The First Latch
The First Latch: Setting the Stage for Breastfeeding Success
The Gist
Just moments after your baby enters the world, he or she will be ready to nurse. Breast milk is the ideal first “food” for your little one because it contains all the nutrients they need to grow. What’s more, the nutrients are better absorbed by your baby’s body and will support their healthy development. This is essential since your baby will more than double in length and weight in their first year alone. If you are considering breastfeeding, here’s how you can set the stage for success — for you and your baby.
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The 3 Forms of Breast Milk
Breast milk is produced by the mammary glands in your breasts and begins production within days of giving birth. Breast milk comes in three stages, or compositions, and adjusts to suit your baby’s needs.
Colostrum (First Milk)
While you’re pregnant, your breasts will start producing colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mammary gland and is a thick, yellow-colored substance that’s nutrient-rich. It’s also filled with antibodies that will help your baby fight any infections in the early days before they develop their immunity.
Because it’s so thick and filling, your baby will only need a little at a time to feel full. This is also beneficial since your baby’s tummy is the size of a cherry on its first day of life.
Benefits of Colostrum:
Powerful antibodies that help to strengthen the newborn's immune system. The antibodies provide protection from environmental germs and act as a protective barrier against potential harmful organisms in the digestive tract.
In other words, a little colostrum goes a long way, so don’t worry if you don’t produce a lot of it. Your baby only needs a few spoonfuls, so that might be all you produce.
Transitional Milk
Three to five days post-birth, your breasts will start producing milk that will eventually replace colostrum. This is less thick than colostrum (although some colostrum will remain) and is easier for your baby to receive. Transitional milk will eventually become mature milk over the course of a week or so.
Mature Milk
The last stage starts about 10 to 14 days after you give birth. Mature milk is a combination of foremilk and hindmilk.
The foremilk is sometimes referred to as “easy milk” because your little one will have to make very little effort to receive it. It’s watery and translucent because it does not contain much fat or calories. The hindmilk contains the majority of the fat and nutrients your baby needs. This milk is thicker (though not as thick as colostrum) and will therefore require a little more effort from your baby. It’s important to nurse your baby on each breast long enough for them to remove all of the foremilk and receive the hindmilk.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding comes with many advantages for you and your baby. Considering the following:
It’s the Perfect Baby Food
Breastmilk is 100% natural and is nature’s perfect baby food. What’s more, your breastmilk is unlike any other. It’s made especially for your baby to give them all the nutrients they need for a healthy start in life. If you look at a drop of breastmilk under a microscope, you’ll see more than 1000 different proteins, amino acids, hormones, and other growth factors that will help your baby thrive. It also has enzymes that aid in your baby’s digestion, making it easier to absorb nutrients.
It Strengthens Your Bond
As you breastfeed, you’ll cherish the time you get to snuggle your baby and leave the rest of the world behind. This skin-to-skin contact and the quality time you spend together creates a special bond between you and your little one. Building trust during the first few months of life is so important for a baby's physical, mental, and emotional development.
It Lowers Your Baby’s Risk of Infections
Since breast milk contains immune-boosting antibodies, it will help your baby’s immune system fight harmful germs. In other words, Breastmilk is your baby's natural vaccine. This means fewer trips to the doctor, fewer antibiotics, and a better chance to build strong immunity early in life.
It Promotes a Healthy Gut
Breastmilk is easy to digest and provides a protective barrier against potential harmful infections, inflammation, and diseases. It also promotes the growth of good bacteria!
It Aids in Your Healing
Breastfeeding helps to return the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces postpartum bleeding.
Breastfeeding Basics
While breastfeeding is completely natural, it doesn’t always come naturally to every new Parent. If you plan to breastfeed, you will want to achieve the first latch as soon as possible after birth. Feeding your baby with a bottle and then trying to breastfeed can lead to nipple confusion, which may frustrate your baby and make breastfeeding more challenging.
Practicing these basics can help you achieve that first latch and ongoing success:
First, make sure you are in a comfortable position and your baby is well supported. Use a nursing pillow to properly position your baby, if needed.
Hold your baby facing your chest and position them on their side with their nose directly opposite your nipple.
Lift your breast from underneath and position your nipple close to your baby’s mouth.
Wait for your baby to open their mouth wide before inserting your nipple into their mouth. This creates a better latch.
As they feed, continue to support your breast while your baby gets into a deep, rhythmic pattern of sucking and swallowing.
Once your baby is full, they will unlatch themselves. You can also release the latch if your baby falls asleep by gently inserting a clean finger into the side of their mouth and pulling your breast away gently.
Breastfeeding Alternatives
For some people, breastfeeding isn’t a possible option depending on their personal preference, lifestyles, or medical situation. Thankfully there are some alternatives.
Informal milk sharing
Informal Milk sharing is the sharing of human milk between friends, family, and other people in the community who donate their milk to others in need.
Milk Bank
A milk bank collects, tests, processes and provides donor human milk to babies in need.
Formula
Infant formulas are usually made from cow or soy milk and are used as an infant feeding alternative.
Breastfeeding isn’t always an overnight success story. It can take practice to get your baby to latch and nurse properly, but rest assured that it will get much easier with a little practice and support from your inner circle.
