Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding: The Struggles Are Real

As a neonatologist, I know the many benefits of breast/chestfeeding, for both parent and baby. As a mother who breastfed, I am also familiar with many of the struggles and joys that can accompany breast/chestfeeding. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, here are some things that you should know.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive human milk for the first 6 months of life. Babies who directly breast/chestfeed have the following:

• Higher IQs (as much as 7 IQ points higher)
• Fewer infections
• Decreased risk of asthma and allergies
• May have a lower risk of developing diabetes

Breast/chestfeeding has also been shown to decrease the risk of SIDS and strengthen parental-infant bonding. Parents who provide milk have decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, return to pre-pregnancy weight faster, and may have decreased risk of heart disease later in life.

Lactation can be HARD! Many parents have no trouble breastfeeding; after the baby is born, they are able to latch easily, the parent’s milk supply comes in without any problem and they are off and running. But, some parents experience problems that were either not anticipated or under-estimated.

I recommend that all new parents seek out and attend a lactation support group. It is important to know that a lot of problems are common and fixable in the early days. It is helpful to hear from other parents who are experiencing, or who have successfully overcome, similar problems. These peers, along with a lactation professional who can give solid advice, can offer unique support and understanding for these common problems.

Common problems that parents may encounter include:

• Excessively sleepy babies
• Jaundice
• Delay in milk coming in
• Engorgement
• Nipple pain

Many new parents report nipple discomfort during the first week of lactation, but you should never feel pain! If you are concerned about any of these common problems or have any questions, it is important for you to seek help from a qualified lactation consultant and your pediatrician as soon as possible.

When feeding is going well, baby should be waking every 2-3 hours to nurse, with one wet diaper and one stool for every day of life during the first week (for instance, when baby is 3 days old, there should be 3 wet diapers and 3 stools). Some babies will eat more or less frequently, but every baby should nurse at least 8-10 times in 24 hours and not go more than 4 hours between feeds in the first 4 weeks. Many babies will be comforted by skin-to-skin contact during these early weeks and this can be a useful strategy for calming fussy infants.

Human milk offers the best nutrition, but there are some instances when your milk is not available or medically appropriate. We are fortunate to have formula available as a safe alternative. Lactation does not have to be all or nothing. Many benefits of human milk are “dose-dependent” meaning some exposure to your milk is better than none – every drop counts. Some parents feed their baby a combination of human milk and formula for a number of reasons. While your milk remains superior to formula, a new parent’s main focus should be to love and feed their baby.

You can find certified lactation consultants in your area by contacting your delivery hospital, La Leche League or the International Lactation Consultant Association; you can also ask your pediatrician or obstetrician for a recommendation. It takes 6-8 weeks for lactation to become established which is why it is important to have good support during this time.