Perfect Milk!

You will make the perfect milk for your baby! A firm decision to breastfeed your baby should be made in pregnancy. To establish breastfeeding with your baby you will want to follow these simple steps...

---

1. Keep your baby Skin-to-Skin

After birth (vaginal or cesarean) it signals to our body make more milk because baby is here, regulates baby's body temperature, heart rate and controls moms bleeding. Additionally, when moms keep their babies near it allows them the best opportunity to get to know their baby's cues. 

2. Breastfeed at least Every 2-3 Hours

The more often you feed, the more breastmilk you will make! To encourage an abundant supply of milk I suggest not going longer than 3 hours between feeds until the milk transitions. Typically speaking for a vaginal birth this is 3-5 days + cesarean birth 5-10 days.
Defined as: from the beginning of 1 feed until the beginning of the next

3. No Formula, No Bottles, No Pacifiers

Your healthy full-term baby is learning to breastfeed and it is imperative that we honour the journey! When we offer formula, bottles and pacifiers it interrupts this important time for both mom and baby.  

• Instead of formula mothers can hand-express their colostrum and give it to their baby. Note - there will likely be only a small amount, 2-7ml is perfect!
• Rather than a bottle colostrum should be fed by syringe, cup or teaspoon
• Pacifiers often hide the signs of infant hunger and encourage babies to return to sleep rather than fully wake. Pacifier use increases the risk of missing infant feeds leading to low/slow weight gain for baby and jeopardizing mother's milk supply.​

Tried the above without success? Experiencing difficulties? Please reach out! 
Erin Moyen, our lactation specialist is available to assist you. Do not struggle silently. Help is near! Read more about breastfeeding support or book in-home breastfeeding support