First breastfeeding

Child and Newborn Diseases Specialist, International Breastfeeding Consultant Gülnihal Şarman

Breastfeeding is the most natural, most important and most beautiful process that connects baby and mother. We have brought together our suggestions that we think will be useful for you for this important process.

After the birth...

• As soon as babies are born, the breastfeeding process should be initiated in their mothers' laps with a correct breastfeeding position.

• Babies are born with an instinctive seek reflex that allows them to suck. If the baby has a seeking reflex, this indicates that he is now awake and ready to suck.

• It is a process that the baby smells his mother, is searched for the mother's breast and then starts to find and suck the breast. This varies in every baby. Some babies do this as soon as they are born, while others can do it after several attempts of breastfeeding.

• As soon as the baby is born, the yellowish liquid named colostrum from the mother's breast is not real milk, but it is a liquid rich in immune substances. This liquid, which has very special antibodies that protect the baby's intestines, is rich in protein.

• The signals sent from the breast when the baby starts to suck activate the hormones of milk production in the brain. In order for milk production to start flawlessly, the mother should keep her baby sucking sessions as frequent and long as possible from the first minutes.

• Since the milk that comes first after birth is colostrum fluid, no mother's milk comes as soon as she gives birth. Therefore, it is very important that no one comments on the mother's milk in the early period.

• There is a brain software in the baby from birth; He records the smell of his mother, the breast, the liquid from his mother in his memory. In order for this software period to pass well, the mother and baby should be in contact and breastfeeding whenever the baby wants.

• The most important event that connects a baby to life, especially in the first months, is absorption and contact with the mother. If the baby is given food, this bond with his mother cannot be fully achieved. Therefore, mothers should be approached positively first. No negative feedback should be given to a mother who has just given birth and is in a hormonally sensitive period that there is no milk. Otherwise, mothers experience this process negatively.

• During breastfeeding sessions, the mother and baby should be in a peaceful and quiet environment during the first periods when they start breastfeeding. It is best to start breastfeeding under the supervision of someone who has previously breastfed your baby.

• As the baby sucks, the brain begins to secrete prolactin hormone. This hormone, which is started to be produced before birth, goes into a serious rise after the baby sucks the breast. This increase also initiates milk production in the udder. Many different hormones work together with prolactin during breastfeeding. It is very important that the mother does not get stressed in this process, especially since stress hormones will negatively affect the release of prolactin and other mechanisms.

• The baby can suck both breasts in a breastfeeding session in the first days after birth, if the baby has the desire and wakefulness… After a week or 10 days, he can stay on one side for each meal. It can suck the other breast in each breastfeeding, but if the baby is very appetite, if one finishes a breast and is not fully saturated, then of course, then the other side can be crossed.

• A serious bond between the mother and the baby begins a week or two after a baby is born, and the mother understands the baby's needs and hunger very well.

Nipple pain

• After birth, the nipple becomes sensitive, as the breasts of the mother are often in the baby's mouth. It is very important how the baby grasps the nipple with his mouth so that the mother does not feel pain in the nipple. The baby should open his mouth very well, his chin should rest on the breast, and his nose should be very close to the breast.

• Not only the nipple but the entire brown area should be inside the baby's mouth.

• If the baby has not received the breast well and makes some noises, the baby has only grasped the nipple, which is the most important condition that causes nipple sensitivity. At such times, it is necessary to slowly remove the baby from the nipple and breastfeed again.

• It is not the right method to pretend to pull the baby out of the breast, the mother should hold the little finger towards the baby's mouth and push the breast slowly away from the breast.

The right breastfeeding position…

• Especially in the first days after birth, the mother should hold her baby so that both of the abdomen touch each other. The baby's ear, shoulder and hip should be in line with the mother and swallowing sounds should be heard from the baby.

• If the baby did not open his mouth when he was in the breast, it is necessary to support the baby in this regard.

• If the baby could not grasp the breast well, this may cause the baby to swallow air.

• It is very important that the baby grasps the breast correctly so that it does not swallow air. In babies who have trouble sucking, jaw-palate massage works and they can start opening their mouths.

• Mothers can try different breastfeeding positions according to the comfort of themselves and their baby during the baby's growth process.

• It is not correct for mothers to cut their breasts with index and middle fingers during breastfeeding. This causes the milk canals to narrow. They need to grasp the breast with their thumbs and thumbs!

• The pressure that can be applied on the breast more or less creates a situation that can prevent the flow of milk.

• Especially mothers who gave birth by cesarean section spend the first few days lying side by side with the baby. If they can take their baby in their arms, they should definitely breastfeed with a cradle hold. They can slip and start breastfeeding within two to three weeks. After the baby catches the breast well, the mother can breastfeed her baby and breastfeed, this is a very comfortable position.

How long should breastfeeding take?

• The prolactin hormone that initiates milk production rises in breastfeeding at night. Prolactin hormone is very effective in the first two months. Then its effectiveness decreases. It is very important to breastfeed day and night in the first two months for this hormone to work actively! Therefore, resting the mother especially during the first two months during the day is also very effective for the performance of breastfeeding at night! In the first 2 months, enough and well-breasted babies sleep well at night in the next period.

• There is no need to wake up often enough at night after the second third month of an older baby.

Breastfeeding Time

• Infants should be awakened and fed every two or three hours in the first setting. If a baby spends 12 hours of sleep, it should be observed if he has fallen by looking at blood sugar.

• At the end of the first month, the baby sucks up to twenty minutes 8 times a day and also adjusts the suction hours.

• In the second month, these absorption times were shortened even more. The baby usually finishes sucking in 15 minutes. Both mother and baby know very well what to do now.

• When the baby reaches the fourth month, the suction time is shortened so that the mothers worry that they are not sucking the babies. However, the baby gets so strong that it absorbs and saturates as much as it needs.

• Breastfeeding sessions may be 30-40 minutes in the first days of the baby due to the reflexes and muscle strength.

• There must be breaks in between for the rest of the mother and baby. This process is also very important for milk production!

Editor's note: Be sure to read other articles of our specialist.