COMMON CONCERNS in the first few weeks IF YOUR BABY PREFERS • If baby fusses when you change their WHEN YOUR BABY CRIES 8:00 am and then begin the next feeding at ONE BREAST position, start with the football hold on the Newborn babies cry for a variety of reasons. 10:00 am. You would say that your baby has While a baby is first learning how to preferred side. Then, after baby has Sometimes they cry a lot when they are fed “every 2 hours.” The length of the feeding breastfeed, it is very common for them to breastfed for a little while, gently slide adjusting to a new situation. For many parents, is not counted.) You may learn that your baby prefer one breast over the other. As most them over into the cross cradle hold at the the first night home from the hospital is is actually breastfeeding the expected number women’s nipples are not exactly the same other breast. frustrating because their baby seems to cry a of times. shape on both sides, baby may find one breast • If you have a breast pump, it may help to great deal. If your baby cries, stay calm and try easier to latch on to. Perhaps the nipple on pump for a few minutes on the less- swaddling, swinging/rocking and/or a white If you are feeding baby for more than an hour at one side fits their mouth better, or maybe the preferred side (see “Expressing and storing noise sound machine to help soothe them. In a time, your nipples are sore throughout the milk flows more freely from one breast than breast milk,” page 36). This may help pull the time, you will be a master at how to calm your feeding, or your baby seems hungry between the other. Your baby may be more nipple out farther and start the flow of baby. Just be patient and know that this meals, you may have a problem with latching comfortable in a certain position. Whatever milk. behavior is completely normal and has on and need to ask for help. The most common the reason, this is a common situation. While • If your baby skips 2 or more feedings in a nothing to do with your breast milk. cause of long, too-frequent feedings and sore learning to feed from both breasts, your baby row on the breast that is not preferred, you nipples is incorrect positioning at the breast. will still get all the nutrition they need from should begin to express your milk regularly Many new parents are advised that it is best to Your baby’s mouth needs to be over the milk one side. (preferably with a hospital-grade electric let the baby “cry it out” or that if they always pockets that are about 1 inch to 1½ inches pump). This will help increase milk pick up their crying baby, they will “spoil” behind your nipple. Here are some suggestions for getting baby production from the less-preferred breast. them. But rest assured that newborn babies to breastfeed from the less-preferred side. If are absolutely unspoilable! By responding to When properly positioned, your baby will get these are not helpful, it is advisable to work • If necessary, continue to express milk from your baby’s cries promptly with comfort, you more breast milk and nipple soreness should with your health care professional or a the less-preferred breast until baby begins are telling them that their needs will be met go away. If this “eating all the time” behavior is lactation consultant. to accept that breast and are helping smooth their transition home. something new, it may be an appetite spurt • Try breastfeeding on the preferred side • If your baby refuses to latch on at all to one IF YOUR BABY WANTS TO BREASTFEED and only temporary (see “Growth spurts,” page until your milk has let down and is dripping side, the use of a hospital-grade electric ALL THE TIME 44). As your baby’s stomach grows, they will from the other side. Then switch baby over. breast pump will ensure that you continue Breastfeeding is more than just providing be capable of eating more at each feeding and, to produce milk in that breast and keep it food. It also provides the comfort of sucking therefore, will need to feed less often. from becoming engorged. It will also help plus the safety and warmth of your arms. to stretch the nipple and make latch-on Remember that because your baby’s stomach As described earlier, breastfed babies more likely. is still very small, they will need to eat 6-8 sometimes “cluster feed” (want to eat several times per day or more for at least the first 4 times in a row during a 2-hour period instead weeks of life. If your baby is a “leisurely” of feeding well only once and then waiting If necessary, continue to breastfeeder—and babies do have different 2 or 3 hours to feed again). Remember: This is express milk from your styles of breastfeeding—it may take them as not a sign that the baby is not getting enough to preferred breast until the baby long as an hour to complete a meal. eat. It is a normal breastfeeding behavior; allow begins to accept that breast your baby to breastfeed as often as they want. To get a true picture of how often your However, if you continue to be concerned, call baby is breastfeeding, write down the time your health care professional or a lactation each feeding begins. Feedings are timed consultant. from the start of one to the start of the next. (Example: you begin to feed your baby at 22 23