The Secret To Successful Breastfeeding

If you want to talk about true toughness, look no further than a new mom. They’ve survived almost 10 months of pregnancy, made it through delivering an entire human (or two), and then, instead of a nap and a milkshake, they’re immediately thrown into the conundrum of how to keep those little humans alive. And while there are tough choices to be made at every stage of parenting, one of the biggest and most important comes as soon as baby arrives: how to feed them.

While the choice (or ability) to breastfeed isn’t possible for everyone—and that’s OK—it has gained popularity in recent years thanks to its extensive health benefits for both the birthing parent and the baby—such as stronger immune systems and lower rates of infant mortality for baby, and faster weight loss and less postpartum bleeding for mom. But it doesn’t always come easy, and some hiccups and a steep learning curve are to be expected.

Personally, having breastfed four sons in the last six years, I can attest to both the intense bond breastfeeding can provide, as well as the moments of true despair trying to solve physical and emotional nursing-related problems. I’ve learned I’m not alone in these struggles and that turning to the experts for support is key. So, to provide some insights and support for other nursing parents, I decided to speak to Northwell Health lactation consultant and breastfeeding guru, Olena Borkowsky.

Borkowsky says that aside from women who medically cannot breastfeed—whether due to insufficient glandular tissue, mastectomies, babies born with a cleft palette, etc.—there is one simple indicator of whether a parent will be successful at breastfeeding or not, and it’s not something she can teach: the belief that you can, in fact, do it. For many women, she likens the decision to running a marathon. “If every time you say I’m not going to make it the next mile, or the next 20 feet, the chances of being successful are significantly less,” she says.

For me, nursing success with my subsequent babies came from a relatively easy and natural process with my first baby. He latched on minutes after birth, with the help of a proactive and educational lactation consultant, and stayed put for 14 months after. However, this isn’t always the case, and a tough first breastfeeding experience can lead to hesitancy or reluctance to believe you can do it the next time.

It’s also important to note that there is no “right” amount of time to breastfeed. In fact, recent studies have shown that breastfeeding for any amount of time provides a variety of health benefits, including for those who have nursed for even just a few days. So, if you’re one of the many parents who doesn’t end up nursing for as long as you initially intended, don’t worry. Of course, no one goes into breastfeeding expecting to have to call it quits early, so Borkowsky offers some advice for how to set yourself up for continued success in your nursing journey.

It’s so hard as a new parent to figure out if your baby is getting enough milk, which can be extremely stressful. Borkowsky credits this as one of the most worrisome and concerning parts of nursing for new parents, and says that while there are cases where nursing just isn’t physically possible for a mother, often parents think they have a low supply when really their supply is just fine. Learning hunger cues is important, she adds, whether your baby is rooting with their mouth, sucking on their fingers, or crying to eat.

Lactation consultants typically recommend feeding on demand, rather than on a pre-prescribed schedule (like every three hours) in the beginning. While it’s not easy to feel like a baby is constantly hanging off your breast during the first few days, letting your little one practice their sucking reflex can improve success moving forward.

Borkowsky says it’s hard for the nursing parent to know if the baby is getting enough milk. If you suspect or worry this might be an issue, she recommends keeping a nursing log, where you write down how many feedings, and their duration, as well as how many pee and poop diapers occur in a 24 hour period. This way, she says, “When you go to your provider you have more data than just ‘it’s not working.’”

These tips help identify whether you have adequate milk supply

• The baby is feeding for an appropriate time frame (roughly 10 to 15 minutes per breast), not just falling asleep after two minutes of sucking
• You see one pee and one poop per day of life in the beginning: one of each the first day, two of each the second day, and so on
• The color of the baby’s poop is appropriate for their age, according to “Mother nature’s color-coordinated poop chart.” The first day is tarry (thick and dark), days 3 and 4 are greener, and days 5 through 7 are seedy and mustardy
• The baby is in an adequate range on their growth chart, according to a pediatrician, not according to the parents weighing the baby

In the end, your breastfeeding journey can be successful and fulfilling to both you and your baby with the right tips, support, and advice. So seek help if you need it. And remember, persistence and positivity can lead to benefits that last a lifetime.

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