Q&A for How to Breastfeed

You don't need to avoid any foods! Old wives tales tell us that certain foods will make our babies gassy, but what we know scientifically is that that's just not true. A very small percentage of babies will have slight food intolerances based on the mother's diet, but more often than not, we really recommend moms eat everything in their diet. You should be eating a very nutrient-dense, rich array of foods. Spicy foods, cruciferous veggies, and other foods that were considered bad for lactation are really just myths.

Almost immediately after birth. While your milk may not come in for a day or two, you'll be able to express a substance called colostrum, which is important for your baby's health. Breastfeeding soon after birth is also a great way to bond with your baby and establish a feeding routine.

Skin contact with your baby can help improve the breastfeeding experience. With a very new baby, we recommend as much skin-to-skin contact as possible, which means the baby's in a diaper and mom is topless from the waist up. Not only does it promote bonding, but it also improves breast milk production and ejection.

It's easiest to breastfeed if you recline slightly. By leaning back with the baby's tummy pressed against your chest, you'll encourage them to open their mouth really wide. Use one hand to support the baby, and the other hand to hold your breast. Point your nipple just above their mouth so the baby can latch on by themselves. If you sit up and hunch over your baby, they can't bring your nipple all the way into the back of their mouth, which can be really painful for you. Luckily, once a baby learn to latch, they'll just do it instinctively.

If breastfeeding is painful, the baby may not be latching correctly. A lactation consultant can help you fix those problems.

Nursing bras are a convenient choice that allows you to easily open and close the bra with one hand.

Kids cannot breastfeed. You must be of a fertile age (average age of fertility is between 12 - 13 year) and have had a baby to produce the hormone prolactin that stimulates milk production. Many experts recommend that mothers breastfeed for up to a year or longer after the baby is born. Some moms will continue to breastfeed into the toddler years.

In most cases, you don't need to eliminate any foods from your diet. Unless your baby has a specific food intolerance, more often than not, it's recommended that you eat everything that's normally in your diet. Try to eat a nutrient-dense, rich array of foods, but you don't necessarily have to leave out things like cruciferous veggies or spicy foods. Don't eat sage, peppermint, or parsley in huge quantities, but even those are fine in moderation.