Breastfeeding Basics

Many Black Women are nervous about breastfeeding… Let’s start off by highlighting the benefits.  

Human milk protein is found in breastmilk, therefore it breaks down easier in the baby's system for digestion. With the milk protein, your baby will have consistent feeding times and poops, helping you establish a daily routine.  The development of the baby’s brain is also a big one as studies show that breastfed babies have higher IQs than formula babies. There are other studies that show breast milk can help to stave off diseases, diabetes, common allergies, and other underlying issues that may run in the family. Another important element is the mother's immune system. Whatever immunizations you have, whatever you're immune to, the baby receives these properties through the breastmilk. 

Breast Milk over Formula? Here’s why. 

First things first, new moms need to establish if they are going to be strictly breast milk, or if they plan to incorporate formula into the baby's diet. Many women want to do both but know this can potentially cause your milk supply to drop. It’s important that mothers also know that breast milk goes in and coats the gut blocking out serious illnesses that babies can get, or any other kinds of viruses or bacteria, ultimately keeping the baby’s gut healthy. Additionally, your immune properties are going straight to the baby keeping them healthier, so the minute we add formula to the mix it changes the floor of the gut wiping away the protective quality of the breast milk. 

But I heard that breastfeeding is going to hurt me… 

Indeed, it does hurt initially. There's really no way around the onset pain. Be flexible and know that you will have to do some adjusting. After a few days, it should only still hurt if you don't get a definite latch or if you don’t have good positioning.

How can breastfeeding improve a mother’s health?

I'm going to say that if you are a diabetic mother and you breastfeed, breastfeeding really helps to bring down your blood sugars and keep them regulated. Particularly with black mothers, we need to change the way we view breastfeeding because in our population we have the highest infant mortality rates. Obviously we want to turn that around, and informing Black Mothers of the importance of breastfeeding can help. 

Is there inequality between white women and women of color regarding the accessibility of breastfeeding information?

In our population, many black women don’t have very much information to start with, while white mothers are more likely to say, “Yep, I’m definitely going to breastfeed.”  Black mothers have a high initiation rate, but they are much quicker to drop off because of education and economic status. Not having family members that have breastfed takes away that positive influence and familial assistance along the way. For some people it comes naturally, but others it's just harder to motivate. Overall, it’s great for Black mothers to start the inquiry process while they are pregnant. There are lactation consultants out there ready to help with the preparation and give them little bits of information so by the time the baby comes, the mommy will be more relaxed and able to just get started. 

How do I establish a proper milk supply?

I always recommend new mothers establish their supply early on. In most situations, the mom is going to be at home for the first four weeks. I encourage mothers to start off by putting the baby to your breast every two to three hours for the first 14 days. Every woman has prolactin receptor sites. The stimulation (the suckling) sends a message to the brain, your body releases prolactin, and then you make milk. This process establishes those milk-making cells and the prolactin receptor sites. This is also very important if you plan on having more than one child. For baby number two, you’re making a whole new set that adds to whatever you produced with your first baby. Therefore, with each pregnancy, your supply gets better and better.

Is there a time sensitivity stamp when it comes to introducing my baby to the bottle?

There’s no one size fits all to this question, but there is a fine line. Too early and the baby might only want the bottle and not the breast. Too late and the baby might not take the bottle at all. This is one of those questions where I highly recommend using your mother’s intuition and doing what feels right. If nothing else, three weeks is always a good starting point. 

Can I strictly pump and not do baby to breast? 

Yes. Some people do that, but if this is the route you want to take, make sure you’re pumping a bare minimum of eight times in 24 hours to maintain a healthy supply. 

Is there anything I should be on the lookout for? 

A bleb. It's a white head on your nipple that turns your milk to a cheese-like consistency and clogs your ducts. Some ways to eliminate it are to apply warm/cold compresses which kind of soften it allowing babies the ability to stimulate the milk flow and pull it right out. 

Also being oversupplied. There is such a thing as pumping too much milk which can cause back up if the baby is unable to drink it all. Remember, the more you pump, the more you make,  so it’s important that you learn your body and your baby. 

I don’t see my weight coming off. I thought breastfeeding was supposed to help with that… 

Try not to worry so much initially about your weight and counting your calories. You need the suggested daily average calories for you and the baby. Although your body is going to make High-Quality milk no matter what you eat, you don’t want to start random diets because your body needs all the nutrients it can get. Let's take calcium for example. If you indirectly eliminate your calcium intake because of a diet, your body is still going to pull from you what it needs to make milk. It’s going to take the calcium from your teeth or from your bones if you are not ingesting it properly.   

What about exercising? 

Small daily exercises are always a good thing, but you don’t want to overdo it. In the first six months, your child is dependent on your milk which makes it hard to be away from your baby for long stretches without pumping. Try finding routines that are short and effective,  within the 30-45 minute range. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make the time. When the timing is right, you will find a practice that works for you in eliminating the weight. 

Tidbits of helpful lactation information… 

Breast milk is high in fat and it stains. Don’t throw away that blowout onesie! Rinse it under lukewarm water, grab some dish soap from the kitchen, and scrub out the yellow poop. Dish soap is manufactured to cut the grease so it will easily take care of the fatty breast milk poop. 

Cabbage leaves have healing nutrients in them and can help with mastitis and weaning. Tear off a large piece of cabbage leaf, rinse it under cold water, and apply it directly to your skin for twenty minutes. Cabbage leaves have an anti-inflammatory effect on your breast and will bring down the swelling. Do not leave them on longer than twenty-minute intervals for two-three times per day unless you are weaning. Overuse of cabbage leaves can cause a decrease in milk supply. 

If you don’t want to invest in the expensive hands-free nursing bra you can always make your own! Take an old sports bra, cut one slit in the position of the nipple (on both sides) and slip the breast shield through the slit. Voila! You have a hands free pumping bra!