Breastfeeding

Before each feed, you should give your breast a quick massage to stimulate milk flow and help you manage the tension in your breast.

Place one hand below and the other above the areola. ➊

Gently stimulate the breast using circular movements. Make a few circular movements in each direction, applying gentle, steady pressure. Your hands should not slide across the skin. ➋

Wiping away a few drops of breast milk will help protect your nipples before and after breastfeeding. ➌

An optimal breastfeeding position helps to ensure an ergonomic, comfortable posture and successful breastfeeding. It is important to try different positions so that the nipple and areola are protected by varying the pressure on them. This also promotes effective milk flow. The various positions can be supported with a breastfeeding pillow and a footstool. The baby should always be able to reach the breast without you having to lean forwards. Position the baby so that their nose and mouth are level with the nipple.

The cradle hold is one of the best-known and most commonly used positions. You sit in an upright position, leaning against the back of a chair or in bed. The baby lies in your arms, which are supported by a nursing pillow so that your baby’s head is level with your breast. Make sure your baby is nestled against your tummy and that their body is in a straight line.

The side-lying position is particularly popular with women who have larger breasts. It allows for good eye contact with the baby. You sit upright, leaning against the back of a chair or in bed. Your baby lies on their side beneath your arm on a nursing pillow, with their face turned towards you. Your baby’s head should be level with your breast. Use your hand to support their head and guide it towards your breast.

Breastfeeding whilst lying down is ideal at night and is restful for the mother. You are in a comfortable side-lying position, and your baby is also lying on their side. Your baby’s back is supported by a rolled-up towel or a breastfeeding pillow. You can pull your baby towards your breast by their shoulders to help them latch on.

Correct latching technique is important for your baby to learn the right sucking pattern, to prevent sore nipples and to build up a good vacuum. You should follow these steps:

1. Hold your whole breast with one hand, with your thumb on top and your fingers underneath.
2. You can stimulate your baby’s lower lip with your nipple or a finger. This encourages the mouth-opening reflex and positions the tongue near the lower gum line.
3. With a quick movement, bring your baby to the breast. Check that the nipple is positioned correctly in the mouth. The upper and lower lips should be turned outwards. The first few ‘sucks’ are often painful, but you should not feel any pain afterwards. If you do, start again from the beginning.

The correct weaning technique helps to prevent nipple injury. The following steps can help you with this:

1. Place your index finger near the corner of your baby’s mouth against your breast and press gently.

2. Slowly slide your finger between your baby’s lips and gums.

3. This breaks the vacuum, allowing you to wean your baby.

The onset of milk production marks the transition from a hormonal process of milk production to one triggered by an external stimulus (sucking). It usually occurs 2 to 3 days after the birth. However, it can also be delayed by 7 to 20 days.

It is quite common to experience tender, painful, tight and swollen breasts. To relieve such discomfort, use cold packs or quark compresses after breastfeeding. Warm, damp compresses can help before breastfeeding. You can massage your breast and express a little milk by hand or pump a small amount.

To begin with, you should breastfeed for 10–15 minutes on each breast. The duration of each feed will later depend on your baby’s sucking needs. At first, this need is still limited, but it increases by the 2nd or 3rd day as your milk comes in. Once your milk has come in, it is advisable to breastfeed for around 20 minutes on one breast so that your baby can benefit from the high-fat ‘hind milk’, which becomes available after about 10 minutes. Every baby has different nutritional needs, so the intervals between feeds will vary between 2 and 4 hours. Your breast will feel soft and relaxed after breastfeeding.

Milk production is determined by your baby’s demand. The more frequently the breast is stimulated through correct breastfeeding or expressing, the more milk is produced. This is due to the sucking reflex and the associated release of hormones (prolactin and oxytocin).

To care for your nipples, we recommend moistening them with breast milk before and after breastfeeding, as this has an anti-inflammatory effect.

If your nipples become dry, they can be treated with a lanolin ointment (e.g. Purelan).

Sore nipples can be protected from further irritation using silicone dressings (e.g. Mepilex).

Milk congestion can be caused by incorrect breastfeeding, suckling and/or latching techniques. The breast feels hard, is warm to the touch and tender to pressure, and the body temperature is slightly elevated. Unrecognised or untreated milk congestion can lead to mastitis (breast inflammation).

To treat a blocked milk duct, apply a warm, damp compress before breastfeeding or expressing milk and massage the breast. Position your baby so that their chin is facing the hardened area, to allow the suction to work more effectively. During the acute phase, breastfeed or express milk every 2 to 3 hours. After breastfeeding or expressing, apply a quark compress or a cold pack to the affected area. Check your breast before and after each feed or pumping session until the lump has disappeared.

Mastitis is an inflammatory, painful condition of the breast. It can result from a blocked milk duct, but may also be caused by fatigue, stress or an infection. You may experience flu-like symptoms and a rapid rise in temperature to over 38.5 degrees Celsius. The breast may appear reddened. You should now breastfeed or express milk more frequently and alternate between breasts. Ensure you drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. Before breastfeeding or expressing milk, apply a warm, damp compress. Afterwards, apply a quark compress or a cold pack. At night, we recommend a decongestant and anti-inflammatory compress.

If you have any questions, please contact your breastfeeding counsellor at Klinik Im Park:

T +41 44 209 23 00.

For further information, please visit the website www.stillen.ch.