Engorged Breasts

Within the first two to three days after you have
given birth, you may discover that your breasts
feel swollen, tender, throbbing, lumpy, and
overly full.  Sometimes, the swelling will extend
all the way to your armpit, and you may run a
low fever as well. 

The causes
Within 72 hours of giving birth, an abundance
of milk will come in or become available to your
baby.  As this happens, more blood will flow
to your breasts and some of the surrounding tissue
will swell.  The result is full, swollen, engorged
breasts.

Not every postpartum mom experienced true
engorgement. Some women's breasts become only
slightly full, while others find their breasts
have become amazingly hard.  Some women will hardly
notice the pain, as they are involved in other
things during the first few days.

Treating it
Keep in mind, engorgement is a positive sign
that you are producing milk to feed to your
baby.  Until you produce the right amount:
    1.  Wear a supportive nursing bra, even
at night - making sure it isn't too tight.
    2.  Breast feed often, every 2 - 3 hours
if you can.  Try to get the first side of your
breasts as soft as possible.  If your baby seems
satisfied with just one breast, you can offer
the other at the next feeding.
    3.  Avoid letting your baby latch on and
suck when the areola is very firm.  To reduce
the possibility of nipple damage, you can use
a pump until your areola softens up. 
    4.  Avoid pumping milk except when you
need to soften the areola or when your baby
is unable to latch on.  Excessive pumping can
lead to the over production of milk and prolonged
engorgement.
    5.  To help soothe the pain and relieve
swelling, apply cold packs to your breasts for
a short amount of time after you nurse.  Crushed
ice in a plastic bag will also work.
    6.  Look ahead.  You'll get past this
engorgement in no time and soon be able to
enjoy your breast feeding relationship with your
new baby.

Engorgement will pass very quickly.  You can
expect it to diminish within 24 - 48 hours, as
nursing your baby will only help the problem.  If
you aren't breast feeding, it will normally
get worse before it gets better.  Once the
engorgement has passed, your breasts will be
softer and still full of milk. 

During this time, you can and should continue to
nurse.  Unrelieved engorgement can cause a drop
in your production of milk, so it's important
to breast feed right from the start.  Keep an
eye for signs of hunger and feed him when he
needs to be fed.

Breast Feeding In Public

Babies that are breast fed are very portable and
easy to comfort no matter where your schedule has
you going.  Many women however, worry about
breast feeding in public.  The worry of nursing
in a public place is normally worse than the
actual experience and often times the only people
who notice you feeding are the other mothers who
are doing the same thing.

Many women find ways to breast feed discreetly. 
You can ask your partner or even a friend to
stand in front of you while you lift your shirt
from the waist.  When you breast feed, the baby's
body will cover most of your upper body and you
can pull your shirt down to her face to cover
the tops of your breast.  Some mothers prefer to
put a light blanket over their shoulders as a
type of cover.

When you are visiting someone else's home, you
may feel more comfortable either leaving the
room or turning away from people when you first
put the baby to your breast.  If you would like
more privacy, breast feed in an empty room, car,
or public restroom.

A lot of restrooms are becoming more baby
friendly and they even have a seperate are with
a changing table and a chair.  Several shopping
malls now offer special mother's rooms where
the mom can breast feed her baby in privacy,
which will help sensitive babies who are too
distracted by feeding to nurse well in public.
It won't take long at all though, before your
baby will learn to breast feed without any fuss
at all.

An alternative way is expressing or pumping
your milk at home and then offer it in a bottle
while in public.  Keep in mind, offering
bottles with artificial nipples in the first
few weeks can and probably will interfere with
breast feeding.

When breast feeding in public, you should always
use what works best for you.  During the first
few weeks, it will take some getting used to,
as it will be as new for you as it is for the
baby.  With some time, you'll have no problems
at all.

If you don't feel comfortable breast feeding in
a certain location, then you shouldn't.  You
should feel a certain level of comfort when you
feed, as the baby can tell when you aren't
comfortable doing something.  If you show your
baby that you aren't nervous - you and your
baby will be just fine.

Breast Feeding And Positioning

For some people, the process of breast feeding
seems to come natural, although there's a level
of skill required for successful feeding and a
correct technique to use.  Incorrect positioning
is one of the biggest reasons for unsuccessful
feeding and it can even injure the nipple or
breast quite easily.

By stroking the baby's cheek with the nipple, the
baby will open its mouth towards the nipple, which
should then be pushed in so that the baby will
get a mouthful of nipple and areola.  This
position is known as latching on.  A lot of women
prefer to wear a nursing bra to allow easier access
to the breast than other normal bras.

The length of feeding time will vary.  Regardless
of the duration of feeding time, it's important
for mothers to be comfortable. The following are
positions you can use:
    1.  Upright - The sitting position where
the back is straight.
    2.  Mobile - Mobile is where the mother
carries her baby in a sling or carrier while breast
feeding.  Doing this allows the mother to breast
feed in the work of everyday life.
    3.  Lying down - This is good for night feeds
or for those who have had a caesarean section.
    4.  On her back - The mother is sitting
slightly upright, also a useful position for tandem
breast feeding.
    5.  On her side - The mother and baby both
lie on their sides.
    6.  Hands and knees - In this feeding position
the mother is on all fours with the baby underneath
her.  Keep in mind, this position isn't normally
recommended.

Anytime you don't feel comfortable with a feeding
position, always stop and switch to a different
position.  Each position is different, while some
mothers prefer one position, other's may like a
totally different position.  All you need to do is
experiment and see which position is best for you.

Breast Feeding Adopted Babies

Not only is breast feeding an adopted baby easy,
the chances are that you will produce a large
amount of milk.  It isn't complicated to do,
although it is different than breast feeding a
baby you have been pregnant with for 9 months.

Breast feeding and milk
There are two objectives that are involved in
breast feeding an adopted baby.  The first is
getting your baby to breast feed, and the other
is producing enough breast milk. 

There is more to breast feeding than just milk,
which is why many mothers are happy to feed
without expecting to produce milk in the way
the baby needs.  It's the closeness and the
bond breast feeding provides that many mothers
look for.

Taking the breast
Even though many feel the early introduction of
bottles may interfere with breast feeding, the
early introduction of artificial nipples can
interfere a great deal.  The sooner you can get
the baby to the breast after birth, the better
things will be.

Babies will however, require the flow from the
breast in order to stay attached and continue
to suck, especially if they are used to getting
flow from a bottle or other method of feeding.

Producing breast milk
As soon as you have an adopted baby in sight,
contact a lactation clinic and start getting
your milk supply ready.  Keep in mind, you
may never produce a full milk supply for your
baby, although it may happen.  You should
never feel discouraged by what you may be
pumping before the baby, as a pump is never
quite as good at extracting milk as a baby
who is well latched and sucking.

Benefits Of Breast Feeding

Once you've given birth, breast feeding is the single
most important thing you can do to protect your baby
and help to promote good health.  Best of all, breast
feeding is free.

Along with saving you money on HMR (Human Milk
Replacement), breast feeding can also help you to
keep your medical bills down.  Babies that are fed
with formula get sicker more often and more seriously
than babies that are breast fed  They also have more
ear infections, respiratory infections, and other
problems. 

This can be even more true if your family has had a
history of allergies.  When a baby is breast fed, the
antibodies pass on from the mother to the baby,
helping to protect against illness and allergies.  As
the baby's system matures, his body will begin to
make it's own antibodies, and he'll be more equipped
to handle sensitivities of food.

Sucking on the breast will also help with the
development or jaw alignment and the development of
the cheekbone.  For this very reason, there is less
of the need for costly orthodontic work when the
child gets older.

Unlike formula, breast milk is always ready, always
available, convenient, and always the right temperature
for feeding.  Plus, it contains all of the vitamins
and minerals your growing baby needs, saving you a 
lot of money. 

Breast feeding also offers many benefits for the mom
as well.  The baby sucking at the breast will cause
contractions right after birth, leading to less
bleeding for the mom, and helping her uterus to it's
shape before pregnancy much faster. 

Breast feeding will also burn calories, so a mom can
lose weight much faster than if she fed her baby with
a bottle.  Breast feeding will also create a special
bond with the mother and the baby - which is one
thing formula simpy cannot do.

Your Nursing Area

Once you've reached the third trimester, you'll
probably start stocking up on nursing bras, breast
pads, and loose button down shirts for the coming
months ahead.  While getting ready to breast feed,
you can also create your personal area, a custom
designed breast feeding area for yourself.

Your nursing area should reflect your personality.
If you like a loud, yet friendly surrounding, you
should consider setting in a corner of the living
room or family room.  Keep an extra chair or two
near you so family members or even friends can keep
you company.

If you prefer peace and quiet, a cozy study or
empty guest room would be ideal.  You can close
the door, dim the lights down, then take a few
deep, calming breaths while you breast feed.

Your own chair
No matter if it's a glider, overstuffed recliner,
or desk chair with wheels, you should make sure
your nursing chair is very comfortable.  You'll
be sitting in the chair for hours each day, so
you'll want it to be very comfortable.  You should
always look for one that offers back and shoulder
support, along with arm rests.

Support underfoot
You can use a footstool, low coffee table or a
stack of pillows to elevate your feet as you breast
feed.  If you raise your legs and feet to bring
your baby to your breast, you'll avoid possible
backache.

Pillows and more pillows
Your neck, arms, feet, and back will need as
much support as you can give, so don't hesitate
to surround your body with pillows.  If you lay
a pillow across your lap for your baby to lay on,
he'll be very comfortable and that much closer to
your nipple.  For extra comfort, you can even
purchase a specially made nursing pillow that
will encircle your waist.

Table for one
You should always keep a small table or stand
within arm's length of your breast feeding chair.
What you use should be big enough to hold a
coaster and glass of liquid.  Some women prefer
to drink through a straw, while others prefer to
drink from the glass. 

You'll also want to keep healthy snacks on hand
as well, such as fresh fruit, nuts, or crackers
and peanut butter to help you replace the
energy you use while you breast feed.

Distractions
If your baby is a slow eater or has a really big
appetite, you may want to keep yourself busy
while he feeds.  You can fill the shelves of a
nearby cupboard or bookcase with your favorite
books or crossword puzzles to occupy yourself
until your baby is full.  You should also keep
a phone nearby as well so that you can talk to
family or friends to pass the time.

The First Six Weeks

Breast milk is the best food you can give to your
baby.  Breast milk is a complete food source,
containing all the nutrients your baby need - at
least 400 of them to be exact, including hormones
and disease fighting compounds that aren't found
in formula.

The nutritional makeup in breast milk will adjust
to your baby's needs as he or she grows and
develops.  Aside from the brain building, infection
fighting benefits of breast milk, which no formula
can match, nursing will also help to build a special
bond between you and your baby.  When nursing,
your child thrives on the contact, cuddling, and
holding - which you will as well.

Since breast feedings can take up to 40 minutes or
more, you should pick a cozy spot for nursing.  The
atmosphere is very important, even more so in the
early days of breast feeding when you're still
trying to get the hang of it.  If you get easily
distracted by noise, go somewhere quiet.

You should always hold your baby in a position
that won't leave your arms or back sore.  It works
the best to support the back of your baby's head
with your hand, although which position you choose
depends on what's more comfortable to you.

When supporting your baby, a nursing pillow can
sometimes be a big help.  You should never feed
until both you and your baby are comfortable.  Pay
attention to how your breasts feel when your baby
latches on, as his mouth should cover most of the
areola below the nipple, and the nipple should be
far back into your baby's mouth.

While some women adjust to breast feeding easily,
other moms find it hard to learn.  If you feel
discouraged, always know that you aren't the only
one.  Everyone feels different when starting, it
all depends on the mother and the situation.

Breast feeding will take practice.  Therefore, you
should give yourself as much time as you need to
get it down to second nature.  Always take it one
feeding at a time.  If you are having a bad day,
tell yourself that it'll get better.  Keep in mind
that any problems are temporary, as you'll be
nursing like a pro by your six week postpartum
checkup.

The first six weeks will be both an adventure and
training.  You can't expect to know everything when
you begin, which is where training and practice will
really help you excel.  The more you breast feed,
the more you'll learn.  You'll also build a bond
with your baby - which is something you'll always
have for the rest of your lives.