Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      I’m a pediatric sleep specialist who has seen it all, and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to get your child to (happily) stay in his own bed all night long. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    When sex coincides with your most fertile ovulation days, you'll increase your chances of getting pregnant. Get to know each phase of your cycle to make conception faster and easier.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY

    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES

    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    Curious which baby names stole the show this year? From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
    • Baby Name Quizzes
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids’ birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY

    6 Easter Egg Science Experiments for Kids

    Smarten up your annual Easter tradition with these easy, educational egg dyeing ideas.
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Babies
  3. Breastfeeding
  4. Breastfeeding 101
  5. 10 Things to Know About Breastfeeding

10 Things to Know About Breastfeeding

By Sara Lippmann
January 28, 2009
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Breastfeeding is worth trying. So you don't freak out when you fill up, we'll walk you through it.
Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Breast milk is oh so healthy.

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

We don't want to pressure everyone to nurse. We just want you to be aware of the benefits. Breast milk contains antibodies that can't be engineered. "Breastfed babies get fewer colds and sinus and ear infections," says Jim Sears, MD, coauthor of The Baby Book. They also have less diarrhea and constipation and a decreased chance of having allergies.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mom, you might end up healthier too.

Credit: StockDisc

Over the long term, breastfeeding helps ward off breast and ovarian cancers. In the short term, the physical contact helps you bond with your baby. It forces you to sit still and focus on nurturing. As Rachael Don, a mother of three in Scottsdale, Arizona, puts it, "Nursing is the one time that your baby is totally content and there's nothing else you should be doing." Dr. Sears says that breastfeeding releases "mothering hormones" like prolactin, which helps keep the baby blues at bay, and oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract. Oh, and it burns calories to boot!

2 of 11

3 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Nursing is tough in the beginning.

Credit: iStock

"Consider a breastfeeding class while you're pregnant," says Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a lactation consultant in Larchmont, New York. But also be prepared to seek help once baby arrives. "Getting baby to latch on may not feel natural," Nagin says. "Ask for help in the hospital."

We're not going to lie. Those first days, you might feel what experts call extreme tenderness -- and what we call pain. But once your baby is properly latched, discomfort should diminish during each nursing session and go away completely with time. Don't ignore shooting pain; a knot in the breast accompanied by soreness and redness could be a plugged milk duct, which can lead to mastitis, a nasty infection that requires antibiotics.

Ninety percent of moms who contact La Leche League are worried about either latch or supply. Fortunately, lactation consultants make house calls, hospitals host clinics, and the Web offers many resources. My daughter's pediatrician simply showed me how to adjust my child's chin to improve her lazy suck.

  • LaLecheLeague.net

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Breastfeeding saves $$$.

Credit: Bryan McCay

If you mostly nurse and use formula only in a pinch, you should be able to pocket at least an extra $400 in your baby's first year. That's even if you buy a breast pump!

4 of 11

5 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You're the food supply, so mother yourself.

Credit: BrandX

Keep taking prenatal vitamins, get ample calcium, and drink at least 64 ounces of water a day while nursing. "A new mom needs to stay well hydrated and well fed," says Jane Crouse, a La Leche League leader and mother of three. You'll need an extra 300 to 500 calories daily. You'll also need to learn to relax, however you can -- stress might affect letdown (the start of your milk flow). Take a warm shower, sink into a chair, and remember to breathe as you help your squirmy baby latch on.

If you need medication (for anything from a cold to a chronic condition), check with your doctor. Most meds -- but not all -- are fine in breast milk. Likewise, one drink every once in a while is safe. Have it at least two hours before a feeding so the alcohol can leave your system.

5 of 11

6 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Breastfeeding can be blissfully convenient.

No frantic runs to the store. No futzing around at an ungodly hour to whip up a bottle. No cleanup. Many moms just roll over (especially if their baby is in a co-sleeper) and nurse in a soporific state. Breast milk is instantly available and delivered warm. Plus, feeding supplies are one less thing to shove into that bursting diaper bag.

Travel can be easier too. Stuck in a plane for hours? Your baby will never run out of food. And once the two of you find a groove, nursing in a carrier can be particularly handy, as I've found, while you chase a big sibling around the playground.

The only catch: all the responsibility is on you. If you need a short break, see the next slide.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Breast milk + formula is an option.

Credit: Juice Images/Veer

"For me it was the most pragmatic choice," says Ann Sargent, of Washington, DC. She wanted to work hard at work, then get home early to nurse, so her baby drank formula during the day. Just know that when you combo-feed, your milk production will dip.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Plenty of women pump milk, and for all kinds of reasons.

Credit: Michael Kraus

First, some women pump either to encourage their milk supply or to relieve engorgement. If baby has a good night's sleep and you wake up full of milk, you may as well bottle it for future use!

Second, there are the occasional pumpers. Fill a bottle, and Dad can do that midnight feed, or you can have a baby-free date. For this, you may need only a single manual pump.

Finally, there are working moms who take two or three short breaks during the workday to pump breast milk, which they bring home and put in the fridge or freezer. If you'd like to do this, discuss your intentions with your boss or consult another mom at the company who has done it, to make sure you'll have space and privacy. A special hands-free bra can allow you to multitask -- answering e-mail or reading while you pump. Invest in a double electric pump to speed things along.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Common Breastfeeding Myths

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Eventually, it's over.

Sometimes a baby loses interest; other times Mom burns out first. Get someone else involved in feeding to ease the transition to bottle or cup. "If weaning results in a happy mom, that's best for baby," Dr. Sears says.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

We're all different.

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Do your best. Move on.

 

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 11 Breast milk is oh so healthy.
2 of 11 Mom, you might end up healthier too.
3 of 11 Nursing is tough in the beginning.
4 of 11 Breastfeeding saves $$$.
5 of 11 You're the food supply, so mother yourself.
6 of 11 Breastfeeding can be blissfully convenient.
7 of 11 Breast milk + formula is an option.
8 of 11 Plenty of women pump milk, and for all kinds of reasons.
9 of 11 Common Breastfeeding Myths
10 of 11 Eventually, it's over.
11 of 11 We're all different.

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Parents

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Parents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

View image

10 Things to Know About Breastfeeding
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.