by Sherry Horton Blake

Created on: February 04, 2009

Having breastfed six children, I feel like something of an expert on this topic. I remember, however, the uncertainty and nervousness I felt about breastfeeding when my first child was born. I had a lot of questions. Would it hurt to breastfeed? Would I have enough milk? Would my baby know what to do? Having made my way through the questions and uncertainties and having found the joy in breastfeeding my children, I would like to offer the following tips:

It is important that you are comfortable touching your own nipples if you are going to breastfeed. Try gently massaging your nipples in the months before the baby is born. Are your nipples flat or inverted? Don't worry. You can still breastfeed successfully. To determine if your breasts are flat or inverted, compress the areola (the dark area around the nipple). If the nipple does not stand up, then it is considered flat. If the nipple retracts, then it is considered inverted. Neither situation is usually a problem in breastfeeding as the baby should latch onto the areola rather than the nipple in breastfeeding and, with a little patience and positioning, should be able to nurse successfully. However, there is a technique called Hoffman Technique that you may want to try. Place a thumb on each side of the nipple (at the base, not at the edge of the areola). Push in firmly against the breast tissue while at the same time pulling your thumbs away from each other. This helps the nipples move up and outward. Also, before each feeding, you can roll the nipple between the thumb and index finger for a couple of minutes, and then quickly touch it with a cold cloth or ice that is wrapped in cloth. This should cause the nipple to stand up. Do not use ice or cold for a prolonged period of time.

Relax! Mothers have been doing this since the dawn of time. This is the way babies were intended to eat; therefore, it is the easiest way to feed a baby. You need to find the most comfortable position for you. Some women prefer sitting in a rocking chair with arm supports and some women prefer sitting on the bed, but find the position in which you are most comfortable. Place the baby close to you in a position where she does not have to turn her head to breastfeed, tummy to tummy. Her mouth and nose should be facing your breast, and her head should be in the bend of your elbow. If you have difficulty with this position as mothers sometimes do who have had a C-section, have very large breasts or have flat nipples, try the football

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>