Comfort Sucking
Most babies enjoy sucking on their mothers’ breasts for its own sake just as much as feeding. You will learn to tell the difference between actual feeding and comfort sucking. You may notice that your baby is sucking strongly during a feeding [...]
Baby Refusing Breast
It is quite usual for a newborn not to suck very vigorously or for very long during his first 24 to 36 hours. If this occurs later, however, there may be a problem that needs to be addressed. Breathing difficulties are the most likely cause [...]
How to Breastfeed
The rooting reflex Prompt your baby to look for the breast by gently stroking the cheek nearest to it. Your baby will immediately turn toward your breast, open – mouthed.
Latching on Your baby should take the nipple and a good proportion [...]
Breastfeeding Your Baby
Breastfeeding creates a strong bond between mother and baby if feeding time is relaxed and pleasurable for both. Make sure your baby can see you, and smile and talk to him while he is suckling. He will come to associate the pleasure of feeding [...]
Let-Down Reflex
The sucking action of your baby at the breast sends messages to the hypothalamus, which is turn stimulates the pituitary gland in your brain to release two hormones: prolactin, which is responsible for the manufacture of milk in the milk glands, [...]
Breastfeeding: Demand Feeding
Milk is produced in glands that are deeply buried in the breast, not in the fatty tissue, so breast size is no indication of how much milk you can produce; even small breasts are perfectly adequate milk producers.
Milk is produced according [...]
Colostrum and Breast Milk
During the 72 house after delivery, the breasts produce a thin, yellow fluid called colostrum, made up of water, protein, and minerals. It contains antibodies that protect [...]