Breastfeeding the right way: A guide for new mums

• Never add freshly expressed breast milk to milk that has already been cooled! You can only pour them together once both have cooled.
• Defrosted breast milk should be used within 24 hours.
• Only warm the same milk once
  

During the first three months, your baby drinks about one sixth of its body weight every day. Example: A baby weighing 3600 g drinks about 600 g of breast milk per day. With 6 to 8 feeds a day, that is about 75 to 100 ml of breast milk per feed. Frequent latching on to the breast promotes milk production

You can express breast milk and feed your baby with a bottle as required. However, this should be the exception in the first few weeks. Expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature for 4 to 8 hours. It should then be stored in the refrigerator at 4 to 6 °C for 4 days. You can store breast milk in the freezer for 3 months and in the deep freezer (-18 °C) for 6 months. Thaw frozen breast milk in the fridge, at room temperature or under cold running water. Never boil breast milk, not even in the microwave, but only warm it gently in a bain-marie.

Both manual and electric breast pumps are available for expressing milk. You can hire the latter from a pharmacy or drugstore if required.

In the first 2 to 3 weeks you should boil feeding bottles and pacifiers once a day, later two to three times a week for around 10 minutes. The same applies to nursing caps and small plastic items.

As long as you are breastfeeding, you should not use body lotion or perfume for breast care. Your baby knows your natural odour and will be irritated by artificial fragrances. Wash your hands with soap before breastfeeding and use nursing pads that you insert into your bra. You should change these regularly to prevent infections. They also have the advantage that leaking milk is not visible if you should lose a few drops.

Carry out a short breast massage before breastfeeding - the benefits of this are

• You relax and get into a calm breastfeeding mood
• The milk flow is favoured by triggering the milk let-down reflex more quickly
• You notice changes in your breast immediately (pain, hardening)
• You can thus prevent milk stasis

We recommend that you always vary your breastfeeding position slightly. Where your baby's chin rests, the breast is emptied more.

You can prevent sore nipples with the following measures:

• Dab some breast milk on your nipples and leave them to air dry
• Apply a thin layer of nipple ointment after breastfeeding
• Ensure good positioning and correct latch-on when breastfeeding
• Use different breastfeeding positions

If you experience nipple problems or pain, we recommend that you consult a qualified breastfeeding counsellor or your midwife, who can review your breastfeeding process, observe your technique and provide you with professional support to ensure a comfortable and pain-free breastfeeding experience.

Milk stasis can occur if the breast does not empty well. It manifests itself as a hard, painful, pressure-sensitive and possibly reddened area on your breast. A palpable lump with a limited border can also be a sign of engorgement. The area often hurts when breastfeeding and the breast feels hot. Don't panic - a milk blockage can often be remedied with simple steps:

As a first measure, put your baby on the engorged breast more often. Relax the other breast by massaging and stroking it. You can also massage the engorged breast under a warm shower. Treatment with massage and heat before breastfeeding helps to improve the flow of breast milk and empty the breast. Cold packs from the fridge or curd compresses after breastfeeding help to soothingly cool the breast. Allow yourself to rest and avoid stress. If there is no improvement, contact a midwife or breastfeeding counsellor.

Milk stasis that is not treated can lead to mastitis. In addition to the signs of milk stasis already described, this manifests itself in flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, headaches and aching limbs, chills and a rapidly rising temperature above 38.5 °C. If you notice such signs, please contact your breastfeeding counsellor or midwife, your gynaecologist or the maternity clinic at Bethesda Hospital as soon as possible. We will be happy to help you!