Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding!
Stillen? Stillen!
Allattare? Allattare!
allaiter ? allaiter !
¿Amamantar? ¡Amamantar!
Here you can find answers
to the questions that
most commonly concern
breastfeeding mothers
The information provided here is based upon
the most recent published results from breastfeeding research; it cannot, however, replace
a consultation with someone specialized in
human lactation (medical doctor, IBCLC or
midwife).
Please contact a medical professional (medical
doctor, IBCLC or midwife) during medical
emergencies and for medical diagnoses and
therapies.
Breastfeeding is the natural
way to nourish a baby
Milk Supply / Milk Flow
Too much / too little milk • Milk flows too quickly / doesn‘t flow
What to check
Indications that baby gets enough milk:
•5-6 wet diapers (ca. 90 ml of urine/diaper) over 24h
•at least 3 bowel movements over 24h during the first 4 weeks; thereafter variable
•baby is active and alert when awake
•baby has a good general appearance
•baby has good skin tone and colour
•baby is gaining weight and growing (following its percentile)
•breastfeed often (ca. 12x in 24h, or more)
•breastfeed long (allow baby to decide when to end
the breastfeeding session)
•offer each breast multiple times during a
breastfeeding session (switch nursing)
•increase skin-to-skin contact
What to try first
When the milk doesn’t flow:
•breastfeed on demand (NOT by the clock)
•learn to recognise early hunger cues (rooting behaviours, tight fists, etc.)
and do not wait until your baby cries before offering the breast
•be sure you eat enough and get enough rest
•optimize breastfeeding management (latch, position, suck, frequency
and duration of breastfeeding)
•relax; breathe deeply and drink a glass of water
•snuggle with Baby and enjoy his/her smell
•when pumping, do not continually look to see how
much has been collected (put a sock over the receptor,
for example)
When to seek outside help (ask an LLL leader questions anytime)
•baby’s demeanour has changed
•fewer than 3 wet diapers in 24h
•no bowel movements over 24h
•baby’s weight stagnates or declines
•baby cries often
•baby has a strong need to suck even after breastfeeding
•you have questions about your milk supply
To reduce milk supply:
•offer only one breast per feeding session, but feed more often
•be sure to recognise the signs of an approaching mastitis/
blocked duct: when a breast becomes uncomfortably full,
breastfeed or express milk to comfort; apply cold if necessary
Additional suggestions
Behaviours NOT necessarily indicative of a
breastfeeding problem:
•baby cries frequently
•baby wishes to breastfeed often
•baby wishes to “switch nurse”
•baby wishes to be held often
•baby is unsettled / wants to breastfeed often
(especially evenings)
•you have small or soft breasts
“The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding”,
Available from our
Online-Shop
shop.lalecheleague.ch
To increase milk supply:
Good to know
When the milk flows too quickly (baby
chokes/splutters while nursing):
•pump or manually express to the first (strongest)
letdown and then offer Baby the breast when the
milk flow decreases.
•breastfeed in an upright or a laid back position
•your milk supply adjusts itself according to demand
•your milk is primarily produced while baby is breastfeeding
•once your milk supply is established (at ca. 3 months), your breasts may feel softer and less full
•stress hinders breastfeeding (antagonistic hormones); relaxation can work wonders!
•an exclusively breastfed baby cannot be overfed
•babies experience growth spurts (at ca. 4-6 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months) during which
they have a greatly increased need to breastfeed for a period of ca. 2-3 days
•you should drink to thirst; drinking excessively will not increase your milk supply
Breastfeeding is calming
for both baby
and mother
Restless BabyFatigue
Dietary influences / Tummy ache Baby cries often
What to check
•breastfeeding management (latch, position, suck,
frequency and duration of breastfeeding)
•changes in your diet
•your consumption of medicines, vitamin supplements,
caffiene-containing beverages
•a family history of allergies
•breastfeeding management (latch,
position, suck, frequency and duration of
breastfeeding)
•daily activities / outside disturbances
•changes in surroundings/lifestyle/your diet
•emotional stress (reflects mother’s state)
•milk supply/flow (too much/little/too fast)
•you are eating and drinking regularly
•you rest when baby rests
•you do not expect too much from yourself
•you do not have too many outside activities
•you accept offered help
•optimize breastfeeding management
•breastfeed more often, maybe shorter duration
•breastfeed in calm surroundings
•check your consumption of caffeine containing
beverages (perhaps keep a nutrition diary)
•increase skin-to-skin contact, carry your baby
•take an afternoon nap whenever possible
•don’t expect to keep a perfect house for a
while; get help with housekeeping if possible
•meet occasionally with like-minded mothers
for relaxation, discussion, and support
•reduce workload and activities
•you feel overwhelmed
•you want tips on ways to calm your baby
•you surmise that your baby’s distress has a
physical cause (injury, illness, reflux)
•you have a need to talk/vent
•you have questions/concerns
•you want some practical tips
•you have questions about milk supply
•you have questions about weaning
•be aware that your baby has a need for
closeness and physical contact both day
and night
•“wearing” your baby in a sling or baby
carrier keeps him/her close but keeps
your hands free to do something else
•take baby for a walk in the fresh air
•take small breaks over the day to indulge yourself
(read, take a short bath, etc.)
•attend an LLL Series Meeting; meeting locations and
schedules can be found at meetings.lalecheleague.ch
What to try first
•try different breastfeeding positions
•adapt your diet: avoid eating suspected allergens for
at least two weeks and look for improvement
•ask your doctor about breastfeeding compatibility
when prescribed medicines/vitamin supplements
(information for professionals on www.embryotox.de)
When to seek outside help
(ask an LLL leader questions anytime)
•your baby has a rash/eczema
•your baby’s unusual behaviour persists
•your baby cries inconsolably after breastfeeding
•your baby has green, slimy stools
Additional suggestions
Behaviours NOT necessarily indicative of a
breastfeeding problem:
•your baby is agitated and wants to breastfeed often
(especially evenings)
•your baby has a soft, curd-like, greenish-yellow stool
Good to know
•if a baby is poorly latched onto the breast, s/he could swallow a lot of air and need to burp or
pass gas frequently and may tend to spit up a lot
•a healthy baby knows how often and how long s/he needs to breastfeed to get enough milk
•an exclusively breastfed baby cannot be overfed
•suckling the breast after actively feeding can help a baby with digestion
•babies who are worn in slings are calmer and cry less than those without frequent physical
contact with their caregivers
•a trusted care-taker can mind the baby for some time
while you rest
•the baby can be fed pumped breastmilk from time to
time if necessary (also with a spoon, cup, syringe, etc.)
Breastfeeding should
not hurt
Call us anytime!
Telephone Consultations
We are here to answer your questions about:
• preparing for parenthood
• getting breastfeeding off to a good start
• nighttime parenting
• carrying your baby
• introducing solids
• breastfeeding and returning to work
• extended breastfeeding
• weaning
• breastfeeding in general
A list of LLL-Leader phone numbers can
be found on leaders.lalecheleague.ch.
Nipple and Breast Pain
Sore nipples
Blocked ducts, mastitis Thrush
Symptoms:
Symptoms:
What to check
•baby’s latch and position at the breast
•baby’s tongue is correctly positioned
between his/her lower jaw and the breast
•baby should have no difficulty extending the
tongue past the gum line
•you care properly for your nipples (at best
use only water; avoid soaps and lotions)
•breastfeeding should be painless!
•your breasts are heavy, full, tender/painful,
swollen and/or hot, possibly with hard lumps
•with mastitis additionally: flu-like symptoms:
aches, pains, fever (over 38.5°C)
Check:
•itching/burning/stabbing pain,
sometimes to deep within the breast
•sudden sore nipples with correct
positioning and latch
•often there are no other symptoms
•frequency of breastfeeding
•duration of breastfeeding
•sources of physical and emotional stress
What to try first
E-mail Enquiries
We are happy to answer e-mail enquiries;
these can be submitted using the form
found on e-mail-enquiries.lalecheleague.ch.
•optimize latch and positioning
•break the vacuum at the breast before
removing the nipple from your baby’s
mouth by gently placing a finger in the
corner of his/her mouth
•position your baby at the breast so that
any nipple wounds lie in the corner of
his/her mouth while they are healing
•breastfeed! breastfeed! breastfeed!
breastfeed frequently and for a long duration; if
necessary pump or hand-express your milk
•get plenty of (bed-) rest
•look for help with the household chores
•use warm compresses before and cold
compresses after breastfeeding
•gently massage any hardened areas
•breastfeed with your baby’s chin pointed toward
any hardened area
•pay careful attention to hygiene
(rinse your nipples, change your
breastpads, and wash your hands
after each feeding; use cleaning
cloths only once; wash used cloths
and breastpads at 60°C)
•contact a medical doctor, an
IBCLC or a midwife for medical
treatment
When to seek outside help (ask an LLL leader questions anytime)
Financial Support
We are grateful for donations of any amount
La Leche League Schweiz,
PC 90-7183-1 Thank you!
La Leche League Meetings
At monthly LLL Meetings, we come together under the guidance of an LLL Leader for open discussions
about breastfeeding and parenting, answering one another‘s questions and offering one another support
and encouragement. Pregnant women, mothers, their partners and children, and anyone else interested in
learning about breastfeeding is welcome to attend. For up-to-date information about LLL meeting locations
and schedules, please consult meetings.lalecheleague.ch.
•you have constant or recurrent pain
•you show no improvement within 7 days
after improving baby’s latch and position
•you consider using or are already using
nipple shields
•you suspect that your baby has a short
frenulum (is “tongue tied”)
•you have symptoms of thrush
We recommend that you contact a medical
doctor, an IBCLC or a midwife for treatment
when:
•you have seen no improvement over 24h despite
taking measures to remedy the situation
•you have a fever >38.5°C over 24h
•your baby refuses to breastfeed on the affected
breast
•both breasts are affected
•in general, with a full mastitis a visit to the doctor is
recommended
•with thrush, we recommend
that you contact a medical
doctor, an IBCLC or a midwife
because a simultaneous
medical treatment of both
mother and child is necessary
•thrush is not always detectable
•mastitis can be triggered by physical stresses
(a too-tight bra, pressure on the breast from
a shoulderbag, sleeping in a prone position,
etc.) and by emotional stresses (moving house,
relationship problems, your starting work again,
family gathering, etc.)
•ask your doctor about breastfeeding compatibility
when medication is necessary
Signs of a good breastfeeding position:
•you and your baby face one another, tummy
to tummy
•your baby is at the height of the nipple so that
s/he does not have to turn the head or stretch
the neck to breastfeed
•mother and baby are both comfortable,
relaxed, and well supported
Signs of a good latch:
•baby suckles the nipple and some of the
surrounding breast tissue
•baby’s tongue is between his/her lower jaw
and the breast
•baby’s lips are flanged out on the breast
Ways to achieve a good latch:
Additional suggestions
•do not use self-prescribed medicines and/or
skin-care products
•change breastpads frequently
•use wool and silk compresses
•use a pure Lanolin nipple cream on
damaged nipples
•let your nipples air dry when possible
Good to know
Additional possible symptoms:
•thrush in baby (white spots in the
mouth, restlessness when feeding,
diaper rash)
•a red shimmer on the breast
•vaginal thrush (yeast) infection
•encourage your baby to open WIDE before
latching
•support your baby’s back and neck while
breastfeeding and not his/her head
•Do not self-prescribe medicines;
ask for breastfeeding compatible
medicines when necessary
•Breastfeeding should not hurt
deutsch
Die La Leche League ist eine
konfessionell, wirtschaftlich
und politisch unabhängige
Nonprofitorganisation. In der
Schweiz als Verein organisiert,
fördert sie seit rund 40 Jahren
das Stillen – mit Erfolg!
Unser Angebot beinhaltet
individuelle Beratung
von Mutter zu Mutter per
Telefon oder E-Mail, sowie
den Erfahrungsaustausch
zwischen Eltern und
Fachpersonen an
den Stilltreffen.
Anfragen für Informationen
und Unterstützung in
Stillfragen sind kostenlos und
unabhängig von Bürozeiten.
Diese Broschüre ist erhältlich
in Deutsch, Französisch,
Italienisch, Spanisch und
Englisch. Bitte wenden Sie
sich an unser Sekretariat.
italiano
La Leche League è
un’organizzazione
apolitica, aconfessionale
ed economicamente
indipendente che non persegue
fini di lucro. Da quasi 40
anni, ha quale obiettivo di
promuovere l’allattamento.
E lo fa con successo!
français
La LLL, oltre ad offrire
consulenze individuali da
mamma a mamma per
telefono o e-mail, favorisce
lo scambio di esperienze
fra genitori e specialiste
competenti durante gli incontri
regionali sull’allattamento.
Le richieste di informazioni e
di aiuto su temi riguardanti
l’allattamento sono gratuite
e possibili anche al di fuori
degli orari d’ufficio.
Questa brochure è disponibile
in tedesco, francese, italiano,
spagnolo e inglese. Per
richiedere ulteriori copie
si prega di contattare la
nostra segreteria.
La Leche League (LLL) est une
association à but non lucratif,
neutre sur le plan politique,
économique et religieux. Nous
encourageons l‘allaitement
en Suisse depuis presque
40 ans – avec succès. Nos
points forts sont d‘une part
l‘accompagnement individuel
au téléphone / par mail. D‘autre
part, les rencontres d‘échange
mensuelles reposent sur
l‘entraide mutuelle et
permettent aux participants –
familles ou professionnels –
de s‘inspirer d‘expériences
riches et diverses.
Les animatrices LLL bénévoles
offrent du soutien et des
informations fondées, aussi en
dehors des heures de bureau.
Cette brochure est disponible
en allemand, en français,
en italien, en espagnol et en
anglais. Vous êtes prié de vous
adresser à notre secrétariat.
La Leche League Switzerland
Secretariat, P.O. Box 197, 8053 Zurich | Tel. 044 940 10 12
E-Mail [email protected] | www.lalecheleague.ch
© La Leche League Switzerland 2015
Design: Ximena SIlva • Fotos: www.rimalaphotography.com
español
La Liga de la Leche es una
organización no gubernamental,
sin ánimo de lucro, aconfesional
y apolítica. Está presente en
Suiza desde hace casi 40 años,
proporcionando información y
apoyo para la lactancia materna.
Nuestras asesoras de lactancia
voluntarias atienden consultas
telefónicas y por correo
electrónico, además de ofrecer
reuniones mensuales en las
que intercambiar experiencias
con otras familias sobre la
lactancia y crianza de los hijos.
El acompañamiento personal
y apoyo para amamantar es
gratuito y no está limitado
a horarios de oficina.
Este folleto está disponible en
alemán, francés, italiano, español
e Inglés. Se ruega ponerse en
contacto con nuestra secretaría.
english
La Leche League is a non-profit,
apolitical, non-denominational,
and non-governmental
organization which provides
breastfeeding information and
support to women and their
families. LLL Switzerland has been
supporting breastfeeding women
and promoting breastfeeding in
Switzerland for almost 40 years.
Our LLL Leaders offer free
personal consultations by phone,
by e-mail, or in person and
monthly LLL Series Meetings
where parents meet to discuss
parenting topics and to offer
one another support in their
common decision to breastfeed.
This brochure is available in
German, French, Italian, Spanish
and English. Please contact our
secretariat to order copies.