month 9+ YOUR
O lactation
ne of the most common myths of pregnancy is that breastfeeding
is something that comes naturally and easily to every woman. “Actually it takes a bit of work and a bit of practice, and both you and the baby need to learn how to do it,” says registered midwife Sister Elizabeth Beavon. “Yes, it is natural, and yes, it is the best thing for you and baby, but it’s not spontaneous.”
Preparing beforehand increases your chances of success. “Find a support group, a
consultant or a
midwife you feel comfortable with. Visit a La Leche League (LLC) group during your pregnancy. It prepares you so much better if you have support in place before the time, some information you can rely on and a number you can call,” advises LLC leader Leani Khan.
Problem #1 LATCHING
A good latch is absolutely crucial, says Elizabeth. “Breastfeeding should not hurt. If it hurts, unlatch your baby and try again, reposition or adjust your hold to find a better
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BREASTFEEDING
position for both of you,” she recommends. “Get somebody to help you with those first couple of latches. If the latch is good, you will know when it’s not right and that will give you the confidence to unlatch and start again,” she advises. If your baby latches just onto the nipple, you will become sore and your baby will get a limited supply of milk. It is the massaging of the areola tissue from your baby’s suckle and the movement of the tongue that draws the milk out. Another important detail is to recognise a good feed. But, remember, your baby’s tummy is only the size of a marble at birth. During those first feeds, learn to recognise your baby swallowing as he suckles. You will hear a soft sound like “ca-ca”. Once baby is latched correctly, he will suck rapidly at first and then settle into a rhythm of suckling and swallowing.
When feeding your baby, do lots of skin to skin contact (baby is placed directly on mom’s chest). This will help with spontaneous
breastfeeding
behaviour. It allows your baby to use his senses and latch onto the breast. This makes it a more relaxed experience, and the baby feeds when he needs
PROBLEMS SORTED
It’s one of those things that may be much harder than it looks, but it’s worth persevering with breastfeeding because of the amazing
benefits
baby and you BY JULIA BOLTT
to, not when we he’s forced to, according to a feeding schedule. “It becomes a team effort, and it’s
calming everyone,” says Leani. Problem #2
CRACKED NIPPLES Cracked nipples can be extremely painful, and are the result of a poor latch. “There should be no pain experienced externally when a baby is suckling. If you feel pain, take the baby off,
reposition the
baby and latch again,” stresses Elizabeth. “If you have cracked nipples, get them seen by your GP or gynae and get the right cream. Don’t assume or follow the advice of friends,” cautions Elizabeth. “Cracked nipples need to dry and heal – warm, dry air helps. You may want to avoid breast pads, which are a moist environment,” she advises. If you have a bacterial infection, you’ll need appropriate treatment from your healthcare provider. However, if you have cracked nipples, “get help with your latch so that the problem doesn’t recur,” says Leani. “If the latch is good, you will not get cracked nipples, no matter how long the baby is on the breast. And if you fix that latch, it
will not be
unbearable anymore and you’ll be able to breastfeed, even with cracked nipples.”
Problem #3 sometimes
ENGORGEMENT Engorgement happens when the breasts produce more milk than your baby is taking in. It’s a case of supply and demand, but
there is
oversupply as your hormones kick in. Symptoms include hard, warm, throbbing breasts, flattened nipples (which make it hard for the baby to latch properly), and slightly swollen underarm lymph nodes. “You need to gently relieve the fullness by feeding your baby or gently using a breast pump or manually expressing by using a downward massage on the breast tissue, but only express a little to relieve pressure; you don’t want to stimulate more milk production,” cautions Elizabeth. “Avoid engorgement by feeding on demand, which does not mean waiting until the baby cries,” advises Leani. Once you have engorgement, the best way to treat this is to let your baby
for for your
CONTACTS La Leche League of South Africa, www.llli. org/
southafrica.html to find a group near you
USEFUL
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