"The Milky Way"

Prior to birth: 

• Read and educate yourself on the process of delivery and the initiation of lactation,

• Ask your friends, ask your sisters ask your mom! (all of them are good resources).

• Start preparing your breasts before delivery by gently massaging after a warm shower, a week to two weeks before your due date. You may be able to express some early milk called colostrum.

Birth & First Week At Home

• Your baby needs to latch within the first hour after birth. Baby will be placed on your abdomen, and will usually find the nipple on his or her own! If this is not possible, because of an emergency and mom and baby are separated, start hand massaging and pumping as soon as you are able.

• Newborns need to suckle every 2 to 2 1/2 hours to initiate the milk production process. If baby is not waking on his or her own, wake him or her and offer the breast. (I know you are tired, but this is critical to a good supply.)

• Don’t expect to feel fullness or see milk until about day four. This does not mean you don’t have milk. Watch baby for increasing wet diapers and stool color changing from black to green to yellow.

• If latching is painful, or baby just “sleeps” at the breast and cannot latch and maintain that latch, don’t wait! Lactation consultation can correct these issues before it becomes so difficult that you (or baby) want to quit!

The Next Few Weeks

• The first couple weeks will be an adjustment-there is really no pattern or schedule. Some feeds are good, and some are not. You may occasionally experience discomfort, and YOU ARE EXHAUSTED! THIS IS NORMAL! After a couple weeks, you and your baby will be in sync and milk is regulated. Feedings will be more consistent, satisfying, and become a beautiful bonding experience.

Maintaining the “Milky Way” comes with occasional issues that are common to most women:

• Nipple pain

• Excoriation     

• Mastitis                              

• Milk blebs                           

• Over supply                    

• Under supply                    

• Pumping/milk storage to return to work

• Teething

• Engorgement

• Slow weight gain 

• Fast milk ejection

• Illness in Mom or baby

• Nursing strikes

Babies with tongue tie, lip tie, and cleft lip/palate can create challenges but are usually able to successfully breastfeed. There are intervention options to explore as well.

Transition to solids can be a whole new experience for you and baby. This is actually a very slow, deliberate, weaning process. Baby will be getting more and more nutrition from solid foods, while slowly tapering off your milk. As breastfeeding frequency decreases, and the milk supply will decrease ever so slowly. There can be issues with mastitis as full breasts are not fully emptied. Baby’s stools will change, and the need to suckle decreases. Babies will sometimes go many hours at night without the need to breast-feed. This is bittersweet. Most babies are ready to wean between 12 and 20 months. This is up to mom and baby. Your pediatrician will guide you through this transition. I am happy to answer questions regarding this process.

Consider The Milky Way Breastfeeding Services for all of your Lactation needs. I encourage you to give “nature’s way” a chance.