Questions About Breatsfeeding..

Thank you for breastfeeding! Regarding the breast pads...I used cut up cloth diapers and folded handkerchiefs. I got the diaper ones from a company called FAMILIES (owned by a Mennonite family) and they were super thick. I personally did not like the disposible pads becuase I would not feel them getting wet (after all, they are just a round sanitary pad) and by the time I remembered them, they'd stink.

The only special nipple care I did was not use soap on the breast area. I would occasionally use lanolin but only after I had warmed it up a tad to where it wasn't thick.

I can't help you with the other two questions because my kids were troopers with immediate latch-on and no gas, beyond what was normal. And Lord knows, I ate all the things that are supposed to make babies gassy...onions, garlic, milk, soy, beans, etc.

K.

Breastfeeding is very clean and sanitary, so, you don't need to clean your nipple before or after each feeding, they say the milk left on the nipple after a feeding, is actually good and helps with healing. Soap will dry them out, so use only warm water when in the shower or tub, use lanolin ointment if they do get dry or sore, which may happen in the beginning, the lanolin is meant to be left on and safe for baby.

I used reusable pads made of 100% cotton, I had a few pairs, and for me, they were much more comfortable than disposables, especially here in Florida during the summer, the disposables didn't breathe and were sweaty (yuck), but the cotton ones were great and easy to toss in the laundry too! They just made more sense to me :)

I'm like you--nursing the second--and I found La Leche League to be great. You might see if there is a group in your area, so you could always have someone to run the little questions by! I also used the washable pads, but after a few months, I didn't really need them anymore, so keep in mind that problem will probably end. I'll leave the rest since you already have good answers!

1) Lactation Consultant. He may not be hungry right then, he may have latching problems. Of which there are about a dozen causes, and an equal number of fixes.

2) Many babies nurse every 30 minutes for some time (cluster feeding), and most babies have TINY tummies. They eat a little bit, fairly often, until their stomachs get larger... and they rarely eat for long until your milk comes in. It's also a physically exhausting thing to do. They have to build up their muscles (never used before!!! in order to suck and swallow... instead of nipples from bottles which don't require much effort. It takes a little bit of time until they're nursing 15/30/60 minutes at a go. Again, lactation consultant. :)

3) Nope! Don't. Do in the shower, but your nipples are excreteing antimicrobial substances that you DON'T want to wash off. A million years ago (well, 40) this wasn't understood. Cleaning the nipple/areola between/before feedings will cause infections in BOTH you AND your baby in less than a couple days. Oweeeee.

4) Well.... foods you eat are only ONE possible source of gass. Not burping long enough is a common one (but only ONE more cause, there are many causes). We had to marathon burp (rare), some people can stop at the first burp (rare)... most need to go to the 2nd burp... but how long that 2nd burp takes reeeeally varies between 5-60 minutes. Anyhow... before you begin an elimination diet DO check for
- burping to the 2nd burp
- reflux
- positioning (lactation consultant again)

5) Breast pads are bestest bestest bestest... anything else will do in a pinch. Maxi pads cut in half, a sock, papertowels... anything handy and clean that is absorbant.

- What can I do when he wont latch on?
Sometimes it helps to squeeze your breast a little and put it into his mouth. I had to do this with my daughter, otherwise she would not latch on enough. If it continues to be a problem, you may need to see a lactation specialist to decide if there is a reason for his poor latch.

- He seems to just want to snack on me and not have a full meal. Is this okay? If not what can I do to change it?
You want to try to get him to eat for longer periods, so that he gets used to eating a full meal. This way, he will fill up more, and need to eat less often. Newborns eat so often as it is, you want to try to get him to spread out feedings as he grows, especially at night so you're not waking up a ridiculous amount. You can help this by keeping him awake if he is falling asleep on you - tickle his feet, rub under his chin, undress him if necessary. If he is getting distracted, try to go to a quiet area to nurse. this may not be easy if you have other children. you could try covering him up with a blanket so he isn't getting interested in what's going on elsewhere.

- Should I clean my aureola/nipple before and after every feeding? what are the best products for this?
I don't think this is necessary. Use lanolin cream if your nipples become dry or sore. you do not need to clean this off either. it is safe for your baby.

- I have a gassy baby. What are some foods I should avoid eating to prevent him from having gas?
I know you should avoid broccoli, and I suppose other foods that would cause anyone gas (beans, etc.)

- What are some good alternatives for breast pads? I seem to run out of them before I can make it to the store.
they do make ones that are washable. you reuse them, rather than tossing them. or, just stock up! buy them regularly like you would diapers so you don't run out.

Be patient when he won't latch and keep trying. Try not to get frustrated. It is fine if he wants to just snack. No need to clean nipples. Avoid any foods that would give you gas. Use washclothes, maxipads, etc.

See a Lactation Consultant.
See if he is latching on correctly and if you have enough milk.

For gas: Mylicon Infant Gas Drops and watch what you eat too. Look online for what to avoid.

Breast pads, comes in a box. With many in it. I got mine from CVS stores.
I always had enough.
Or stick a sanitary pad in your bra... for times when you don't have a breast pad.

If you use soap to wash your nipples, it may get dry and cracked.

Your baby, needs to be nursing at least 15 minutes, to get to the "Hind Milk."
Use both breasts, per session.

Since he is not latching on... then he is not getting sufficient intake. You need to see a Lactation Consultant.
His entire mouth, should be encircling the areola. Not just sucking from the tip of your nipple.
From the bottom on his lip, put your entire nipple in his mouth... so that it is not just at the tip.

How old is your baby?

Nurse him on demand.
Infants, even do what is called "cluster feeding" and this means they even feed, and need to, every single hour. Because they need the intake per growth/development/growth spurts. Every 3 weeks in a baby infant is a growth-spurt. So at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks (3 months) then at 6 months, 9 months, and every 3 months. They need more intake at these times, per quantity and frequency.

How old is your son? Do you always have problems with the latch? The hospital that I delivered at had a lactation consultant. You may wan to contact your hospital to see if they have one too. It was very helpful to have her watch my son latch on. With my first son, I had to use a nipple shield in order for him to latch on. With my new baby, my husband had to help with getting him to latch correctly for the first few days.

He just may not be hungry. I sometimes think my son is crying because he's hungry, but he won't latch. I just wait until later.