Key Points:

• Your baby may need to learn to nurse, so be patient and give him or her lots of loving encouragement.
• Avoid unnecessary bottles in the early weeks as these can confuse your baby. If your baby needs supplements in the hospital, the Nursery nurse will let you know.
• You will have colostrum for about three days, which is tailor-made to nourish a newborn. Around the third day after birth, your milk will begin to come in. Your breasts may feel full, warm, tender and may leak milk from one or both nipples.
• Let your baby signal his hunger, every two hours or so, but don’t let him go much over three hours between feedings after your milk is in, because breast milk is rapidly digested, and your baby may be too tired to signal his hunger.
• After your milk is in, around the third postpartum day, your baby should be having 6-8 wet diapers and more than two bowel movements in each 24-hour period. If he isn’t, call your pediatrician and/or the SMC lactation consultant.

Taking Care of Yourself
Most mothers find that their milk “comes in” around the third day after delivery. Some find that it does not come in until the fourth or fifth day. This is all normal. You will have a small amount of colostrum initially, but remember that it is a very concentrated food, adequate for the baby’s needs. When your milk comes in, you may find that your breasts get larger, fuller, and may be painful. It is essential to keep nursing through this period to keep up the milk supply.

Occasionally mothers find that their nipples are very sore. Some soreness is normal, but a lot of pain while breastfeeding may indicate that the baby is not positioned properly or is not latched on properly to the breast. Call for help if this happens to you.

It is important to take good care of yourself while breastfeeding. Try to rest when your baby rests. It is tempting to try to do housework, but if your baby breastfeeds every two hours, you will need to get your rest in somehow. Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids. Don’t worry too much about the food you eat upsetting your baby, just eat a well balanced diet and avoid caffeine. You will probably find that if you are careful to restrict your fat intake and you get some aerobic exercise daily, such as walking, that the weight you gained during pregnancy will drop off without much additional effort. It is not the time to begin a dramatic weight loss program, but rather take the slow, steady approach.

Call For Help
If you need any additional help, SMC has a board-certified lactation specialist on staff. You may call at any time for help with breastfeeding, even after you have been discharged. SMC also provides assistance with breast pump rentals. You may call The Lactation Consultantat 340-7770 or the main hospital switchboard to access these services.