How to start breastfeeding ?

Cuddle your baby on your chest to welcome him or her gently into the world. When you and your baby are skin to skin, covered lightly together, your milk production and baby’s feeding reflexes are triggered. This means baby will start looking for the breast and more breast milk will be made sooner. Babies are often more alert and interested in feeding in the first hour following birth. Remain skin to skin with your baby until after a successful breastfeed. This will help baby to stay warm and reduce stress, helping you both to recover from the birth. For caesarean births, the mother or father can hold the baby skin to skin until the baby can enjoy his or her first feed.

How to Feed Your Baby

• Look for your baby’s early signs of wanting to feed, such as rooting, licking her lips or putting her hands to her mouth. Crying is a late hunger cue.
• Sit or lie down comfortably, using pillows for support and comfort if necessary.
• Relax your shoulders and bring your baby to your breast rather than your breast to baby.
• Hold your baby close, tummy to mummy, nose to nipple, chin to breast and bottom tucked in to your body. Support your baby’s neck and shoulders firmly without pushing the back of your baby’s head as this often makes the baby push away from the breast.
• Support your breast by holding four fingers underneath, away from the areola (dark area), with your thumb on top. Expressing a few drops of milk will awaken your baby’s senses of taste and smell.
• Rest your baby’s chin on the breast, nose to nipple until her mouth opens as big as a yawn and she moves her head back to take a big mouthful of the breast. You can also gently touch your baby’s lips until her mouth opens very wide.
• When your baby feels your nipple with her tongue, her lips will close over the areola and nipple and form a seal; both lips should be rolled outwards. You will feel your baby suckling gently at first and then deeply and rhythmically, one or two sucks per swallow, with little pauses to rest.
• When your baby comes off the breast or is no longer suckling actively, burp her and offer the other breast.
• If you need to take your baby off the breast, gently place a finger in the corner of her mouth until you break the suction.

There are many breastfeeding positions; find the one that is most comfortable for you and your baby. If you have had a caesarean birth, you may need help to position yourself and your baby comfortably. Ask for help from nurses, your doctor, midwife, or a lactation consultant.