Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Family and Consumer Sciences

1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Breast-Feeding: Steps for Success

MOB-003-99

Susan Zies
Lucas County Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Sciences

Breast-feeding is very good for both infants and mothers. It is best for a woman to learn as much as she can about feeding her baby breast milk, before she gives birth. This fact sheet contains tips on breast-feeding.

Good Things About Breast-Feeding

Good For Motherss:

• It saves money. The cost is about $0.39/day and keeps your baby healthy.
• Protects against cancer.
• Helps mother lose weight and get back into shape.
• Provides bonding and cuddling with baby.

Good For Infants:

• Easier to digest
• Less likely to have allergies
• Fewer ear infections
• Diapers smell better

Steps For Success

• Talk to women who have breast-fed well in the past.
• Breast-feed your baby as soon as you can after you give birth. You should begin within the first hour. Even though the mother will not be making enough milk, her breasts contain a thin fluid that helps protect her baby from getting sick.
• Feed on demand. Newborns need to eat often. Breast-feed at least every three hours in the beginning. Many newborns will want to nurse every 11/2 to 2 hours. Breast milk is easier for a baby to digest than formula, so breast-fed babies will eat more often than those who feed from a bottle. New babies may nurse 10 to 12 times a day.
• Avoid extras like sugar water. Some babies get confused when a bottle is given to them early on. Sugar water offers little that is helpful and may make the baby not want to nurse. Bottle milk given in the first few days can reduce both the baby's hunger and the mother's milk.
• Supply and demand--the more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will make.
• Delay use of plastic nipples. So the baby does not get confused, wait a week or two after the baby is born before giving him/her a pacifier. Plastic nipples require a different sucking action than real ones.

Good Health While Breast Feeding

• To breast-feed her baby, a woman needs to eat 500 extra calories each day while she is nursing.
• Women who are nursing should choose three to four servings of foods from the milk, yogurt, and cheese group daily. Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide in selecting healthy food choices.
• Use caution if smoking, drinking, or taking pills. These things may pass into the mother's milk.

References

"Breastmilk or Formula-Making the Right Choice for Your Baby." Publication No. (FDA) 97-2309. Food & Drug Administration.

Duyft, R. L., MS, R.D., CFCS. 1996. American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition Guide. Chronimed Publishing.

Reviewed by: Alma M. Saddam, PhD, RD, Extension Specialist, Nutrition.