Breast Feeding Tips & Advice

Breast feeding tips and advice - settle into breastfeeding your baby easily with some simple tips.

Don't be ashamed if you find yourself looking for breast feeding tips. Breast feeding always looks easy when you see it on the TV, or when the experienced mother is doing it. But to be honest I struggled when I first started breast feeding my babies.

There's more to it than just holding baby to your breast!

Breast feeding tips - Get comfy

Breast feeding advice should be seen as first things first. You need to be comfy! If you're not, you will end up with aching shoulders and a sore back.

You should sit with your back and arms supported, maybe a cushion or pillow behind you.
You can buy nursing pillows now which are a great way of getting yourself comfy. You can then place baby to your breast. You can hold your baby with either arm, whichever is better for you, but baby's tummy should be against your tummy. When you are in this position baby's nose should be clear of your breast.
You can also hold baby under your arm, rather like you're carrying a rugby ball. This way is great for mum's with twins.
Lying down is another way to get comfy while breast feeding, lie on one side with your baby lying parallel to you.

Once you get the hang of breastfeeding, you will find your own positions that are best for you and your baby. These are just starters to help you settle into things.

Breast feeding tips - Getting baby to suckle

I can always remember my midwife telling me that your nipple should go right inside baby's mouth, including the dark area around your nipple. This should happen as it creates a vacuum in the baby's mouth and makes suckling easier. If just the tip of the nipple is in baby's mouth, then they are likely to get sore and, the breast will not empty properly.

To get your baby to latch on, here is a great piece of breast feeding advice: Brush your finger back and forth against your baby's cheek. Your baby will automatically turn her head and search for the nipple. You might also find it useful to do this if your baby falls asleep while feeding.

Breast feeding tips - Getting baby to let go

If you need your baby to stop feeding or let go of your breast, use your little finger and gently place it in the corner of your baby's mouth. Your baby will then open her mouth and the vacuum will break. Move your baby slowly away from breast, if you pull baby away too quickly and she hasn't properly let go, you could find yourself with very sore nipples.

Breast feeding tips - How much milk does baby need

You should let your baby feed as often as she needs to. This is normally around every two to three hours. The average time for a feed is around 20 minutes at each breast.

You will find that the more milk your baby drinks, the more milk you will produce.

If your baby is gaining weight, around 100g to 200g a week, and if she has six to eight wet nappies a day, then she is feeding well.

If you have any concerns at all about breast feeding, then do talk to your midwife or health visitor, they often have some very good advice. If needed they can also show you how get comfy, and even how to help baby latch on to your breast.

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