How to Encourage a Healthy Milk Supply Immediately After Birth
Nursing is one of my biggest passions and blessings so I thought I’d share some evidence based tips to get your nursing relationship off to a good start immediately postpartum!
✨Studies have shown that skin to skin for the first 2 hours after birth encourage bonding and a healthy milk supply! You will want to nurse in the first hour when baby is likely to be awake and alert. Unless there is an emergency situation, everything else can wait or be done while baby is on your chest!
✨In the beginning you will want to focus on getting a good latch by: positioning the baby, placing your nipple above their upper lip, wait for them to open as wide as they can, and insert as much of your breast as possible. The best way to tell if they are drinking is to watch their mouths and throats for sucking and swallowing. Don’t be afraid to unlatch and start again- it’s a learning process!
✨Lactation consultants are a huge help and I would suggest everyone gets a consultation from a specialist in those beginning days- especially if you aren’t sure about the latch, have any pain with nursing, or have specific questions. If you give birth in a hospital they likely will have some that can come to your recovery room. If you give birth out of the hospital, there are plenty that will come to your home and give you a consultation there as well!
✨The more snuggles and skin to skin the better! Research shows that mothers who practice skin to skin are more likely to have a healthy breastfeeding relationship at 1-4 months of age, and tend to breastfeed their infants longer in general. Experts recommend 1,000 minutes skin to skin as soon as possible after the birth of the baby.
These tips work wonderfully if you have a vaginal or abdominal birth! There are rare circumstances where a baby is unable to be with mom immediately following birth due to medical reasons and my heart goes out to you mamas that end up in that situation. You can still practice these things as soon as you are able to be with your baby- and remember that skin to skin is beneficial well beyond that first two hours postpartum so get it in as much as you can!