Breast-feeding is the healthiest way to feed a baby because breast milk has antibodies and enzymes that formula does not. Many women want to breast-feed their babies, but have trouble doing so for one reason or another. Instead of supplementing with formula right away, women can work through their breast-feeding struggles by understanding some of the normal changes that babies go through and learning to recognize what is truly normal when it comes to breast-feeding.
Breast-Feed Often
One of the most important tips to increase a woman's breast-feeding success is to breast-feed often. According to La Leche League International, breast-feeding moms often feel that their milk supply has decreased or that they cannot supply enough milk to feed their baby when the baby is around 6 weeks to 2 months of age. There are a number of causes, all of which are manageable. The National Institutes of Health says that the more frequently a woman breast-feeds, the more breast milk she will produce. Therefore, if a baby is going through a growth spurt, seems hungrier and needs to eat more often, a woman should breast-feed on demand, as often as the baby needs, whether it is every three hours or every one and a half hours. This will ensure that she always makes enough breast milk.
Try Different Positions
There are numerous breast-feeding positions and many women tend to stick with the one they first learned in the hospital. It is important that the woman and her baby find a comfortable breast-feeding position, as this can influence the baby's ability to latch on properly to the breast. La Leche League International says the baby should be latched on to the areola of the breast, which is the brown or pink area of a woman's breast, instead of just the tip of the nipple. To find the most comfortable breast-feeding position, the National Institutes of Health recommends asking a friend if you can observe her breast-feeding and then try different positions such as lying down on your side, cradling your baby across your body or gently tucking your baby's body to your side like a football.
Avoid Bottles and Pacifiers
Although it is easy to sooth a baby with a pacifier when he is crying, it may not be a good idea if you are aiming for successful breast-feeding. The National Institutes of Health says babies have a hard time latching on to the breast once they are exposed to a bottle or pacifier because the nipples are so different. They recommend avoiding bottles and pacifiers for at least the first 2 weeks of the baby's life and then using them as sparingly as possible thereafter, so the baby can latch on to the breast well.
Ask for Help When you Need it
La Leche League International recommends always asking for help when you need it. You may experience a situation that you have never experienced before, but that doesn't mean that it's abnormal or a reason to stop breast-feeding. You can find a local breast-feeding support group or even call La Leche League's free breast-feeding hotline, where you can speak with an expert by visiting the organization's website.
