5 breastfeeding tips from a lactation consultant

Are you planning to breastfeed your newborn? Sometimes you can run into bumps on the road when starting to breastfeed, especially in the beginning. Andrea Caivano-Reed, a lactation consultant from Providence St. Joseph Hospital, provides five tips to help you succeed!

• Follow your baby's lead! Infants are excellent communicators and will demonstrate feeding cues. Breastfeeding on demand when feeding cues are present—at least 8-12 times in 24 hours—will help establish breast milk production.
• Newborn infants often have periods of cluster feeding— which means breastfeeding frequently in a short time period. Following the infant's demand will increase breast milk production during these periods of rapid growth.
• Warm compresses, breast massage, and hand expression are effective tools to alleviate an engorged or painful breast.
• Breastfeeding requires additional calories. Remember to stay hydrated and eat high protein snacks in addition to a healthy diet to maintain adequate nutrition for you and your baby.
• A painful latch should be addressed as soon as possible to improve comfort, ensure adequate milk transfer, and support breast milk production. At Providence St. Joseph Hospital, our Mother Baby Assessment Center provides lactation consults and group workshops to address your breastfeeding needs. Please call for more information: 714-744-8764.