Breastfeeding Your Baby

Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start possible toward a long and healthy life — from his or her first days all the way through old age.

The first milk you feed from your breast is called colostrum. This special milk, available for your baby in the first few days after birth, protects your baby from infection and allergies. Formula does not have this important protection. Breastfed babies don't need a supplement of formula. In fact, giving a supplement of formula in the first month will cut down your milk supply and can confuse your baby.

Positioning Your Baby for Breastfeeding

  • Support your breast with four fingers under and your thumb on top. Keep your index finger back away from the nipple so the baby doesn't bump into it.
  • Place your baby on her side facing you, tummy to tummy, and tap her lips with your nipple.
  • Watch for a wide open mouth, then quickly bring baby's mouth to your nipple. It should attach about one inch behind the nipple, on the dark circle called the areola.
  • Check baby's bottom lip to make sure it curls out. If it doesn't, pull down gently on baby's chin until the bottom lip curls out.

Remember that breastfeeding shouldn't hurt while baby is nursing. If you have nipple pain during a feeding, try pulling down baby's chin or take her off and reattach her farther behind the nipple, on the areola.

Setting a Schedule

You will want to feed your baby 8 to 12 times in each 24-hour day. If you wake your baby about every 2 or 3 hours during the day, he will adjust his days and nights sooner.

At each feeding let the baby nurse 10-20 minutes on each side, as long as you have no nipple pain. If you take him off too soon, he won't get a whole feeding and will wake up hungry and off-schedule, which can be tough on both of you.

How much Feeding Is Enough?

Your baby will feed 8 to 12 times each day.
Baby has at least 6 wet and 2 dirty diapers in 24 hours. (Stools of breastfed babies are a mustard-like color and are loose.)
Baby is gaining 4 to 7 ounces per week.
Baby is content for 1 to 2 hours between most feedings.
You hear your baby swallow as he feeds. 

Baby's Growth Spurts

Babies go through several rapid growth times, at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months. These are common times when many mothers think they don't have enough milk.

During growth spurts, your baby needs to nurse more often to signal the breast to make more milk.

Your baby controls the supply of milk. She will nurse more often for about two days to make more milk, then she will go back to the original nursing schedule.

Special Lactation Services

Choosing how to feed your baby is a big decision. Breastfeeding gives important benefits to both you and your baby, and it helps build a special relationship.

Lake Hospital System's Women's Services Department provides guidance and answers about breastfeeding for both new and expectant mothers.

Services include:

  • Prenatal breastfeeding classes
  • Visits by a lactation consultant while you and baby are still in the hospital and telephone follow-up
  • Outpatient consultation visits for engorgement, latching-on, poor weight gain, and other problems. These services are available at LakeEast and LakeWest hospitals on a fee-for-service basis.
  • Consultation visits at home if requested by your physician

You will get help with:

  • Breast care and preparation for nursing
  • Nursing techniques and positions
  • What to expect after you've gone home
  • How your baby's father can help
  • Tips for returning to work or school
  • How to pump and store breast milk

To speak with a lactation consultant, please call:
Monday through Friday, 9 am — 5 pm EST — 440-354-1929
Weekends, Holidays, and After Hours — 440-602-6404 or 440-354-1602.

Nursing Diary

Use this breastfeeding diary for a few days to help you set your schedule and also to make sure feeding is going normally.

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  • Write down the time you begin the feeding, then write how long the baby nursed on each side, such as 10 and 20, or 10/20.
  • Make a check mark in the wet or dirty diaper column every time you change a diaper.
  • Begin a new page every morning. This way you see 24 hours (night feedings, too) on one page.

For more information, call the Best of Health Line at (440) 953-6000 or 1-800-454-9800

Having Your Baby Close to Home    Breast Pumps and Supplies

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