Author: Michael Brooks

Cementing the bond between a mother and child through breastfeeding

Breast Feeding for New Mother

There is a lot to learn when it comes to breast feeding for the first time. The process isn’t complicated. It is a natural instinct for both mother and baby. The breast is a large gland that acts as both the reservoir and pump for the production of milk for the baby. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to the quantity of milk produced.

Breast Changes During Pregnancy

Cells inside the breast called aveoli create milk as a reaction to the hormone prolactin. A hormone Oxytocin makes small muscles composed of myoepitelial cells contract around the aveoli to move milk through small tubes that lead to the areola and nipple. The network described is called a lobe and there are approximately 20 per breast ending in the nipple.

Baby formula manufacturers try to match the chemical makeup of human breast milk but it cannot contain all the hormones and antibodies that infants need. Breast milk composition changes over time to give the baby what it needs. During pregnancy and right after birth the breast milk is usually thick and yellow, this type of breast milk is called colostrum, it contains all the nutrients and antibodies that newborns need to build up their immune system. This colostrum  (also known as beestings, bisnings, or first milk) is lower in fat and higher in protein than normal breast milk. Around about day three or day five it thins out and begins to look white. read more »

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Latching Technique video

The following video illustrates the various techniques you can use in successfully latching your baby to your breasts.

Here are some techniques and tips to make latching-on easy and successful.

The five minute video provides a combination of instruction and demonstration of breastfeeding including correct latching on and positioning tips and guidance. Easy to understand and follow, it is a great resource for breastfeeding mothers for quick and easy access to accurate help should they need it when they return home after birth.

If these techniques above do not help, your best bet is to seek the help of a lactation consultant to identify specific breastfeeding problems you may be having and suggest other latching on positions that could solve your latching problems.

© 2011 – 2012, www.breastfeedingshop.com. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.