It does not matter if it is your first baby or you already have the experience, it is normal that many doubts arise. We give you some of the most frequent answers.
Did you drink enough milk?
Perhaps he eats well if the mother does not hurt and sees him doing slow movements of the entire jaw, not just the rapid movements of the lips (which they usually do at the beginning of the intake and when swallowing). If there is discomfort, the nurse should be asked for help. Breastfeeding should not hurt. When a newborn is very weak, as in the “energy-saving” mode, cries little, hardly moves and sleeps a lot, a vicious circle easily begins: “he who does not cry does not suck.” So you can’t trust yourself because “you seem satisfied” or “you sleep a lot.” If the child cries, it may not be from hunger, but for another reason. The doctor should review it.
Wake him up or not to breastfeed him?
Normally, it is not necessary to wake a baby to eat. But you do need to be vigilant to breastfeed at the first sign. You don’t have to wait for him to cry, but offer him a breast as soon as he moves or makes a noise. The goal is to get ten or 12 shots in 24 hours (some little ones do less, and if they get fatter, they don’t need more). Exceptionally, when a baby loses too much weight, the doctor will recommend that you remember him to give him the shots at dawn.
Falls asleep while eating
Sometimes the newborn falls asleep when he is eating, leaning against the chest, that’s what it’s for! Usually there is no need to move or insist, just hit it again when you wake up. If you appear to be falling asleep too quickly and have not had time to eat, your weight should be monitored.
Suffer from weight loss
Excessive weight loss may indicate a breastfeeding problem or illness. While looking for the cause, it is advisable to increase milk production by expressing after each feeding (six times a day or more). You have to be persistent, little by little, the amount will increase. Then you have to try to give the baby the milk that has been obtained: if the opposite was due to breastfeeding, it will be taken and fattened. If you reject it and lose weight, your doctor should see it
It was a dark baby
Premature or sick babies cannot breastfeed (or take a bottle), they must be given milk by tube. In the hospital they explain to the mother how to express milk, at least six times a day. It is essential to start shortly after delivery, in the first hours and thus stimulate proper production.
Born by caesarean section
Sometimes the baby is at the chest while the doctor finishes sewing the wound. It is essential to put it to the breast as soon as possible and feed it frequently. Anesthesia in milk does not cause any problems (the anesthetic blow was received by the baby through the placenta, just before the caesarean section; compared to that, it does not matter).
They’re twins!
Many mothers exclusively breastfeed twins, including triplets. You have to do as always: put them to the breast right away and give them to them very often. It is good to find someone to do the housework because the mother will not have time.
The best method to avoid nipple cracks
The main cause of nipple cracks is poor sucking, because the child is misplaced (too far apart, with his mouth slightly open, grasping only the nipple), by a lingual frenulum, or by a combination of both. The method will be aimed at correcting the cause; ointments and creams are usually not helpful, but in some cases an antibiotic ointment is applied if it is suspected that the wound has become infected.
It has linguae frenulum
About 5% of babies have a short bridle on their tongue that prevents them from eating well. Sometimes it reaches the tip of the tongue and in other cases it affects only the back; it can even be submucosal: it is not seen, but it is palpated by passing the finger under the tongue. The short frenulum usually causes problems with sucking: very long feedings, pain or cracks in the nipple and little weight gain. Sometimes a good position in the chest allows the child to suck quite well, despite the frenulum, but many times it is necessary to cut it (a simple intervention with local anesthesia). Meanwhile, it is important to express your milk after feedings (to increase production) and give it to your child (to gain weight).
Can a conduit be blocked? What I do?
If the mother notices a hot, red and painful area of the breast is a sign that a duct has been blocked, it is advisable to continue breastfeeding (placing the baby’s tongue in the direction of the inflammation if possible), as sucking helps It unblocks the obstruction and facilitates the flow of liquid. It is also useful to apply heat between feedings, massage the affected area and try to express milk, at least three times a day after three feedings, to better empty the breasts.
If a high fever appears, much discomfort or if the fever is not very high, but it does not disappear in 24 hours, the doctor should be consulted in case it is necessary to take an antibiotic. However, infectious mastitis is often cured without the need for medication, but simply by emptying the chest and continuing to breastfeed. Weaning in case of mastitis is not a good idea, as the infection could worsen and become an abscess.