How to Breastfeed

How Breastfeeding Works

The female breast is highly responsive to cues from baby and will make exactly the right amount and type of milk for baby's needs.

Breastfeeding starts with the baby's suckle. Suckling sends a message to Mom's brain to release a hormone that causes the breast to make milk.

As baby continues to suckle, a second hormone relaxes the milk ducts releasing and delivering milk to the baby and the baby drinks.

Since the suckle has such an important role in the breastfeeding process it is important that the suckle is protected as much as possible.

When baby suckles at the breast, Mom's brain responds by releasing hormones. These hormones tell the breast to make and deliver milk.

The way babies suckle on soothers, pacifiers and bottles is different than the way babies suckle at the breast. Therefore, it is recommended that soothers, pacifiers and bottles be avoided until breastfeeding has been well established.

Stages of Milk Production & Composition

First Milk - Colostrum

Looks like - thick yellow milk

Contains - high amounts of germ fighting cells

Volume - small quantities

Function:

Protection - Colostrum lines a baby's stomach and protects against harmful bacteria
Facilitates - proper stomach function and health
Laxative - helps baby pass the first bowel movements

Second Milk - Mature Milk

Looks like - bluish milk

Contains - high amounts of fat, carbohydrates and calories

Volume - increases with the size of baby's stomach

Mature milk changes during the feed:

Foremilk - Starts as a watery milk to quench baby's thirst
Hindmilk - the milk's fat content increases through the feed. Let the baby feed as long as needed to benefit from the hindmilk and stay satisfied between feeds and gain weight.

Reading Baby's Cues

Breastfeed your baby early after birth and often. Most newborn babies will feed at least 8 times in 24 hours. Your baby will give you cues to tell you when they are ready and eager to feed. Watch for and follow your baby's cues.

Early Feeding Cues

"I'm hungry"

Stirring, moving arms
Mouth opening, yawning or licking
Hand to mouth movements
Turning head from side to side
Rooting, seeking to reach things with their mouth

Moderate Feeding Cues

"I'm really hungry"

Stretching
Moving more and more
Hand to mouth movements
Sucking, cooing or sighing sounds

Late Feeding Cues

Crying, agitated body movements, colour turning red.

Calm baby down before feeding by:

Cuddling
Holding skin-to-skin
Talking or singing
Stroking or rocking

Latching Baby onto the Breast

Effective and comfortable breastfeeding starts with a good latch, or the placement of the breast in the baby's mouth.

Babies are born with a reflex called "rooting" that helps them find the nipple. It may look like bobbing or pecking at first. When the baby finds the nipple, their mouth will open wide.

Ensuring that the baby takes in a large mouthful of breast tissue, and that the baby's mouth covers a good portion of the areola, will create an effective latch. The baby's head can be tilted with the chin touching the breast, but the nose should not touch the breast.

Taking a large mouthful of breast tissue ensures the nipple is at the back of the baby's mouth, making drinking easier for the baby and nursing less painful for mom.

Tips for Latching

Watch baby for cues it is time to feed.
Hold baby skin-to-skin and let baby root for the nipple.
Line up baby's nose to your nipple.
Bring baby's chin and lower lip to the breast.
When baby opens mouth wide, direct your nipple to the back of baby's mouth.
While supporting the breast, keep your hands back and away from the areola.
Once baby is latched, adjust positioning so mom is comfortable too.

What to Watch For

A deep latch - baby's mouth should cover a good portion of the breast's areola, not just the nipple.
Strong suckle - let baby suckle so the process of making and releasing milk can begin. Sucks are quick and shallow.
Swallowing - after the breast milk is released, baby should start to swallow. Sucks become deep and slow. You will notice a pause during the suck when your baby's mouth opens the widest. Your baby will drink milk during this pause and you will hear or see them swallow.
Frequent feeding - watch for and follow your baby's feeding cues and feed as long as the baby wants on each breast.
Baby feeds until full - baby is calm and relaxed after feeds.

The Importance Of Positioning

A good position and latch helps baby get enough milk to satisfy hunger and grow.
Make sure mom and baby are both comfortable and well supported.
Hold baby skin-to-skin on your chest.
Hold baby facing you, tummy-to-tummy.
Baby's ears, shoulders and hips should be in a straight line.
Support baby's shoulders, neck and bottom.

Video Provided by Peel Region Public Health

Notre mission

Réunir divers chercheurs canadiens dans le domaine de l'allaitement maternel et de la lactation humaine afin de favoriser les partenariats, d'améliorer l'innovation, de catalyser de nouvelles initiatives de recherche, de garantir des méthodes et des pratiques de recherche équitables, diversifiées et inclusives et de renforcer les capacités des générations futures de chercheurs canadiens. des chercheurs. Cela peut inclure, sans toutefois s'y limiter, la recherche sur les bienfaits du lait maternel et diverses pratiques cliniques et culturelles d'alimentation au lait maternel.

Every time milk is removed from the breast, the breast responds by making more milk.

Reasons For Expressing Milk

Hand expressing colostrum is a painless, convenient way of removing colostrum from the breast and can be started before your baby is born after 37 weeks of pregnancy (unless you are advised not to by your health care provider).
Expressing the first milk, or colostrum, will enable you to get baby interested in latching by giving them a taste of your milk. If baby is not yet latching, it will ensure baby gets the highly nutritious colostrum. Use a wide cup or teaspoon, to collect colostrum to feed your baby.
Expressed milk rubbed on your nipples can be soothing and prevent soreness.
Expressing mature milk can be done by hand expression or with a breast pump.
Expressing milk can relieve pressure if breasts are overly full.
Expressed milk can be stored and used if you are away from baby during feeds.

For more information on pumping and storing breast milk, click on the button below for a helpful fact sheet.

Fact Sheet

Learning to Hand Express
Breast Milk

How To:

Wash your hands well and find a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed.
Gently massage your breast from outside toward the nipple and roll nipple between your fingers.
Hold your breast between the thumb and fingers of one hand about 4 cm back from your nipple. See "Compress" in the image above.
Lift the breast slightly and gently press it towards your chest.
Lightly compress your thumb and fingers together in a rolling motion towards the nipple.
Relax your fingers for a couple of seconds and compress again. Do not squeeze the base of your nipple as it will stop the flow of milk.
Move around your breast so you are expressing from the entire breast. Continue until the flow of milk has completely stopped. Switch and do the other breast.
Ask your health care provider, hospital nurse or public health nurse to show you how to express breast milk. If necessary, your partner can help you hand express.
Remove milk from your breast as needed. Consider the number of times you would typically feed your baby and consider removing milk to support your milk production if you are away from your baby or the baby is unable to feed from the breast.

Compress the Breast to Keep Baby Awake

Compressing your breast while baby is latched is a great way to keep baby awake and engaged in feeding.

Multiple Babies

A mother can make enough milk for more than one baby. The more milk removed from the breasts, the more milk the breasts will make.

While learning to breastfeed you may enjoy feeding your babies one at a time as it gives you more time with your babies. Since you may spend a lot of time in the early days breastfeeding, accept help from friends and family and be sure to rest when you have a chance.

For more information on breastfeeding multiple babies, please visit Multiple Births Canada.