A Certified Lactation Counselor’s Top 3 Tips for Breastfeeding Success

Breastfeeding/chestfeeding has gotten a bad rap for being difficult and painful. Many women have struggled or skipped this process entirely. I have heard women worry about if their bodies were going to “perform” and produce enough milk for their baby. As a CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor), it is my goal to help women have a smooth transition into nursing. For most women this can be painless and effortless if they are set up for success. Many are surprised to know the following tips can make a world of difference in their breastfeeding journeys.

1. Skin-to-skin

The first tip is crucial when getting parents and babies off to a good start. The “golden hour” or the first hour of skin-to-skin is one of the most important things you can do for breastfeeding success. Skin-to-skin should be uninterrupted, continuous, immediately after birth, and with the mom exclusively (partners can do time after the golden hour or in the situation where the mother isn’t present). This means waiting for non-emergent routine procedures like weighing, bathing, measuring, and vaccinations until after the first hour or two. True skin-to-skin means without any clothing barriers between the baby and mom (a blanket over the baby’s back is perfectly fine). Studies show that mothers who have true skin-to-skin immediately after birth have a higher likelihood of breastfeeding success. This is due to factors such as priming milk-producing receptors and allowing babies to go through the 9 stages, which includes self-attachment. (Brimdyr)

Be sure to speak with your provider before the birth of your baby to make sure they know skin-to-Skin is your preference and goal. Even in many higher risk situations such as c-sections and the need for resuscitation, these procedures can take place with the baby on the mother. You can also discuss with your provider delaying the bath until after this pivotal time.

2. To make milk, you need to remove milk

A common mistake I see moms make when they are concerned with their supply is to immediately start supplementing with formula, and never remove any of their milk during this supplementation time. In order for your breast to make more milk, you have to remove milk. To increase supply, bring your baby to your breast more often and not based on a time schedule. Look for feeding cues (crying is a very LATE cue) to feed your baby rather than the clock. The longer you wait between feeds (also very long feeding sessions that go on for 30 mins or more) are not ideal for milk supply. Please also note that pumps are not as effective at removing milk compared to a baby. My Lactation Info Session Class goes into detail about feeding cues and methods of milk removal.

3. Latch

Lastly, latch, or how the baby attaches, is very important to having a pain-free experience and efficient milk removal. When a baby latches to the breast, they should have a very wide gape (mouth opening). They will take in more than just the nipple. Shallow latches will cause pain and possible nipple damage, because the nipple won’t be in the correct place in the mouth. Be sure not to hold the baby by their head, as this will not allow them the ability to properly latch and may cause negative associations with nursing, because they are being forced to the breast. If your nipple is misshapen, cracked, bleeding, experiencing pain, etc., it is important to reach out to a lactation counselor or consultant to assess your situation. Please don’t keep experiencing these things thinking that they are a normal part of breastfeeding that you have to push through. They are, instead, a sign that something needs to be adjusted. The fix could be as simple as positioning.

If you are wanting more evidence-based information on how to have a successful lactation journey, you can sign up for a one-hour Info Session on my website at: www.mymommavillage.com

Already nursing? I offer lactation counseling to manage issues such as pain, latch, assessing supply, and other lactation-related issues.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose any conditions.

References:

Brimdyr K, Cadwell K, Svensson K, Takahashi Y, Nissen E, Widström AM. The nine stages of skin-to-skin: practical guidelines and insights from four countries. Matern Child Nutr. 2020 Oct;16(4):e13042. doi: 10.1111/mcn.13042. Epub 2020 Jun 16. PMID: 32542966; PMCID: PMC7507317.

Brimdyr K, Stevens J, Svensson K, Blair A, Turner-Maffei C, Grady J, Bastarache L, Al Alfy A, Crenshaw JT, Giugliani ERJ, Ewald U, Haider R, Jonas W, Kagawa M, Lilliesköld S, Maastrup R, Sinclair R, Swift E, Takahashi Y, Cadwell K. Skin-to-skin contact after birth: Developing a research and practice guideline. Acta Paediatr. 2023 Aug;112(8):1633-1643. doi: 10.1111/apa.16842. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37166443.