In the midst of the excitement and anticipation that every pregnant woman goes through before D-day, concern definitely arises about how successful she will be at breastfeeding. After all, with the rising knowledge of the definite health benefits of breast milk, every mom will want to give her baby the best possible start in life.
However, there are many misconceptions about what constitute breastfeeding success. How do you know which ones to believe, and which ones to apply to ensure breastfeeding success? The following factors are among the biggest influences on a mother’s milk supply and success in breastfeeding, especially in the first few months of the baby’s life:
1. Supply and demand – Your doctor, as well as other experts on breastfeeding, will likely tell you that breast milk supply is largely triggered by demand. For example, when your baby nurses only once a day, it is expected that your milk supply will be lower than if the baby nurses eight times a day. However, you need to understand that there is such a thing as intensity of the baby’s suck: when a baby is obviously hungry, of course, his sucking will be much stronger compared to when he is just looking for comfort. In this regard, it is crucial for a baby to have a set routine for his daily feedings. The best routine would be one comprised of full feedings and that which settles his hunger patterns, so that every time he comes to the breast, he is fully hungry and not only looking for a snack. A full feeding means that you get baby to nurse until he’s full, not until he falls asleep. This is easiest to do when you bear in mind the pattern of feed-wake-sleep, wherein you feed the baby as soon as he wakes up, then have some playtime, before putting him down for a nap. Another perk of this routine is that the baby gets the benefit of hind milk, which is the more nutritious breast milk that comes on after the letdown reflex. On a side note, this idea of supply and demand is partly why working mothers who are concerned about keeping their milk supply up would opt to bring their breast pump to work and save the milk in the fridge to give to their babies when they are out at work and cannot breastfeed them directly.
2. Stress – Experts are unanimous on the effect of stress on breast milk supply. A mother will generally be “on-call” 24 hours a day, but when a baby is not put onto any routine, the mother may wind up nursing every five or ten minutes, sometimes every half hour, and other times every hour or two. This kind of inconsistency contributes to the mom’s stress level, in addition to her lack of sleep. As such, a crucial factor for breastfeeding success is really the proper management of baby’s routine, which als0 results in mom being better-rested.
3. Proper latch-on – Sometimes, breastfeeding mothers get frustrated with a crying baby who does not seem to get enough milk. While there are some cases wherein the mother’s supply is not enough to meet baby’s demand, it is also possible that the baby is just not properly latched on. As such, it may be a good idea for first-time moms to consult a lactation specialist. The general rule is that the baby should take the entire areola into his mouth for proper latch-on. Once he’s latched on, watch for sucking and swallowing sounds, as this is a good indication that the baby is getting enough milk out to satisfy him. Before the hind milk comes on, the baby will typically make a series of suck-suck-suck-then-swallow sounds, while the hind milk pattern will be more of a suck-swallow-suck-swallow sound. If you hear a clicking sound, that means the baby is actually sucking his own tongue. In that case, remove the baby from your breast and try to latch him on again.
As you can see, there are many factors that influence the possibility of breastfeeding success, but they are actually very simple once you understand them. While you are waiting for your baby to be born is actually the best time to prepare for breastfeeding, so that once the baby arrives, you will know how best to train him for the routine that will benefit both him and your breast milk supply.
