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| Health & Well-Being
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Breastfeeding Successfully
Our guide to successful breastfeeding
Women are amazing. We nurture a new life for nine months, then we’ve got on tap all she needs to thrive - our milk! But breastfeeding isn’t instinctive - it can be exhausting, even painful if you get it wrong.
With increased awareness and greater knowledge of breastfeeding - through books, the media, antenatal classes and medical professionals ? more women are nursing successfully. While there are no current national statistics (the latest data is from 2001), Wong Boh Boi, a senior ParentCraft/lactation consultant at Thomson Medical Centre (TMC), sees a growing trend towards breastfeeding.
“Breastfeeding gave me confidence as a mother”
Nicole Bong 31, mum to Isabelle, 2, is glad she sorted out her nursing niggles.
“Isabelle and I had real problems breastfeeding - I couldn’t get her to latch on and my nipples were getting more sore by the day.
Eventually, a friend helped me. She literally held my breast, positioned Isabelle and said, 'This is where she goes'. She showed me several positions and techniques. After that, I felt a lot more sure of what I was doing and things improved. Instead of feeds taking an hour, they’d take half an hour.
I preferred lying on my side in bed because it was more comfortable than sitting on a chair. When Isabelle nursed while I was sitting up, laying her on top of a pillow on my lap helped bring her nearer to my breast. It also meant I didn’t have to crane my neck so much or strain my back.
I’d been worrying whether I’d be a good mother, but breastfeeding gave me confidence. People always go on about how important it is and succeeding made me feel, 'If nothing else, at least I’ve achieved this.'
Besides its health benefits, breastfeeding also helped calm Isabelle’s colic. It was the one thing I could do for my child that no one else could, and I’m glad I kept going.” |
“More than 95 per cent initiate breastfeeding at TMC. The rest aren’t nursing due to medical reasons, for example if they’re taking drugs or undergoing chemotherapy,” Wong notes. “When we call our patients up a month later, 85 per cent of them are still breastfeeding.” She reckons that the majority of mums now breastfeed for more than six months, with a growing number nursing past one year.
“It’s important to have the right help and support. Family support is vital to ensuring success. Also, more women now know that they should seek help when they face breastfeeding problems, rather than relying solely on themselves or simply giving up,” she adds.
Get to grips with the technique now and your baby will reap wonderful health benefits. Plus, you’ll be doing something for her that no one else can. So, how do ensure that it’s a success? Sound advice and support, plus tips from “been there, done that” mums also help. Here’s midwife Janet Fyle’s step-by-step guide to getting your baby to latch on properly.
1. To feed from your left breast, hold your baby across your tummy with your right arm along the baby’s back. With your right hand, hold his head and neck in line with his spine. Think “tummy to mummy” and place your baby’s tummy close to your middle.
2. Bring your baby straight towards your nipple, with his chin towards your breast - think “nose to nipple”. Don’t just give baby your nipple to suck like a lollipop - squish your breast slightly between your forefinger and thumb into a hamburger shape and offer him a “bite”. When your baby is in the right position, tickle his top lip with your nipple (while maintaining the hamburger grip), which should encourage him to latch on correctly.
3. Make sure his mouth is wide enough to take in not just the nipple and areola, but plenty of actual breast tissue as well. “If your baby’s not latched on properly, your milk won’t flow as easily,” Fyle explains. “This could result in your baby becoming frustrated because he can’t get enough milk. There’s also a risk of your milk ducts becoming blocked, which can cause mastitis.”
4. When your baby's satisfied, he’ll stop feeding on his own and simply let go of your nipple. But if he doesn’t, you need to help him unlatch. Slide your little finger into a corner of his mouth to break the suction.
THE PERFECT LATCH
Signs that your baby is latched on correctly and feeding well.
5 signs your baby is latched on:
1. Your baby’s mouth is wide open.
2. His lower lip is rolled back towards his chin. If you move it carefully aside, you can see his tongue visibly cupping your breast.
3. His head is tipped back slightly.
4. His chin is firmly on your breast but his nose is not touching (or is only lightly touching) your breast.
5. He makes short, “chopping” sucks to start, which then change to deep, regular sucks. He makes an audible “unk” sound when he swallows.
5 signs your baby isn’t latching on:
1. BREASTFEEDING REALLY HURTS You feel comfortable if your baby’s latched on properly.
2. YOUR BABY SUCKS FRANTICALLY or noisily, without finding a rhythm.
3. HE DOESN’T SEEM RELAXED He’d calm down if he is getting milk.
4. HE STILL SEEMS HUNGRY even after a long feed (about 40 minutes).
5. HE’S NOT GAINING WEIGHT Not only in your opinion, but also according to the doctor.
HELP FOR YOU
Need information, advice and help on breastfeeding? Check these out.
• Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group (Singapore) Call 6339-3558, e-mail to counselling@breastfeeding.org.sg, or visit www.breastfeeding.org.sg.
• Family Life Society Joyful Parenting and Breastfeeding Hotline Call 6488-0286.
• Hospitals’ Parentcraft Centres have lactation consultants who can help you. Try Thomson Medical Centre (call 9119-3502 or 6251-4090), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (call 6394-8232), Mount Alvernia Hospital (call 9839-9477 or 6347-6641) or Mount Elizabeth Hospital (call 6731-2180/82).
• Private lactation consultants Call Betty Lee at 9833-0170 or Christina Kwek at 9367-9293. |
BOTTOMS UP
So you’re bottlefeeding. No sweat! Follow our tips and get it right.
First things first: Don’t beat yourself up. Rest assured that feeding your baby formula milk gives him a form of nutrition that scientists have been slaving over for years. The formula also meets the strictest of government standards.
As far as bonding goes, mothers who bottle-feed can enjoy the same close contact with their sweeties as their breastfeeding friends. And you may be better placed to give your baby 100 per cent of your relaxed attention, since you don’t have to fret over sore nipples, latching on correctly, or whether your newborn is taking in enough milk.
What you need:
- At least six bottles and 10 teats (replace teats regularly).
- Formula powder.
Follow these tips:
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing formula and use the scoop provided. Use a knife to level off the top of each scoop of powder.
- Once mixed, allow the feed to cool until it reaches body temperature ? squirt a little on your wrist to check that it’s not too hot.
- Never leave a feed standing around at room temperature or reheat it. The milk is likely to go off and give your baby an upset tummy.
- Choose an appropriate formula for your baby’s age. Cow’s milk is not suitable for babies until they reach 12 months.
- Do not mix formula feeds with bottled mineral water. This can be dangerous as the balance of sodium (salt) will be wrong.
“I never thought I’d bottlefeed”
Tan Bee See, 35, mum to Elaine, 20 months, saw her baby thrive on formula milk.
“I assumed breastfeeding would happen naturally, but after Elaine was born, my attempts quickly went downhill. Elaine never fed for longer than 10 minutes, nor seemed satisfied.
Elaine lost weight and after three weeks, I was referred to a breastfeeding counsellor, who said she had not been latching on properly. But by then, I was exhausted - all I wanted was for my permanently hungry child to get a decent meal.
The next day, I begged the lactation consultant to name a brand of formula milk for my baby. Even after the first few attempts with a bottle, Elaine only drank one or two millilitres of milk. But it was something.
After that, we both started to sleep more and Elaine was no longer constantly screaming for milk. I’ll admit I felt guilty, a failure even. But since my baby thrived, nothing will convince me I didn’t do the best thing for both of us.”
If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg
- Mother & Baby
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