Breast-feeding is definitely a mind-body process. While the mechanics of producing milk are physical, feeding your infant from your body, or having difficulty doing so, is emotional.
Facilitating let-down
Difficulty with "let-down", that is, when the milk begins to flow, may be a result of your not drinking enough fluid. A good guide is to have a glass of water or juice every time you nurse. This will help to replenish the fluid that goes into the milk, as well as provide you with the fluid you need. Another problem may be that you are very tired - not an easy one to resolve - or feeling very stressed. Resting when your baby sleeps can help, as well as making sure you are in a comfortable position when nursing: support your back with pillows and put your feet on a low stool.
Try putting on some soothing music or having a cup of decaffeinated tea. The more you are able to relax, the easier let-down will occur. If you are experiencing pain that is preventing you from relaxing during nursing, see the section below on pain management.
Easing sore nipples
Cracked or bleeding nipples are extremely painful and can disrupt the nursing process. They occur most commonly when the baby nurses for extended periods of time - using the breast for comfort in addition to feeding. Moisture, first from the baby's mouth and then in a non-breathing brassiere, causes sore nipples to crack and then to bleed.
If your nipples are becoming sore, try to limit breast-feeding to ten to fifteen minutes per side. Let them air-dry after a feeding. Moms often feel guilty if they limit the nursing time, but if they don't, soreness can lead to cracking. Think of it this way: if the breast is very painful and bleeding, you may decide to stop nursing. By limiting the time until the soreness disappears, you are able to continue.
While the nipples are healing, talk to your health care provider about using a cream designed for breast-feeding moms. These creams are sold over-the-counter. After a feeding, apply the cream, and then rinse it off before the next feeding. Once breast-feeding is well-established, the nipples "toughen up," and cracking is less common.
Dehydration and jaundice
Your newborn requires about an ounce an hour of pumped milk or formula, or breast-feeding about every two hours. The output goal is six to eight wet diapers of clear/pale yellow urine in twenty-four hours. As the number of diapers drops below five, the urine tends to darken and may give the diaper a brownish hue. Orange spots indicating uric acid crystals may be seen in the diaper.
Member comments
This is great information on breastfeeding and the best thing you can do is to gather and absorb all the facts before giving birth so you can appreciate exactly what to expect. It is a very challenging thing for some Mothers and if you are not prepared and have a strong belief in why it is such a great thing for you and your baby you may give up too soon. I stronly recommend that anyone that is able to breastfeed do so, it is the prefect nutrition for your baby and exactly what nature intended. It is a no fuss, always available, free way of feeding your baby and the bonding is incredible. We are very lucky to have formula for the times when your body is having come challenges with producing milk etc but I am a breast feeding advocate all the way whenever possible. Stick with it, the rewards are great for you and your baby!