Breastfeeding… Baby’s Best Start

Now begins a special time for you. You have a new baby. It’s time to be together. A time to share.

This booklet will show you how to start breastfeeding. It will also show you how breastfeeding can help bring you and your baby close.

Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start in life.

Breastfeeding is Best!

Your milk is the best start you can give your baby, because:

  • Breast milk has everything baby needs to grow up strong and healthy.
  • Breast milk helps keep baby from getting sick.
  • Breast milk is easy to digest and prevents allergies.

Breastfeeding is good for you, too. It helps tighten up your stomach and get you back in shape.

As baby grows, you will save time and money. You don’t have to buy anything, or heat up anything. Your milk is always fresh and ready to use.

Breastfeeding is Special!

Mother’s milk is special for baby. It doesn’t matter if your breasts are large or small. Your body makes plenty of milk for baby.

The more baby breastfeeds, the more milk your body makes. And it makes the right kind and amount of milk at the right time for your baby. Your milk changes as the baby grows. It changes to meet the baby’s needs.

The first fluid from your breast is called colostrum. Colostrum…

  • …is very important for baby.
  • …helps protect baby from sickness.
  • …looks yellow and thick or may look clear and watery.

Colostrum gradually changes to become mature milk toward the end of the first week after your baby is born. The color becomes whiter and the consistency thinner.

Breast milk is all your baby needs for four to six months!

Preparation for Hospital Stay

  • Prior to delivery, tell your doctor and your baby’s doctor that you plan to breastfeed.
  • Request that your baby have only breast milk – no formula, no sterile water and no glucose water. Ask your baby’s doctor to make this a written order.
  • Ask to breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after delivery, preferably in the delivery room, or at least within one hour of delivery.

Upon Hospital Admission

  • Remind the doctor and nursing staff that you want to breastfeed and ask to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery, or have your support person do this.
  • If the baby is returned to the nursery at night, ask that your baby be brought to you when he or she awakens, cries or appears fussy or hungry.
  • To avoid nipple confusion and breast engorgement, request that no formula, water, bottles or pacifiers be used.

Put Baby to your Breast – Latch On

  1. Turn the baby toward your breast so that you and baby are “tummy to tummy.”
  2. Hold baby close with mouth in front of your nipple.
  3. Support your breast with your fingers below and your thumb on top, allowing enough space for the baby to latch on.
  4. Lightly touch baby’s lower lip with your nipple.
  5. When baby opens mouth very wide, pull baby close so that baby can get as much of the dark part of the breast as possible inside mouth.
  6. Hold baby close while breastfeeding.
  7. Burp baby before changing to your other breast. And next time, start baby feeding on this second breast.

Breastfeeding Positions

Choose whichever positions are most comfortable for you. It is good to use different positions.

  • Cradle position
  • Lying Down position
  • Modified Football Hold: Baby’s buttocks rest against back of chair or sofa, and legs go up the back of the chair, to insure hip flexion and relaxation of jaw and tongue.

To Take Baby Away From Your Breast

Gently break the suction by placing a clean finger in the corner of baby’s mouth between the gums.

When to Feed Baby

A new baby will need to eat often, about every one and a half to three hours during both day and night (eight to 14 times in 24 hours). Feeding often is also important for you. It helps give you a good milk supply and keeps your breasts from becoming too full.

Starting with the first feeding, you can feed your baby as long as he or she likes at each feeding. When the baby begins to lose interest, remove from breast, burp, and then offer the second breast.

To avoid problems and to get the most benefits, feed your baby only breast milk for at least four to six weeks. Water and formula are not needed.

If and when you need to be separated from your baby, your clinic nurse or nutritionist can help you work out a plan for feeding your baby.

What if Baby Cries?

Crying is baby's way of saying, “I need something!” It may be:

  • A clean diaper.
  • A burp.
  • Some rocking and loving.
  • A nap.
  • More or less cover to be comfortable.

If you have just breastfed, try giving baby these things first. If nothing helps, your baby may still be hungry, so try breastfeeding more often until your body makes more milk.

Is Baby Getting Enough to Eat

Your body makes as much milk as baby needs. You can ask yourself these questions to tell if baby is getting enough to eat.

  1. Does baby have at least six wet diapers each day?
  2. Does baby sleep some between feedings?
  3. Is baby gaining weight?
  4. Does baby have at least one stool per day?

If you answer “No” to any of these questions, try feeding more times each day. Also, let baby feed longer.

What About Baby’s Dirty Diapers?

The breastfed baby’s dirty diapers may be:

  • Bright yellow to dark brown in color.
  • Very soft and a little lumpy.
  • Without a strong smell.
  • One to two stools per day the first few weeks, or as many as one every feeding.
  • After about two months, stools may be once a day or even once every four or five days.

All are normal. It just depends on your baby.

Take Care of Your Breasts.

If your nipples get sore, try this:

  • Check for correct latch-on, make cetain all of the nipple and as much as possible of the areola (the dark area) is placed in baby's mouth and that baby’s mouth is opened wide.
  • Try a different position when you breastfeed. Changing positions keeps you from getting too sore in one place.
  • Feed baby for a shorter time than usual, but a little more often.
  • Wrap and ice cube in a cloth, wet it, and put it on the sore nipple before you breastfeed. Leave it on for 10 to 30 seconds.
  • Express a litte breast milk or rub in what is left on the nipple and allow it to dry after breastfeeding. Never use soap, alcohol or creams on nipples.
  • Give your nipples some fresh air for about 15 minutes after breastfeeding or leave bra flaps open.

If your breasts are hard and swollen, try this:

  • Breastfeed more often to keep breasts soft.
  • Soak a cloth in warm water and put it on your breasts. Or take a warm shower or bath.
  • Gently massage your breasts from under the arm down to the nipple.
  • Gently express some milk out to make your breasts a little softer so baby can get a good hold.
  • Try a different position for feedings.
  • Don’t stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding the baby will help you feel more comfortable.

If your breasts get swollen, you may not feel well. You should feel better in one to two days. Try and get plenty of rest and breastfeed frequently, at least every two to three hours. If you have a or flu-like symptoms, call your clinic or doctor. Do not stop breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding When You’re Ill

You can keep breastfeeding even with most illnesses, like coughs, colds, fever, or common diarrhea. Your milk is good and helps protect your baby from getting sick. If you have questions about breastfeeding when sick, call your clinic. Do not take any medicine without first checking with your doctor.

Use the Food Guide Pyramid to help you eat better every day.

Start with plenty of Breads, Cereals, Rice and Pasta; Vegetable and Fruits. Add 4 servings from the Milk Group and 4 servings from the Meat Group. Each of these food groups provides some, but not all, of the nutrients you need. Choose fruits and vegetables that are good sources of vitamins A and C each day.

The top of the Pyramid shows fats, oils and sweets. These are foods such as salad dressings, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies and sweet desserts. These fods provide calories but few vitamins and minerals. Most people should limit the amount of these foods they eat.

Some final Food Pyramid thoughts:

  • You do not have to eat a “perfect” diet to make breastmilk that is perfect for your baby. It is important that you take care of yourself, get enough rest and eat a varied diet so that you will feel better and healthier.
  • Follow the Food Guide Pyramid to help you eat a varied diet.
  • Drink to your thirst everyday. Water, milk and juice are great choices.
  • Limit caffeine-containing drinks to no more than 2 or 3 each day.
  • Avoid alcoholic beverages.
  • Always check wit your doctor before taking any medications.

Food Guide Pyramid

A Guide to Daily Food Choices for Breastfeeding Women

Fats, Oils & Sweets
Use sparingly
When choosing foods for a healthy diet, consider the fat and added sugars found in foods from all of the food groups.
Milk, Yogurt, & Cheese Group
4 Servings
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs & Nuts Group
4 Servings
Vegetable Group
3-5 Servings
Fruit Group
2-4 Servings
Bread, Cereal, Rice & Pasta Group
6-11 Servings

Other Concerns

Is your baby fussy?

Almost all babies go through fussy periods, especially within the first few weeks of life. Some fussiness is normal. If it seems excessive, talk with your health care professional to try to find the cause of your baby’s fussiness.

Family Planning

Even though you are breastfeeding, you can still get pregnant! If you do not want to get pregnant, be sure to guard against it. Your family planning clinic or doctor can help you choose a safe, effective method.

Breastfeeding – The Gift of Love

Your breast milk is the very best food for baby. When you give your baby only breast milk and no formula, your baby will be less likely to get sick.

Your milk gives baby the very best start in life. And only you can give it!

For more information, contact your local health department or:

Illinoid Department of Human Services
Division of Community Health and Prevention
Bureau of Family Nutrition
535 W. Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62761
(800) 323-GROW (Voice & TTY)

The WIC program is an equal opportunity program open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.

The Illinois Department of Human Services is an equal opportunity employer and practices affirmative action and reasonable accommodation programs.

The information on this page was drawn from DHS 4171(R-9-03) Breastfeeding… Baby’s Best Start