The atmosphere and nursing staff at Three Rivers Community Hospital is supportive for the mother learning to breast feed. The nurses have been trained to assist you with breast latch-on techniques and positioning. Most mother-baby teams are successful with breast feeding. However, sometimes breast feeding can be challenging, so we encourage you to be patient and to ask for help if you are having difficulties. We are also available to help answer your questions and assist you.
Common early problems that may need attention:
Cracked, sore nipples
Breast engorgement that prevents latch-on
Painful nipples
Baby too sleepy to nurse or refusal to nurse
Baby is to fussy too nurse
Jaundice of baby (yellow skin, eyes)
Breast feeding guidelines:
Most everything that you eat and drink goes into your breast milk. Some foods may cause intestinal upset for babies, such as beans, cabbage, fruit, and caffeine. In addition, many drugs and over the counter products are not safe for breast fed babies. Talk with your physician before taking any drugs or over the counter products.
It is important that you drink a lot of fluids while you are breast feeding. You need at least 8 glasses of fluid every day to help you produce the amount of milk your baby needs.
It is also important for you to eat a diet that includes good amounts of protein and calcium. You will need to eat at least 500 calories more than you were eating before you got pregnant, to meet the energy requirements needed for breast feeding. However, to assist you with weight loss and promote your health, choose foods that are nutritious instead of eating sweets and fatty foods.
Continue taking your Prenatal vitamins to reinforce your energy requirements.
Breast Pumps:
Breast pumps can be a helpful tool. They can be used during engorgement to relieve pressure around the nipples so the baby can latch on. Pumping in between feedings can help increase your milk supply. Also, pumped milk can be frozen or refrigerated, so that your baby can have breast milk even while you are away. Depending on the work situation, some moms can pump enough to supply breast milk for their baby, even after they return to work.
Breast Infections:
Breast infections (or mastitis) are a fairly common breast feeding complication. Signs include flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, and muscle ache. Usually, only one breast is affected and will become swollen, tender, and red in a limited area. Seek medical attention promptly, because usually antibiotics are needed to treat mastitis.
