Breastfeeding is a personal choice for every new mom to make and despite how "natural" breastfeeding is "supposed" to be, it is actually just like many other learned things in life; it calls for a bit of practice, patience, and perseverance.
Today we have Kathleen Fulwider, registered nurse and board-certified lactation consultant at Allina Health, providing us a “Breastfeeding 101” for new moms.
Selected Podcast
Breastfeeding 101
Featured Speaker:
Kathleen Fulwider, RN, Lactation Consultant
Kathleen Fulwider, registered nurse and board-certified lactation consultant, is part of Unity and Hospital and also serves patients for home lactation consultants. She leads the weekly Baby Cafes at Unity Hospital and Allina Health Maple Grove Clinic and enjoys educating and supporting moms to help them have a positive breastfeeding experience with their newborn. Transcription:
Breastfeeding 101
Melanie Cole (Host): Breastfeeding is a personal choice for every new mom to make. And despite how natural breastfeeding is supposed to be, it’s actually just like many other learned things in life. It calls for a bit of patience and practice and perseverance, for sure. My guest today is Kathleen Fulwider. She’s a registered nurse and board certified lactation consultant at Allina Health. She’s here to give us breastfeeding 101 for new moms. Welcome to the show, Kathleen. When does a new mom begin to produce milk for her newborn?
Kathleen Fulwider (Guest): Well, thank you, Melanie. Women start to produce colostrum, that early milk, right about in the mid trimester, the mid, second trimester of her pregnancy. Some women may even leak colostrum towards the end of their pregnancy, which can be very reassuring.
Melanie: Okay, so right at the beginning, the colostrum. What are those first few hours and days, like with feeding a baby, teaching that baby to latch on, is this difficult for most people, some of the people? Is it difficult at all?
Kathleen: It can be challenging for some. Not all babies slide down the chute and know how to breastfeed, so there is a learning process that takes time for both mom and baby together. The first hour after delivery, we encourage mothers in an ideal situation to hold their baby skin to skin. Within that first hour or two of life, a baby goes through nine little stages, the eighth stage being feeding. So it’s encouraging if a baby has his or her first feeding within that first hour or two post-delivery.
Melanie: What are some of the challenges that a new mother may face within those first few days and even first few hours?
Kathleen: Well, we do know that the first 24 hours of life for this new baby is a time for transition and recovery. That little baby has been working just as hard to be born as the mother is working to birth her baby. In that first 24 hours, we need to still awaken baby, hold skin to skin, and encourage frequent feedings. We encourage baby to go to breast at least every three hours in that first 24 hours. On the second day of life, they kind of perk up and realize that they’re not inside anymore, and then they start to keep you cluster feeding. Cluster feeding is when a baby feeds more frequently. It has nothing to do with a woman’s milk supply. They often tend to feel that their babies are still hungry, that they’re not providing enough. Cluster feeding is a normal developmental activity that a baby does to help tell the mom’s body through his sucking to make more milk.
Melanie: Why is breastfeeding so important and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics?
Kathleen: That is a very good question. Breastfeeding is no longer a lifestyle choice. That has become a public health priority in terms of disease prevention. Through all of the research over the last decade or two, we have learned how breastfeeding one’s baby prevents disease in both the mother and the baby. So it’s very, very important that that occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby be exclusively breastfed for the first the first six months—exclusive meaning no water, food, juice, et cetera—while solids are then introduced at about sixth months while the mother continues to breastfeed for that first year of life. The baby’s main source of nutrition in that first year of his or her life is the breast milk.
Melanie: So, what equipment should a new mom have who choose to breastfeed? What should they have before the baby arrives?
Kathleen: Well, I don’t necessarily think anything needs to be purchased beforehand. That’s the beauty of breastfeeding. Your milk is always available, always the right temperature and always perfect at any given time or day or month of your baby’s life. If a woman is returning back to work, like many of us do, most insurance companies are now covering the cost of the breast pump and lactation consultation through the Affordable Care Act.
Melanie: That’s great for new moms to hear. What are some of the best positions you’re recommending? You want the mom to be comfortable, especially if she’s feeding quite often. So what are some of the best positions for mom and baby while feeding?
Kathleen: Well, there’s no really one right way. Mom has to be comfortable and relaxed in order for her milk to let down, and flow if you will. A baby needs to be facing mother, nipple to nose and tummy to tummy. If you keep those two little guidelines in mind, mom and babies should be doing fine.
Melanie: Do we have to keep track? Because even back in the formula-popular days, women kept track of how much their babies ate and then how much they had bowel movements. Do you still recommend keeping track? How do we know that baby is getting enough milk?
Kathleen: Absolutely. Keeping track, keeping a look of baby’s feedings and diaper output is really one of the best ways to reassure a mother that feedings are going well. If baby has the required amounts of feedings and stool and urine output within 24 hours, you can be pretty assured that her milk supply is just fine and that her baby is getting what he or she needs. Allina has an excellent tool called the Breastfeeding Guide and Diaper Diary, which shows daily minimums for each day of life, just to have a visual reassurance to the mama.
Melanie: That’s so cool. Now, how long should each feeding last? Is there a limit to how often she should feed or how long it should take? Should we worry if the baby is falling asleep during feedings?
Kathleen: A breastfed baby needs abare-bone minimum of 8 feedings in 24 hours for the first couple months of life. Feedings should really last as long as the baby is wanting to suckle. In the early days of breastfeeding, the first couple of weeks, the more nipple stimulation a mother gets by her hungry baby, that will determine how quickly more milk is available and how long she will physically be able to make milk for that baby. So if a mother has a goal to breastfeed her baby for the first year, what she does in the early days when she’s most tired and exhausted will have an impact on her overall breastfeeding experience.
Melanie: Well, speaking of having an impact on breastfeeding, are there certain foods that you would recommend new moms stay away from while they’re breastfeeding or certain foods you would like them to fill up on?
Kathleen: That’s a good question. Lots of moms have that question in mind. We want moms that are breastfeeding to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and to drink to thirst. We want her also to continue taking her prenatal vitamins or supplements to ensure that she has enough calories to keep up her energy level. So the baby will always get the goods from the mama’s body. If she’s choosing to eat poorly, her milk will always be perfect at any given time for her baby. Her body will suffer, and she may become ill from not eating properly, but her baby always gets the best from her.
Melanie: We only have a few minutes left, Kathleen. It’s great information. What advice do you have for new mothers, your best advice if they’re feeling frustrated by breastfeeding and being a new mom and feeling overwhelmed by the whole process?
Kathleen: Sometimes it can be reassuring for a mother to go to a support group for breastfeeding. Allina Health Hospital has three baby cafés throughout this city: United Hospital has one in St. Paul, Unity Hospital in Fridley, and Maple Grove Allina Clinic has a baby café. Now, a baby café is a drop-in support group that is free to all expectant and breastfeeding mothers. It’s a good follow-up plan from discharge. It’s just a great place to get free information. All Allina Hospitals also offer outpatient lactation appointments for moms to meet their lactation consultants, whichever one is convenient to their location of where she lives. Those visits are typically covered by insurance, and it’s a one-on-one visit with the mom and the baby to kind of come up with a plan and to get all of mom’s needs and questions answered. There’s a lot of support available to a breastfeeding family.
Melanie: It sounds like a great support system. You’re listening to the WELLcast with Allina Health. For more information, you can go to allinahealth.org. That’s allinahealth.org. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks for listening.
Breastfeeding 101
Melanie Cole (Host): Breastfeeding is a personal choice for every new mom to make. And despite how natural breastfeeding is supposed to be, it’s actually just like many other learned things in life. It calls for a bit of patience and practice and perseverance, for sure. My guest today is Kathleen Fulwider. She’s a registered nurse and board certified lactation consultant at Allina Health. She’s here to give us breastfeeding 101 for new moms. Welcome to the show, Kathleen. When does a new mom begin to produce milk for her newborn?
Kathleen Fulwider (Guest): Well, thank you, Melanie. Women start to produce colostrum, that early milk, right about in the mid trimester, the mid, second trimester of her pregnancy. Some women may even leak colostrum towards the end of their pregnancy, which can be very reassuring.
Melanie: Okay, so right at the beginning, the colostrum. What are those first few hours and days, like with feeding a baby, teaching that baby to latch on, is this difficult for most people, some of the people? Is it difficult at all?
Kathleen: It can be challenging for some. Not all babies slide down the chute and know how to breastfeed, so there is a learning process that takes time for both mom and baby together. The first hour after delivery, we encourage mothers in an ideal situation to hold their baby skin to skin. Within that first hour or two of life, a baby goes through nine little stages, the eighth stage being feeding. So it’s encouraging if a baby has his or her first feeding within that first hour or two post-delivery.
Melanie: What are some of the challenges that a new mother may face within those first few days and even first few hours?
Kathleen: Well, we do know that the first 24 hours of life for this new baby is a time for transition and recovery. That little baby has been working just as hard to be born as the mother is working to birth her baby. In that first 24 hours, we need to still awaken baby, hold skin to skin, and encourage frequent feedings. We encourage baby to go to breast at least every three hours in that first 24 hours. On the second day of life, they kind of perk up and realize that they’re not inside anymore, and then they start to keep you cluster feeding. Cluster feeding is when a baby feeds more frequently. It has nothing to do with a woman’s milk supply. They often tend to feel that their babies are still hungry, that they’re not providing enough. Cluster feeding is a normal developmental activity that a baby does to help tell the mom’s body through his sucking to make more milk.
Melanie: Why is breastfeeding so important and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics?
Kathleen: That is a very good question. Breastfeeding is no longer a lifestyle choice. That has become a public health priority in terms of disease prevention. Through all of the research over the last decade or two, we have learned how breastfeeding one’s baby prevents disease in both the mother and the baby. So it’s very, very important that that occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby be exclusively breastfed for the first the first six months—exclusive meaning no water, food, juice, et cetera—while solids are then introduced at about sixth months while the mother continues to breastfeed for that first year of life. The baby’s main source of nutrition in that first year of his or her life is the breast milk.
Melanie: So, what equipment should a new mom have who choose to breastfeed? What should they have before the baby arrives?
Kathleen: Well, I don’t necessarily think anything needs to be purchased beforehand. That’s the beauty of breastfeeding. Your milk is always available, always the right temperature and always perfect at any given time or day or month of your baby’s life. If a woman is returning back to work, like many of us do, most insurance companies are now covering the cost of the breast pump and lactation consultation through the Affordable Care Act.
Melanie: That’s great for new moms to hear. What are some of the best positions you’re recommending? You want the mom to be comfortable, especially if she’s feeding quite often. So what are some of the best positions for mom and baby while feeding?
Kathleen: Well, there’s no really one right way. Mom has to be comfortable and relaxed in order for her milk to let down, and flow if you will. A baby needs to be facing mother, nipple to nose and tummy to tummy. If you keep those two little guidelines in mind, mom and babies should be doing fine.
Melanie: Do we have to keep track? Because even back in the formula-popular days, women kept track of how much their babies ate and then how much they had bowel movements. Do you still recommend keeping track? How do we know that baby is getting enough milk?
Kathleen: Absolutely. Keeping track, keeping a look of baby’s feedings and diaper output is really one of the best ways to reassure a mother that feedings are going well. If baby has the required amounts of feedings and stool and urine output within 24 hours, you can be pretty assured that her milk supply is just fine and that her baby is getting what he or she needs. Allina has an excellent tool called the Breastfeeding Guide and Diaper Diary, which shows daily minimums for each day of life, just to have a visual reassurance to the mama.
Melanie: That’s so cool. Now, how long should each feeding last? Is there a limit to how often she should feed or how long it should take? Should we worry if the baby is falling asleep during feedings?
Kathleen: A breastfed baby needs abare-bone minimum of 8 feedings in 24 hours for the first couple months of life. Feedings should really last as long as the baby is wanting to suckle. In the early days of breastfeeding, the first couple of weeks, the more nipple stimulation a mother gets by her hungry baby, that will determine how quickly more milk is available and how long she will physically be able to make milk for that baby. So if a mother has a goal to breastfeed her baby for the first year, what she does in the early days when she’s most tired and exhausted will have an impact on her overall breastfeeding experience.
Melanie: Well, speaking of having an impact on breastfeeding, are there certain foods that you would recommend new moms stay away from while they’re breastfeeding or certain foods you would like them to fill up on?
Kathleen: That’s a good question. Lots of moms have that question in mind. We want moms that are breastfeeding to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and to drink to thirst. We want her also to continue taking her prenatal vitamins or supplements to ensure that she has enough calories to keep up her energy level. So the baby will always get the goods from the mama’s body. If she’s choosing to eat poorly, her milk will always be perfect at any given time for her baby. Her body will suffer, and she may become ill from not eating properly, but her baby always gets the best from her.
Melanie: We only have a few minutes left, Kathleen. It’s great information. What advice do you have for new mothers, your best advice if they’re feeling frustrated by breastfeeding and being a new mom and feeling overwhelmed by the whole process?
Kathleen: Sometimes it can be reassuring for a mother to go to a support group for breastfeeding. Allina Health Hospital has three baby cafés throughout this city: United Hospital has one in St. Paul, Unity Hospital in Fridley, and Maple Grove Allina Clinic has a baby café. Now, a baby café is a drop-in support group that is free to all expectant and breastfeeding mothers. It’s a good follow-up plan from discharge. It’s just a great place to get free information. All Allina Hospitals also offer outpatient lactation appointments for moms to meet their lactation consultants, whichever one is convenient to their location of where she lives. Those visits are typically covered by insurance, and it’s a one-on-one visit with the mom and the baby to kind of come up with a plan and to get all of mom’s needs and questions answered. There’s a lot of support available to a breastfeeding family.
Melanie: It sounds like a great support system. You’re listening to the WELLcast with Allina Health. For more information, you can go to allinahealth.org. That’s allinahealth.org. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks for listening.