How to Prepare the Breast for Breast Feeding

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


Breastfeeding is by far the best, most natural way to feed your baby. Getting started breastfeeding, though, can be a little intimidating, scary and even painful in those early days. Knowing how to prepare the breast for breast-feeding both prior to delivery and in the early days of nursing will help you reduce or even prevent the pain of sore or cracked nipples and fatigue, and ultimately make your nursing experience the most pleasant it can be.

Steps

1. Massage your breasts to get used to handling them as much as you'll need to while nursing. Ask your obstetrician, nurse-midwife or area La Leche League Leader about techniques they recommend. Learning effective massage will also help you prepare for expressing milk manually or preparing them for pumping.
2. Determine if you have flat or inverted nipples. Many women don't pay close enough attention to their nipples until it comes time to nurse. While inverted or flat nipples can make nursing a little more challenging, it is certainly not impossible.
   • You may choose to wear breast shields in your bra that have a ring in them that applies pressure gently to the area around the nipple to help it stay out.
   • The "Hoffman" technique might be worth a try to encourage inverted or flat nipples to stay out. Start by placing your thumbs on each side of the nipple, then pressing into the breast tissue while pulling your thumbs apart from each other gently.
3. Care for the skin of your nipples and areolas starting in the last couple months of your pregnancy by watching which soaps and lotions you use on your skin.
   • A woman's body produces special oil in the areolar glands, which naturally clean them, so soap isn't really necessary. If you do use soap, rinse it off thoroughly. Or switch to a sensitive skin soap to cut down on the amount of irritants on your skin.
   • The same applies for laundry detergent. Wash any fabric that'll come in contact with your bare breasts - your bras, nightgowns, and even nursing pads – in sensitive skin soap, like Dreft, to keep irritants away from your skin.
   • Try lanolin-based creams if you need to apply anything to your nipple area. Doctor-recommended ones designed for nursing moms are often carried at maternity clothing stores, baby needs stores and pharmacies.
4. Invest in a good breast pump, even if you plan to nurse exclusively. You'll want to use the pump to remove as much milk as you can in the first couple of weeks you are breastfeeding. This may require pumping both breasts as soon as your baby finishes feeding as infants often fall asleep before emptying both breasts. Finish emptying the breasts with a pump and store the milk in the refrigerator or freezer.
   • Producing as much milk as possible early on increases your breasts' capacity for making milk; it's your body's own version of supply and demand, which helps set your body up for successful breastfeeding as long as you and your baby choose to continue.
5. Buy some soft washcloths and tea bags to make warm compresses for sore or cracked nipples and for engorged breasts.
   • Chances are good your nipples will crack at some point early on in your nursing experience. While breast care creams will help relieve pain, natural methods work well too. Express a small amount of breast milk and rub it gently across the nipples then let it air dry. Or soak a tea bag in warm water, squeeze out most of the moisture and slip it into your bra between the fabric and the nipple. The tea soothes the cracked nipple and helps it heal.
   • If the breasts become overly full or engorged, you'll want to gently press a warm wet washcloth around the swollen or hardened milk ducts to soften them up. Of course, the best way to relieve engorged breasts is to put your baby to your breast. It may be painful momentarily as the baby first latches on to the engorged breast, but as soon as the milk starts to flow, you'll experience great relief.
     
     
     

How to Stop Breastfeeding Without Pain

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


Most women will experience some form of discomfort during the weaning process. Discovering effective ways to reduce pain while weaning can help breastfeeding mothers accomplish their goal with greater ease. There are simple steps that nursing mothers can take to help make the weaning process a little smoother.

Steps

Knowing What to Expect

1. Begin by educating yourself about what can be expected when you stop breastfeeding your baby. Weaning is a fairly routine process, but there may be a few surprises along the way. It helps to know what to expect before you begin.
2. Spend some time reading as much as you can about the weaning process. The more information that you gather, the more equipped you will be with knowledge of the subject. The Internet is a great source of information where you can find numerous websites catering to pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning. Libraries carry books devoted to these subjects. Literature is available by mail from some breastfeeding advocacy groups that provide information about weaning.
3. Speak to a health professional who specializes in the subject. Many centers offer educational seminars, meetings or classes for breastfeeding mothers wishing to learn more about the weaning process. These professionals can often be your best resource for finding real life tips from those who have experience with breastfeeding and weaning.
4. Talk to experienced mothers and find out what their weaning process was like. You may be surprises to hear some of the tips that others have to offer. Many times, other moms can be an excellent source of information for nursing, weaning and other parenting tips.

Taking Gradual Measures

1. Start the entire weaning process in a gradual, slow manner. Any abrupt cessation of breastfeeding will confuse the body. Your body has prepared itself to meet your baby’s nutritional needs based on how much milk your baby has been requiring. Your body has not been prepared to stop producing milk at a quick rate. It needs time to realize that the milk is no longer needed. If you abruptly stop nursing, your body is less likely to be able to handle the transition smoothly, and you are more likely to experience painful side effects as a result.
2. Start trying to acclimate your baby to taking a bottle well before you attempt to start the weaning process. For most babies, formula tastes yucky in comparison to breast milk. The nipple on the bottle is foreign to baby. The entire sucking process is different and the security of nursing from mom has been eliminated. Your baby will need time to accept these changes.
3. Begin reducing your baby’s feedings a little at a time once a form of substitute feeding has been established. Substitute formula or solid food to satisfy your baby’s nutritional needs as weaning progresses. Healthy snacks are an important part of the weaning process as well.

Practicing Self Care

1. Massage the breasts immediately after you begin the weaning efforts. Massage can help prevent the milk ducts from becoming plugged up. Massage as often as possible and always use gentle, circular motions.
   • Watch for the development of any lumps or sore, red areas in the breasts. If this occurs, it probably signifies that a plugged milk duct is present. Begin paying extra attention to the area and increase massage time to it. The point is to break the plug up with massage. Warm showers can be beneficial in helping massage work more effectively.
   • Seek medical attention if the increase of massage efforts fails to rectify the situation in a day or so. If the symptoms worsen or if fever takes place, it is possible that the plugged duct has progressed to a condition known as Mastitis. If you suspect that this is the case, contact your health care provider immediately, as Mastitis can have serious complications if not treated quickly and properly.
2. Apply warm compresses to the breasts if they become tender. Cold compresses, generally used when engorgement has occurred, can be beneficial for some women. Determine which offers you more comfort and incorporate your choice into a routine as necessary.
3. Begin wearing a good fitting bra, even during sleep. Too small or too large of a bra will defeat the purpose. Avoid bras that contain under wires.
   • Place some large cabbage leaves into the cup of your bra. This has been used for centuries to help hasten the drying up process of the milk.
   • Place some nursing pads against your nipples if leakage becomes a problem. Many women are embarrassed when leakage presents itself through their clothing. The pads are an effective way to promote absorption.
4. Remain on your pre-natal vitamins to ensure proper nutrition to the body as the body tries to adjust to the changes occurring.
5. Speak to your health care provider about the use of Ibuprofen as a pain reducer if pain becomes too great to bear.
6. Continue to eat a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated. Promoting good health is always an effective way to help the body function better.
   • There is some anecdotal evidence that sage tea can help.
7. Try to get a full nights rest. The body is going through serious changes and it could use some help from you. Sleep is one of the best ways for the body to regenerate and heal itself.
8. Keep in mind that the hormonal changes can affect your moods. Expect to feel all manner of emotions right now. Weaning is a psychological experience as well as physical. Allow yourself to feel whatever it is that you are feeling.
9. Do not pump the breasts until they are empty when you are decreasing your feeding sessions. Doing so will trigger the body to replenish the milk. Instead, drain a little bit of milk from the breast to prevent the breast from becoming engorged. Do this as often as needed if the breasts become too full. A warm shower can assist with allowing the milk to leak out a bit.