your infant’s mouth. This helps ensure that the bottom of your areola is in your baby’s mouth, which helps stimulate the milk ducts.
Mothers can know that the baby has latched well when they don’t feel pain, beyond some mild tenderness. Your baby’s lips should be flanged (splayed) out, rather than curled inwards or pursed.
5. Check for the signs of a good latch
You should note that a good latch doesn’t necessarily tell you if your baby is getting enough milk. For that, you need to watch his diaper output and make sure he’s gaining weight over time.
6. Be on the lookout for signs of trouble
It’s common for new moms to feel a little soreness or tenderness with breastfeeding, especially in the very beginning.
However note that pinching or biting, and any soreness shouldn’t last the entire feeding.
If it does, it means there’s something going on that you need to address. Pay attention to how your nipple looks when your baby detaches. If it’s compressed, cracked, or bleeding, that’s not normal.
If you notice any of these things or feel a lot of pain, or if something seems off for your baby talk to your doctor or pediatrician.
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