Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the natural way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development, but it is also a journey, and success in supporting and sustaining breastfeeding is a long-term investment between moms, their support systems, and the healthcare community. With this in mind, the Ocean County WIC Program is invested in supporting efforts to encourage and promote breastfeeding through diverse and far-reaching initiatives aimed at giving children their very best possible start to life.
Breastfeeding FAQ’s
- Breastmilk is the perfect nutrition to help your baby grow and develop. Breastmilk is custom-made by each mother for her own baby and is easy to digest.
- Breastmilk helps your baby fight sickness and disease. Colostrum coats your baby’s digestive system so germs cannot grow. Breastfed babies are sick less often.
- Breastmilk contains nutrients that are important for brain growth and nervous system development. Breastfeeding also involves nurturing interactions between mother and baby that can strengthen baby’s cognitive and social-emotional development.
- Breastmilk is always fresh, the exact temperature and ready for baby’s enjoyment.
- Your body was made to nourish your baby. The breast size does not matter as your breasts will make enough milk as your baby needs.
- Breastfeeding is protective to mothers with diabetes, heart disease and breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding can assist you with your prenatal weight loss and the healing process.
- Your baby feels comforted while being held close to you while nursing. This builds a special bond and can help your baby be more trusting and confident as she gets older.
- Breastmilk will change as your baby grows to meet her needs. No additional food or drink is needed for the first 6 months.
- Breastfeeding saves you money. It’s free and what’s better than that?
It is recommended that babies exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life. Exclusive breastfeeding means to feed your baby only breast milk and no other foods or liquids unless advised by the baby’s doctor. Breastfeeding should continue as new foods are introduced through the baby’s first year. You can keep breastfeeding after the first year as long as you and your baby want to continue. You can use a breast pump to express milk at work to provide milk for your baby when you are separated.
Most healthy newborns are ready to breastfeed within the first hour after birth. Hold your baby directly against your bare skin (called “skin-to-skin” contact) right after birth. Placing your baby against your skin right after birth triggers reflexes that help your baby to attach or “latch on” to your breast.
A newborn needs to nurse 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. This means you will feed your baby every 1 ½ to 3 hours from the beginning of one feeding to the next. Some newborns will cluster feed, taking several feedings close together, than taking a long nap. Watch for your baby’s feeding cues and nurse when your baby is showing signs of wanting to eat.
Nurse the baby on the first breast as long as the baby is actively sucking and swallowing. When the baby stops, burp him/her. If baby is still acting hungry, put baby on the second breast to nurse. Depending on the baby and time of day, a breastfeeding session be short, long, or somewhere in between. Every baby is different!
Baby should feed at least 8 times in 24 hours. Babies may have periods of cluster feeding, including in the evening time. Some babies will nurse every hour or even constantly for several hours, and then may take a long stretch of sleep. Frequent wake cycles at night help reduce the risk of SIDS. Good indicators that baby is getting enough:
- weight gain – an ounce a day (or more) after reaching back to birth weight at 2 weeks
- baby seems satisfied between feedings and wakes to feed
- output – by the end of the first week, at least 6 wet and 2 or 3 stools per 24 hours
Most newborns need eight to 12 feedings a day, which is about one feeding every two to three hours. Waking a sleeping baby to nurse might seem like a bad idea, but frequent feedings will help you establish your milk supply and ensure your baby is getting enough breastmilk.
Most medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. If you plan to take medication, check with your health care provider, pharmacist, or baby’s pediatrician to see if the medication is compatible with breastfeeding.
New Jersey law gives every mother the right to breastfeed her child in any place that is open to the public: restaurants, malls, parks, libraries, etc.
- WIC offers breastfeeding support. Please WIC@ochd.org and a staff member will follow up with you.
Getting Started: The First Month
Babies should be placed on their mother’s bare skin right after birth, this is known as skin-to-skin. By initiating skin-to-skin, mom and baby bond, baby is nice and warm, and breastfeeding can be initiated for the first time.
If your delivery hospital has an IBCLC on staff, be sure to request that they meet with you shortly after the baby is born. The IBCLC or nursing staff can help you learn how to position and latch your baby and help answer any questions you may have.
Baby’s belly is only the size of a marble at birth and your body has just enough milk to fill it up. Baby will be learning how to latch onto your breast and breastfeed. Your nipples may be sore in the first few days, but pain should not be excruciating or unbearable. In the coming days baby will begin to shift from learning how to breastfeed to demanding milk every 1-3 hours. Breastfeeding may be new to you but it also new to your baby, remember that you are on this new journey together.
Days 4-7
You will now be introducing your littlest family member to their new home. Mom, baby, and other family members will be using this time to adjust. Baby is going to continue to master their breastfeeding skills. Your baby’s belly continues to grow and is now around the size of a ping pong ball. Your baby will begin to feed more and more frequently and will be showing clear signs of hunger. Some signs of hunger may include: rooting (baby will open their mouth and turn their head to the side looking for milk), body movements, hands to the mouth, or lip smacking and sucking. Crying is a late sign of hunger, so it is important to try to respond to your baby’s hunger signs before they get to this point. Your breasts may be full and you may notice some leaking, you can hand express or breastfeed your baby to get some relief.
Days 8-14
By day 10, baby’s belly will be around the size of a chicken egg. Baby should be eating anywhere from 8-12 times in 24 hours. Your body continues to create more milk. The more breastmilk baby takes the more you will make! Avoid introducing pacifiers until breastfeeding is well established. You should have met with your pediatrician by this time for your child’s first check-up. Be sure to make your choice to breastfeed known to the pediatrician and request that they encourage your breastfeeding goals.
Days 15-30
Baby should now be returned back to their birth weight and weight gain should continue to steadily increase. You may notice that baby demands more frequently at times (every hour or so), this is known as cluster feeding and it is completely normal. Babies will cluster feed during times when they are going through a developmental leap or a growth spurt and it is only temporary.
Support
You may need support to encourage you to keep moving towards your breastfeeding goals, to get you through a challenging time with feeding your newborn, or maybe you may just need someone to talk to when you are up in the middle of the night with your little night owl. Support comes in various forms and we’re here to help break down a few support systems that you can identify in your own life so that you are well equipped to call on them when needed. Each person may find helpful support from different types of people. Some may look within their home to a spouse or family member, some look to their friends or extended family, and prefer support groups or organizations. Let’s now dig a little deeper into how each support system can help you and what type of situations they would best for.
In Home Support
This support person may be a spouse, partner, or family member who lives with you. This individual will be there from the very beginning and have a pretty clear understanding of what your goals are. It is important that you communicate with them if you are struggling or need a little extra encouragement. This support may look like help preparing the baby for a feeding, changing your sleepy baby when they need to wake up during a feed, or they may bring you a drink or snack if you are in the middle of a nursing session and get thirsty or hungry!
Friends and Family Outside the Home
We all have that one friend or family member that we can count on at any time. This individual will be your support for times that you need someone to talk to, need extra hands around the house, or simply need a break. I’m sure you can also think of that one person in your life who is a notorious night owl, this individual will be your go-to in the middle of the night when you are tired from being up late and just need someone to hear you. Chances are, you also know someone in your life who has successfully breastfed their own baby. Family or friends with breastfeeding experience are always a great tool when you come across challenges or just aren’t sure if things are going smoothly.
Support Groups and Organizations
WIC recipients can call the office at any time to speak with an IBCLC or Below are a list of Ocean County support groups for breastfeeding. Some of these organizations offer support groups where breastfeeding moms can meet and connect with each other.
Pumping and Returning Back to Work
WIC breastfeeding staff can help moms navigate how to get a breast pump through their health insurance carrier; we encourage all moms to contact her WIC office to speak with breastfeeding staff.
Did you know that you may be able to get a FREE breastpump through your health insurance? Under the Affordable Care Act breast pumps are covered under the majority of health insurance plans. Check with your health plan to find out how you can access a breast pump, free of charge. Here is a list of some companies that may provide a breast pump:
- 1 Natural Way 888-977-2229, #1
- Acelleron Medical Products 877-932-6327, #1
- Aeroflow Breastpumps 844-867-9890
- Byram Healthcare 877-773-1972
- Edgepark Medical Supplies 855-504-2099
- Pumping Essentials 866-688-4203
- Stork Pump 844-727-6667
- Yummy Mummy 855-879-8669
* Note: This is a sample of the many companies that provide breast pumps through individual health insurance. Each company is specific to which health insurances they work with and various pump options.
Returning to Work
For many, the idea of returning to work while breastfeeding can seem overwhelming. It may feel like there is so much to learn and so many “what-ifs.” Often times, it is the separation from our babies and the emotional struggle that we find most challenging. Take a deep breath and remind yourself WHY you are doing this and why you chose to breastfeed to begin with. The truth is, once you get the hang of it, it is much easier than you think.
Returning to Work
Assess your breastfeeding status. Most moms return to work around 12 weeks post-partum. By this time, your milk supply would be established. Don’t worry or focus on pumping before your baby is 8 weeks, as it may create unneeded stress (unless medically necessary). The more often you feed the more milk you will produce.
Prior to starting back at work, try pumping once a day around the 8-week mark to establish a “freezer stash” to give yourself peace of mind that there will be enough for backup and emergencies. The best time of day is usually in the morning when mother’s milk is most abundant.
Seek out supportive childcare and discuss your plans to breastfeed. Address details such as milk storage and feedings time to be in-sync with your current schedule. It can be helpful to nurse the baby at the care center a few times prior to starting in order to help your child feel comfortable in that environment.
Pumping during the day can be essential. Look for a high-quality pump that allows you to pump both breasts at the same time. Check with your health insurance, as most plans will provide you with a free pump. Talk to your employer about how this can fit into your schedule and where milk can be stored. If your boss is uneasy, telling him or her that research studies show breastfeeding mothers take less time off work because their babies tend to be healthier could help allay concerns. If all else fails, remind him/her the federal law supports your decision. While you are pumping at work, try to remain stress-free and look at a photo or video of your baby while you pump, this will help your body to release oxytocin hormones that will allow the milk to flow easier. Be sure to clean your pump as needed, follow THESE simple steps.
Know for storing your milk. Your first choice should be to store your milk in a refrigerator and have it fed to your baby within five days. Additionally, building a small freezer stash can be helpful in case you are not able to pump a lot on some days. You can store milk in a freezer between 6 and 12 months. Human milk can also safely be kept at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours.
There is no rule stating your baby must take a bottle. With a young baby, most daycare providers will want to use bottles for feedings, but alternatives such as a small cup or oral syringe are options as well. If your baby is older than six months, you have options such as a sippy cup, adding milk to solid foods such as cereal, soups, or mashed vegetables. It can also be frozen into popsicles.
Plan for increased nighttime nursing. Many babies will start breastfeeding more often during the night than before you returned to work, especially during the first few weeks. There is a benefit to this: the levels of prolactin (the hormone that produces milk) are higher during night feedings, so this will help maintain your milk supply. This can also be tiring, so plan to maximize your sleep.
Start back on a Wednesday or Thursday if you can. The first few days are likely to be the toughest, as you figure out pumping, milk storage and managing daycare. Having a shorter week to start means you will soon have the weekend to evaluate how things are going and make adjustments as needed.
Breastfeed “on demand” on weekends. If you have noticed your milk production flagging during the week at work this is your chance to rebuild it and enjoy the convenience of a more natural nursing relationship. If you are pumping, the milk you stored on Friday will keep just fine in the fridge for baby to have on Monday.
Remember breastfeeding is so much more than a source of nourishment for most babies and toddlers. They nurse to reconnect with you after a long day apart, to feel comforted and in contact with you. Continued breastfeeding during the times you and your baby are together are very important to your child.