Supplemental Nursing System Sns
How Will I Know… How To Get My Baby To Nurse Well?
I want to breastfeed my baby but how will I get my baby to nurse well?
Breastfeeding is instinctive for babies but a learned art for mothers.
What does this mean?
Did you know that a newborn baby who is placed on his mother’s tummy will crawl to the breast and latch onto the nipple and begin to suck? The DVD “Delivery Self-Attachment” by Dr. Lennart Richards shows this in real life. That doesn’t happen much in American hospitals, but a baby allowed to breastfeed within the first two hours after birth will demonstrate this instinctive ability to breastfeed.
Some babies do have trouble nursing due to the medications mom had during delivery or for other reasons like prematurity or rare medical problems. But hospitals have lactation specialists to help get things started in the hospital. The hard part is when you get home with baby, and there’s nobody there to help. Here are some tips to keep you going.
Timing is important so watch your baby’s cues and put him to the breast early before he cries or shows signs of extreme hunger. Rooting is a good sign that your baby is hungry, look for that “little bird mouth” turning and turning, looking for the nipple.
A good latch is crucial for milk transfer. Make sure the latch is comfortable for you and causes no pain. Nursing will not be painful if the latch is good.
Support your breast by holding it with a “C” hold so baby can get a good latch. Your breasts are heavy and his mouth is small.
Have pillows or a boppy available for correct positioning. Rolled up towels are also good for tucking under the elbow or baby’s head. Cross cradle or football hold are good positions for baby to nurse till mom and baby learn to work together. Both baby and mother need to be in a comfortable position to breastfeed well. Lean back, don’t let your back get tired!
Be patient! If baby is having difficulty latching take your time. Don’t force the baby to take the breast. If he is not receptive take a short break to calm him down and then try again.
Skin to skin is a good way to get baby interested in nursing. Place baby in just a diaper on your bare chest and just snuggle with him for about 20 minutes before offering the breast. He may go back to that early instinctive latch-on.
Do breast compressions if baby is having sucking problems or getting sleepy. This will bring the milk out quicker so baby will stay interested.
The most important thing is feed the baby. If your baby doesn’t nurse well and these tips don’t help, think about supplementing the feeding. Pumped breast milk via a lactation aid (not through a bottle) is best. Seek help from a lactation consultant. When he has some food in his belly he will be more receptive to the breast and easier to work with.
Quality doulas, like our doulas at Triangle Mother Care, Inc. in Chapel Hill North Carolina, are trained to give excellent assistance for breastfeeding. They know how to use SNS (Supplemental Nursing Systems) equipment as well as breast pumps and can help you prevent such problems as low milk supply, poor latch, and sore nipples.
An excellent book is The Breastfeeding Book of Answers, by Dr.
Jack Newman.
Another great resource is The La Leche League, which has chapters around the country, including the Triangle Area of North Carolina,
you can contact them through their website www.lllofNC.org/.
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About the Author
About the Author: Marcia Thuermer has personally been responsible
for the care of more than 400 babies born in the Triangle Area of North Carolina. She is not only a DONA and CAPPA certified doula, but also is a certified doula instructor. As owner and operator of Triangle Mothercare, Inc., www.TriangleMotherCare.com, Thuermer provides only the highest quality postpartum doula service by personally selecting and training her staff. Contact Triangle Mothercare Inc., at 919-225-2493, email to marcia@trianglemothercare.com, or visit www.trianglemothercare.com.
SNS(supplemental nursing system)