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DESCRIPTION
Breastfeeding, or lactation, is the natural way in which the mother of a newborn can feed her child instead of relying on cow's milk or artificial formula preparations. A woman's breasts are ideally suited for the task of feeding a baby, and nursing provides many benefits to both mother and baby that bottles and formulas do not. For example, mother's milk is much easier to digest, prevents constipation, lowers the incidence of food allergies, and protects the baby from many infectious diseases. Nursing also promotes healthy oral development, satisfies suckling needs, and enhances bonding and skin-to-skin contact between mother and child. Breastfeeding is beneficial to the mother in that it reduces the chance of hemorrhaging from the placental site, gives the mother an opportunity to rest, and encourages the uterus to contract, returning it to its pre-pregnant size. Breastfeeding consumes calories and helps the mother to loose her pre-pregnancy weight.
Get an early start. Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when the infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. If the infant is born at home, the midwife will encourage the infant to breastfeed within minutes after the birth as an aid for expelling the placenta and preventing blood loss in the mother. Even though the mother won't be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease.
No supplements. Nursing babies don't need to be given sugar water or formula supplements. These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, which can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce. A mother of twins or triplets are capable of breastfeeding her multiple babies with a little creative ingenuity and support from those around her.
In breastfeeding, as with anything else that is new and unfamiliar, problems may occur. This page offers explanations and solutions to the most common breastfeeding problems.
ENGORGEMENT
Expect engorgement. A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days (nature's way of providing enough milk just in case there were multiple babies born). To relieve this engorgement, she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can take over-the-counter pain relievers (but keep in mind that these will most likely be passed on in breast milk), apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts and take warm baths to relieve the pain.
While taking warm showers and beginning under your arm pits, slowly and firmly apply pressure with both of your hands on each side of the engorged breast in an inward direction you massage toward the nipple to express extra milk out of the breast while allowing the warm water to spray on the breast.
Another tip you can use to help engorgement was to get the baby to nurse on one side for a few minutes and then switching him or her to the other side for a few minutes. While nursing the first breast, you can apply a clean hand towel to the breast not being nursed to "catch" the milk flow created from the "let down" reaction of the other breast being nursed Try switching the baby back and forth a few times to ease pressure up on both sides until both of your breasts are comfortably relieved. Finish feeding your infant off both breasts until the baby is full.
Engorgement is a temporary problem that most commonly occurs between 2 to 5 days after childbirth. It is caused by a combination of the increased blood supply to the breast and the pressure of the newly produced milk, resulting in the swelling of the tissues in the breast. A low-grade fever may be present; the breasts feel full, hard, tender, and tight; and the skin of the breasts may be hot, shiny, and distended.
Nurse on demand. Newborns need to nurse frequently, at least every two hours once engorgement has been reduced, and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate the mother's breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breastfed babies often eat more frequently than bottlefed babies.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Give your baby short, frequent feedings. A feeding schedule of every 1-1/2 to 2 hours day and night should be maintained while engorgement lasts.
Express milk between feedings to relieve pressure (See above).
Apply moist heat for 30 minutes preceding each feeding, and massage the breast during feedings to help get the milk flowing.
Do not use nipple shields, as they can confuse the baby's sucking pattern, damage nipples, reduce stimulation of the breast, and decrease the milk supply.
To prevent engorgement, feed your baby on demand and without delay, and allowing unrestricted suckling time. Do not skip or delay feedings during the day or night. Do not give your baby any formula or sugar water, and allow the baby to empty each breast completely at each feeding. This should take about 7 minutes on each side.
MASTITIS (BREAST INFECTION)
If a plugged duct is not take care of, mastitis can result. Soreness and redness in the breast, fever, and flulike symptoms are indicators of this problem. In fact, in a nursing mother all flu-like symptoms should be considered a breast infection until proven otherwise.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Drink plenty of fluids.
Get plenty of rest.
Apply heat with a hot water bottle or heating pad.
Do not stop nursing your baby; if you do, the ducts will remain full, and overfilled ducts can worsen the problem.
Note: FYI - Because cabbage leaves are used to treat sore nipples, mastitis, and many other kinds of "itis," Cabbage leaves can be placed on top of a maxi pad to treat vaginitis. You can experience complete relief from burning and itching within a couple of hours.
CONSIDERATIONS
Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics that can be taken by a nursing mother.
In rare cases, a breast infection results in a breast abscess, in which the sore breast fills with pus. An abscess may have to be incised to allow drainage. This procedure is performed in a health care provider's office. If an abscess develops, milk should be hand-expressed (massaged) from the infected breast and discarded. Breastfeeding should continue on the uninfected breast until the abscess is healed.
MoonDragon's Obgyn Information: Mastitis
PLUGGED DUCT
Incomplete emptying of the milk ducts by the baby, or the wearing of a tight bra, can cause a plugged duct. Soreness and a lump in one area of a breast is an indication of this problem.
RECOMMENDATION
Check the nipple very carefully for any tiny dots of dried milk, and remove them by gentle cleansing. Together with frequent nursing on the affected breast, this should allow the duct to clear itself within 24 hours.
Massage the breasts with firm pressure, from the chest wall toward the nipple, to stimulate milk flow.
Alter the position of the baby on the nipple so all the ducts are drained.
Make sure you offer the affected breast first, when the baby's sucking is strongest.
When a breastfeeding woman has a plugged duct or mastitis, have her crush ginger root and massage it over the pinkened area above the duct. This improves blood flow. Some women have succeeded using whiskey or tiger balm. Make a poultice of alfalfa and minced garlic, moistened with warmed lemon juice. Apply over the affected area ten to twenty minutes before nursing. A moist heat pack may also be helpful.
SORE NIPPLES
Sore nipples are usually caused by improper nursing positions and nursing schedules, or incorrect sucking by the baby. They can also be caused by infection, most commonly with the fungus Candida albicans.
Air Dry. In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air dry her them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking, which can lead to infection. If her nipples do crack, the mother can coat them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. Soreness can be caused when the baby does not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Proper positioning is important. The baby's mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for the mother. A midwife, nurse, or other knowledgeable person can help her find a comfortable nursing position.
Nurse on the least sore side first. However, it both breasts are sore, hand-express (massage the breast) until letdown occurs and milk is readily available to the baby.
Make sure that the baby's jaws exert pressure on the least tender spots. Do not pull away when the baby is about to begin feeding. Learn to relax.
Use dry heat such as a low-wattage electric bulb placed 12 to 18 inches from the breast for 10 to 15 minutes following each feeding.
If cracked nipples accompany soreness, apply aloe vera gel to the nipples to alleviate pain and promote healing.
To prevent sore nipples, feed your baby frequently to avoid having a baby who is overly hungry bite down roughly on the nipple. Change nursing positions often to rotate the pressure of the baby's mouth on the breast, and learn to break suction correctly. Between feedings, keep the nipples dry. Expose them to sunlight and air. Do not wash them with soap, alcohol, or petroleum-based products, which can wash away their natural protection.
If the pain is severe and persists despite these measures, it may be a sign of a candida infection. See Fungal Infection or Candida Infection. Consult with your midwife or health care provider, if necessary.
For Sore Nipples: Grate one medium potato; mix well with 2-3 teaspoons slippery elm powder. Form into small patty and place on disturbed area for 10-15 minutes, 1-3 times a day. This remedy may be used on hemorrhoids as well.
NUTRITIONAL HEALTH WHILE BREASTFEEDING
The following supplements are beneficial for nursing mothers. After discussion with your midwife or health care provider, you may decide to supplement your diet with these herbs, vitamins and minerals.
Whatever herbs you choose to recommend to others for breastfeeding, strive toward creating a tasty blend. Nutty flavors blend well with spices, leafy tastes call for mint or citrus, and savory flavors go well in soups or broths. Bitter flavors are tough to mask, and sweeteners don't really help. For these, it's best to make small, concentrated quantities and down it quickly. A good self imposed rule that calls for first trying anything you ask someone else to take. That way you know what they're really up against, and you're more motivated to create something that tastes good.
A report from Italy describes a case where breastfed babies were made ill because their mothers were drinking large quantities of an herbal tea that was supposed to increase milk supply [Acta Paediatrica, 1994 vol. 83]. The tea contained licorice, fennel, anise and galega officinalis. It is known that both anise and fennel can get into breastmilk and they contain essential oils that can cause neurological symptoms. Two babies aged 15 and 20 days had been vomiting, became lethargic, had weak cries and poor sucking. One of the mothers also said she was drowsy and weak. Breastfeeding and herbal teas were stopped and babies and the mother rapidly improved. When breastmilk was restarted after two days, both babies were fine. -AIMS Journal, 7(1), Spring 1995
Be aware and careful about what herbs and quantities consumed.
INCREASING BREASTMILK SUPPLY:
To increase milk Mother's Milk tea, made by Traditional Medicinals, works well. Drink one cup in the morning and another cup around noon, and your milk supply should increase afternoon. Even one cup in a day makes a significant difference. It contains fennel seed, anise seed, coriander seed, spearmint leaf, lemongrass, lemon verbena leaf, althea root, blessed thistle leaf, and fenugreek seed, a good tasting combination. This tea is available at some health food stores and is also available from Cascade Healthcare Products or Blooming Prairie Coop.
The other "herbal" remedy found effective for increasing milk is oats. When milk has gets low, eat a generous serving of oatmeal for breakfast. Later in the day you can see a difference in the quantity of milk. Continue to eat this for a few days until your milk is reestablished at a sufficient level.
Chaste berry and milk thistle are herbs that increase milk production. Take three capsules of each per day. Other herbs commonly used to increase milk production are fennel, marshmallow, goat's rue, blessed thistle. At weaning, one to two capsules each of sage and parsley should be taken every two to three hours.
Of course, these remedies should be combined with the common sense solutions of plenty of liquids for mom and enough rest. Making milk is hard work for a mom's body.
HERBS
Any of the following herbs can be beneficial for the nursing mother: alfalfa, blessed thistle, dandelion, fennel, horsetail, and raspberry leaf. ALFALFA SUPPLEMENTS
- Alfa Max, Alfalfa Extract, Nature's Way, 525 mg, 100 Caps
- Alfalfa Powder Whole Food Supplement, NOW Foods, 1 lb.
- Alfalfa Leaves, Nature's Way, 405 mg, 100 Caps
- Alfalfa, NOW Foods, 650 mg (10 Grain), 500 Tabs
- Alfalfa Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
BLESSED THISTLE SUPPLEMENTS
- Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
- Blessed Thistle Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
- Blessed Thistle, Nature's Way, 390 mg, 100 Caps
DANDELION SUPPLEMENTS
- Dandelion Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
- Dandelion Tea, NOW Foods, Organic, 30 Tea Bags
- Dandelion Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 8 fl. oz.
- Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
- Dandelion Root, Nature's Way, 540 mg, 180 Vcaps
FENNEL SUPPLEMENTS
- Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
- Fennel Seed, Nature's Way, 480 mg, 100 Caps
- Fennel Seed Tincture, Herbal Flatulence Remedy, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
HORSETAIL SUPPLEMENTS- Horsetail Herb Grass, Nature's Way, 440 mg, 100 Caps
RASPBERRY LEAF SUPPLEMENTS
- Woman's Raspberry Leaf Tea, Female Support, 16 Tea Bags
- Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
- Red Raspberry Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Nettle leaf has a tonic effect and contains iron in addition to many other nutrients.
NETTLE LEAF SUPPLEMENTS
- Nettle Herb, Nature's Way, 435 mg, 100 Caps
- Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
- Nettle Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
- Nettle Leaf Tea, NOW Foods, Organic, 30 Tea Bags
Aloe vera juice helps heal sore nipples when applied topically.
ALOE VERA JUICE SUPPLEMENTS
- Aloe Vera Juice, Herbal Aloe Force, Organically Grown, Unprocessed, Whole Raw Aloe Vera, 33.8 fl. oz.
- Aloe Vera concentrate, NOW Foods, 100% Organic, 4 oz.
The following herbs decrease milk supply, and should be avoided until a woman is no longer nursing: black walnut, sage, and yarrow.
Bulk herbs are available through Mountain Rose Herbs. Herbs in tablets, capsules, tinctures, and extract forms are available through Herbal Remedies. See banner links below.
BREASTFEEDING & NURSING SUPPLEMENTS & PRODUCTS
New Mother Natural Nursing Pads, Natracare, 25 Pads - New Mother Natural Nursing Pads have a cool and comfortable design to protect your clothes. Made from totally chlorine-free, natural and sustainable materials.
Wise Woman Herbal For The Childbearing Year By Susun S. Weed, Janice Novet - This is a complete herbal pharmacopoeia for dealing with every problem that might arise before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth. Simple, safe, remedies for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, newborns. Includes herbs for fertility and birth control.
Green Gifting Baby Care Kit, Burt's Baby Bee - Limited Edition Baby Bee Gift Kit. Your little one will be giggling with delight after using the luxurious buttermilk soaps, soaks and lotions in this cute kit.
Nursing Milk (Increase) Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz. - For nursing mothers who wish to increase their volume of milk.
Nursing Formula Tincture (Dry Up Milk), 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz. - The Nursing (Dry Up Milk) Formula was created to help dry up breast milk.
Neuromins DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), Nature's Way, 100 mg, 60 Softgels - DHA is an essential fatty acid is the primary structural fatty acid in the gray matter of the brain and retina of the eye and is important for signal transmissions in the brain, eye and nervous system. DHA is taken by expecting mothers to support fetal development, and by lactating mothers to enhance breast milk.
Prenatal Multi-Vitamin & Mineral, 100% Natural & Complete, Nature's Way, 180 Caps - Nature's Way Prenatal Vitamin with Folic Acid is a woman's complete vitamin formulated to support the health of the mother and child.
Blessed Thistle Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz. - Helps nursing mothers by stimulating the mammary glands and helps to increase breast milk supply.
Squaw Vine Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz. - Squaw vine is often used for both menstruating and pregnant women and may be used as a salve and be applied to sore nipples while nursing.
Anise Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz. - Anise herb combats infection, promotes milk production in nursing mothers, and is helpful with menopausal problems.
Lanolin Oil, NOW Foods, 100% Pure, Liquid, 4 fl. oz. - Pure Lanolin Oil (Liquid Lanolin) is a very high quality thick liquid and may be thinned with, Olive oil, Emu oil, or cocoa butter. Pure lanolin oil can be used like petroleum jelly on chapped skin and as a moisturizer.
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk - Modern uses of Blessed Thistle include increasing milk supply for nursing mothers, memory improvement, increasing appetite and generally preventing sickness. Four different ways of using Blessed Thistle have been recommended.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica) Herb Powder, 4 oz. Bulk - Prickly Pear is particularly useful in providing nutrients to the pancreas and liver, which support digestion and maintain blood sugar balance.
Cocoa Powder, Certified Organic, NOW Foods, 100% Natural - From holiday desserts and everyday baking, to a steaming cup of hot cocoa on those cold winter days, NOW Organic Cocoa Powder offers a guilt-free way to satisfy your sweet tooth without the high amounts of sugar, fat and preservatives common to many commercially available mixes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Eat plenty of brewer's yeast, eggs, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. Raw foods should be plentiful in the diet.
Discuss the need for supplements for your baby with your midwife or health care provider before giving the baby the supplement. Mother's milk is nearly a perfect food. However, it is low in vitamin C and D and iron.
If you need to supplement mother's milk, try almond milk, Rice Dream (made from brown rice), or a soymilk formula with a small amount of papaya (put through a blender). This resembles mother's milk. You can add a small amount of blackstrap molasses and brewer's yeast after the baby is a few months old. Always consult your midwife or health care provider before making any changes in your baby's diet.
CONSIDERATIONS
Eat right, get rest. To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid. She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue. She should take care of herself and her body with the same attention and dedication as she did when she was pregnant.
Relax and be happy. It is important to have and keep a sense of humor about birth and parenting. A relaxed emotional approach and a non-stressed environment to simply enjoy your new baby will go a long way towards breastfeeding (and parenting) success. The emotional state of the mother will also have effect on the baby. For a relaxed baby, the mother will need to keep herself relaxed. A stressed out mother will have a tense and fussy baby.
The UCLA Medical School reported that mother's milk kills a tiny parasite (Giardia lamblia) that can cause intestinal disease in children.
In recent studies, mothers who consumed garlic increased their babies' desire for milk, and the babies nursed longer. Garlic is good for both the mother and the infant. Kyolic from Wakunaga is an ideal way to consume garlic since it is odorless and therefore more "sociable."
Almost all drugs have been found to enter a nursing mother's milk, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, alcohol, amphetamines, antibiotics, antihistamines, barbiturates, caffeine, cimetidine (Tagamet), cocaine, decongestants, diazepam (Valium), ergotamine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), marijuana, nicotine, and opiates (codeine, meperidine [Demerol], morphine). Some of the effects these drugs can have on an infant include diarrhea, rapid heart rate, restlessness, irritability, crying, poor sleeping, vomiting, restlessness, irritability, crying, poor sleeping, and convulsions. In addition, some of these drugs may accumulate in an infant's body and cause addiction.
In a study of new mothers, those who were trained and sent home from the hospital with a breast pump were found to breastfeed their infants longer than those who were given formula but no pumps.
Breastfed babies run a very low risk of ever developing meningitis or severe blood infections. They also have a 500-600 percent lower risk of developing childhood lymphoma and suffer from 50 percent few middle ear infections than bottlefed babies.
Breast milk contains high amounts of inositol, a B vitamin that plays a crucial role in survival and infant development.
Women who undergo reduction mammoplasty (breast reduction surgery) and subsequently become pregnant can retain the ability to lactate and nurse. However, in one study only 35 percent of such women breastfed successfully, whereas 65 percent either did not breastfeed or discontinued nursing for various reasons. It was not disclosed whether any of these women were actually unable to secrete sufficient amounts of milk to nurse their babies. Women who are considering breast reduction surgery should nevertheless consider this if they wish to have children later on and hope to breastfed.
There are resources available to help women learn to breastfeed successfully and to overcome any problems that arise. Certified lactation consultants are practitioners who specialize in this area. Your health care provider, the facility where you give birth, or your midwife should be able to give you a referral. La Leche League is another valuable resource for the breastfeeding mother. This is an organization of nursing women that can serve as both an educational resource and a support group. La Leche League International
1400 N. Meacham Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4808
Phone: (847) 519-7730
Website: La Leche League.org
NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You have any questions about breast-feeding.
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