What your baby CAN do… breaking down the myths and magic of breastfeeding a newborn

In my role as an infant feeding peer supporter I often address the various myths and misconceptions around infant feeding, especially when it comes to breastfeeding a newborn.

“That baby is never off you…are they feeding again?! or “You’ll make a rod for your own back picking them up all the time” are just some of the comments many of the breastfeeding mothers I support have to listen to.

Often these comments come from well-meaning friends and family who are more familiar with formula feeding or who raised children in an era when they were told babies should not be picked up all the time and should learn to self-soothe. There is this outdated perception that babies should feed on a schedule (preferably every three hours!) and that by crying out they were somehow manipulating you into picking them up and cuddling them!

Babies Cannot Manipulate You!

Despite what your great aunt may say, babies do not possess the powers of manipulation or deception. The truth is your baby doesn’t even realise they are separate to you for the first six months of their life! Therefore it makes sense to provide them with comfort, closeness and affection in those early days and months.

Nowadays, as we become more knowledgable about normal infant behaviour many of us are choosing to parent responsively – which includes feeding our babies as and when they want to feed – and not following a strict schedule.

The Breast Crawl

Whilst we’ve acknowledged that babies are not manipulative they certainly are instinctive and smart! Babies are born with an innate ability to crawl so if left undisturbed they can actually crawl up your stomach to reach the breast. They are only able to see 8 inches in front of them and so from their entrance point into the world, they can see as far as their mother’s breasts.

Pregnant people may find their nipples have darkened during pregnancy which combined with the darkened line on their bump provide a handy arrow for a newborn to follow! Their parent smells of amniotic fluid that they have lived in for nine months so it is marvellous reassurance to them that they are ‘home’ and safe.

Once at their mothers breasts, a baby will make noises and nudges which can actually stimulate milk production. In return, you as the parent are likely to feel a “rush of love” as you feed your newborn and revel in their delightful newborn scent. This is courtesy of the hormone Oxytocin, which is released upon breastfeeding. It works harmoniously with the milk-making hormone: prolactin.

Latching On For The First Time

Once your baby has latched onto the breast for the first time they have sent precious signals to your body that they have arrived and will be requiring milk.

Your body then, over the first few weeks, matches your milk supply to your baby’s demands. If a baby becomes unwell, their saliva transmits crucial messages to your body so that your milk will contain antibodies for the particular illness they are suffering from.

Feeding your baby protects them from respiratory, urinary and many other infections and it can also reduce your chances of breast cancer and ovarian cancers. Continuing to feed your baby continues that protection and also guards them against diabetes and obesity later on.

Getting To Grips With Breastfeeding

After six weeks, you and your baby have hopefully learnt to breastfeed more comfortably and efficiently. You may find they feed for less time as they’ve become more effective at draining the breast to get the amount of milk they need. That’s not to say every day or week will look exactly the same in terms of feeding duration and frequency. For example, babies may ‘cluster feed’ when they are experiencing a growth sport or developmental leap when they are learning a new skill. These clever babies know that they are going to be needing more milk to fuel their growth and development.

Life with a baby is never boring and you may feel you’ve cracked feeding then something changes. My area’s ‘Beside You’ organisation has a website full of information and videos to support parents – however they are feeding their baby. During pregnancy, it is worth asking your midwife or health visitor what feeding support is available in your area. This is especially important if you are a first time parent or are going to be feeding differently to how you have before with your other children.