1. Introduction to Breastfeeding 2. Benefits of Breastfeeding 3. Steps in Proper Breastfeeding 4. Breastfeeding Positions

1. BREASTFEEDING
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
COLLEGE-ALBAY

2. CONTENTS
01 Introduction to Breastfeeding
02 Benefits of Breastfeeding
03 Steps on Proper Breastfeeding
04 Breastfeeding Positions

3. WHAT IS BREASTFEEDING?
Breastfeeding, also called nursing, is the process
of feeding a mother's breast milk to her infant,
either directly from the breast or by expressing
(pumping out) the milk from the breast and
bottle-feeding it to the infant.

4. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
IT SUPPLIES ALL THE
NECESSARY NUTRIENTS
IN THE PROPER
PROPORTIONS.
01 02 03 04
05 06 07
IT PROTECTS AGAINST
ALLERGIES, SICKNESS,
AND OBESITY.
IT PROTECTS AGAINST
DISEASES, LIKE
DIABETES AND
CANCER.
IT PROTECTS AGAINST
INFECTIONS, LIKE EAR
INFECTIONS.
IT IS EASILY DIGESTED –
NO CONSTIPATION,
DIARRHEA OR UPSET
STOMACH.
BABIES HAVE
HEALTHIER WEIGHTS
AS THEY GROW.
BREASTFED BABIES
SCORE HIGHER ON IQ
TESTS.
BREAST MILK HELPS KEEP
YOUR BABY HEALTHY

5. MOTHERS WHO BREASTFEED:
Have a reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes and certain
cancers such as breast cancer
May find it easier to return to what they weighed before
they got pregnant
Strengthen the bond with their children

6. SOME HELPFUL HINTS IN
BREASTFEEDING:
BREASTFEED SOON AFTER BIRTH AND BREASTFEED
FREQUENTLY 8 TO 12 TIMES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.
01
02
03
04
HOLD YOUR BABY SKIN-TO-SKIN.
DO NOT GIVE A PACIFIER OR BOTTLE UNTIL
BREASTFEEDING IS WELL ESTABLISHED.
GIVE ONLY BREAST MILK.

7. BREAST MILK ARRIVES IN THREE STAGES.
NATURE DESIGNED EACH FOR YOUR BABY’S AGE, MAKING IT THE PERFECT
FOOD FROM THE FIRST DAY TO THE TENTH AND BEYOND:
15 January 2023
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
COLOSTRUM TRANSITIONAL
MILK
MATURE
MILK

8. 1ST STAGE: COLOSTRUM
WHEN YOU FIRST DELIVER, MILK HASN'T YET ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. THE
THICK, YELLOWY (THOUGH SOMETIMES CLEAR) SUBSTANCE THAT YOU’RE
PRODUCING IS COLOSTRUM, THE SAME STUFF THAT LEAKED OUT OF YOUR
BREASTS DURING PREGNANCY.
THIS VITAL BLEND OF PROTEIN, VITAMINS AND MINERALS CAN ALSO HELP
DEFEND AGAINST HARMFUL BACTERIA AND VIRUSES, AND POSSIBLY EVEN
STIMULATE BABY TO PRODUCE ANTIBODIES. IT ALSO COATS THE INSIDE OF
BABY’S INTESTINES, PROTECTING HER IMMATURE IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND
PROTECTING AGAINST ALLERGIES AND DIGESTIVE UPSET.

9. 1ST STAGE: COLOSTRUM
IT ALSO STIMULATES BABY’S FIRST BOWEL MOVEMENT AND REDUCES
JAUNDICE RISK. YOU'LL LIKELY MAKE VERY LITTLE, BUT BABY PROBABLY
WON'T NEED MORE THAN A FEW TEASPOONS OF THIS "LIQUID GOLD" PER
FEEDING DURING THE EARLY DAYS. REGULARLY SUCKLING FROM THE
START WILL HELP STIMULATE YOUR BODY TO PRODUCE THE NEXT STAGE
OF MILK WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
*

10. 2ND STAGE: TRANSITIONAL MILK
TRANSITIONAL MILK IS WHAT YOUR BREASTS SERVE UP BETWEEN
COLOSTRUM AND MATURE MILK, USUALLY AROUND THE THIRD OR FOURTH
DAY. IT RESEMBLES MILK MIXED WITH ORANGE JUICE — BUT FORTUNATELY
TASTES A LOT BETTER TO YOUR BABY — AND APPEARS WHEN YOUR MILK
FIRST "COMES IN."
IT CONTAINS LOWER LEVELS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS AND PROTEIN THAN
COLOSTRUM BUT HAS MORE LACTOSE, FAT AND CALORIES. AND DON'T
WORRY IF IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU'RE PRODUCING A LOT OF MILK

11. 3RD STAGE: MATURE MILK
ARRIVING BETWEEN DAY 10 AND TWO WEEKS POSTPARTUM, MATURE MILK
IS THIN AND WHITE, THOUGH SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY BLUISH. WHILE IT
LOOKS LIKE WATERY SKIM MILK, IT’S PACKED WITH ALL THE FAT AND
OTHER NUTRIENTS THAT GROWING BABIES NEEDS

12. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
First, it's essential to know a good latch, since improper latching is the most
common cause of breast discomfort.
Baby's mouth should cover both your nipple and the areola, so that baby's
mouth, tongue and lips massage milk out of your milk glands. Sucking on just
the nipple will not only leave your infant hungry because the glands that
secrete the milk won't be compressed, it will also make your nipples sore and
cracked.

13. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
Hold your baby facing your breasts, with the front of her body facing
yours, tummy to tummy. Her head should be in line with the rest of
her body, not turned, to make swallowing easier.

14. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
Tickle baby's lip with your nipple to encourage baby to open very
wide, like a yawn. If your baby isn't opening up, try to squeeze some
colostrum, and later, milk, onto her lips.

15. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
If your baby turns away, gently stroke cheek on the side
nearest you. The rooting reflex will make baby turn her head
toward your breast.

16. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
Bring baby forward toward your breast once her mouth is
open wide. Don't lean over and push your breast into baby's
mouth - let your baby take the initiative. Keep a hold of your
breast until baby has a firm grasp and is suckling well.

17. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
You'll know you've got a proper latch when baby's chin and the
tip of her nose are touching your breast. Baby's lips will be
flared outward, like fish lips, rather than tucked in. Check that
your little one isn't sucking on her own lower lip or tongue -
newborns will suckle anything - by pulling her lower lip down
while nursing.

18. STEPS ON PROPER
BREASTFEEDING
Watch for suckling - that is, extracting colostrum or breast milk from
your breast, not just sucking or gumming your nipple. If baby is
suckling, you'll see a strong, steady suck-swallow-breath pattern.
You'll also notice a rhythmic motion in baby's cheek, jaw and ear.
Once your milk comes in, listen for the swallowing or gulping. You'll
know baby isn’t latched properly if you hear clicking noises.

19. Break the suction carefully by gently
inserting a clean finger into the corner
of her mouth or by pressing on your
breast near the mouth. Then begin the
lip tickling anew and let her latch on
again properly, with the nipple and the
areola in the mouth.
IS BABY HAVING
TROUBLE
PROPERLY
LATCHING ON?

20. While you may have heard that
short feeds prevent soreness and
cracking, that usually doesn't come
from feeding too long but from
getting into a less-than-ideal
position. So instead of setting time
limits on each feed, let your sweetie
take her time at the breast - and
expect feedings to be long initially.
HOW LONG TO
BREASTFEED?

21. Sessions typically last 20 to 30
minutes.
But keep in mind, that's on average.
Your baby could take more or less
time and need to feed for longer in
the beginning and during growth
spurts.
HOW LONG TO
BREASTFEED?

22. Drain one breast fully. Ideally, at least one
breast should be well-drained at each
feeding.
This is more important than being sure baby
feeds from both breasts, since hind milk (the
last of the mature milk that baby feeds on) is
richer in fats and calories. So don't pull the
plug arbitrarily. Instead, wait until your baby
seems ready to quit on breast one, then offer,
but don't force, breast two. If baby drains one
breast and doesn't want any more, start with
the other breast at the next feeding.
TIPS ON
BREASTFEEDING

23. Drain one breast fully. Ideally, at least one
breast should be well-drained at each
feeding.
This is more important than being sure baby
feeds from both breasts, since hind milk (the
last of the mature milk that baby feeds on) is
richer in fats and calories. So don't pull the
plug arbitrarily. Instead, wait until your baby
seems ready to quit on breast one, then offer,
but don't force, breast two. If baby drains one
breast and doesn't want any more, start with
the other breast at the next feeding.
TIPS ON
BREASTFEEDING

24. Wait for baby to signal she's done.
End the feeding by waiting for baby to let go
of the nipple. If your baby doesn't, you'll know
to end the feeding when the suck-swallow
pattern slows down to around four sucks per
one swallow. Often, your baby will fall asleep
at the end of the first breast and either
awaken to nurse from the second or sleep
through until the next feeding. Again, unlatch
by pressing on your breast near baby's mouth
or carefully inserting a clean finger into the
corner of your infant's mouth.
TIPS ON
BREASTFEEDING

25. HOW OFTEN SHOULD A BABY BE
BREASTFED?
Feeding babies when they're hungry (on demand) rather than on
a schedule is ultimately best for breastfeeding success.
But since babies usually aren't born hungry - their appetite
generally picks up around the third day - chances are there won't
be much demand at first. Which means you may have to initiate -
even push - at first.

26. HOW OFTEN SHOULD A BABY BE
BREASTFED?
A newborn should have at least eight to 12 feedings each 24
hours, even if demand isn’t up to that level yet, for the first few
weeks. Break that down and you’ll probably be nursing every two
to three hours, day and night, counting from the beginning of
each nursing session.

27. HOW OFTEN SHOULD A BABY BE
BREASTFED?
Feeding patterns vary widely from baby to baby, so you might need to
nurse a little more or less frequently.
If you have a hungrier or more impatient infant on your hands, you may
go little more than an hour between feedings; a more easily satisfied
baby might be able to go for three-and-a-half to four hours. If you feel
like you're nursing constantly, don't worry; it's temporary. As your milk
supply increases and your baby gets bigger, the breaks between
feedings will get longer.

28. HOW OFTEN SHOULD A BABY BE
BREASTFED?
Don't be concerned or surprised if your formula-feeding or
supplementing friends say their newborns eat far less often. Breast milk
is more easily digested than infant formula, allowing the tummies of
nursing babies to empty faster — and thirst for more sooner.

29. SIGNS A BABY
IS HUNGRY
NUZZLING AGAINST
YOUR BREASTS
01 02 03 04
05 06 07
SUCKING FURIOUSLY
ON THAT LITTLE BABY
HAND — OR YOUR
SHIRT, OR YOUR ARM
OPENING HER MOUTH
ROOTING, WHEN BABY
OPENS HER MOUTH
AND TURNS HER HEAD
TO THE SIDE WITH HER
MOUTH OPEN TO FIND
THE FOOD SOURCE,
OFTEN AFTER HER
CHEEK IS STROKED
SUCKING ON HER LIP
OR TONGUE, WHICH
CAN LOOK LIKE SHE'S
STICKING HER TONGUE
OUT
IF SHE DOES CRY, IT
WILL TYPICALLY BE A
SHORT, LOW-PITCHED
WAIL THAT RISES AND
FALLS
MAKING LIP-SMACKING
SOUNDS
A GOOD WAY TO MASTER THE RIGHT BREASTFEEDING BALANCE IS TO
NURSE WHEN YOUR BABY SEEMS HUNGRY. DON'T WAIT FOR TEARS; BY
THEN, YOUR LITTLE ONE MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLY HUNGRY,
ESPECIALLY THE LONGER SHE CRIES. SHE MIGHT BE TINY BUT SHE'LL
MAKE HER NEEDS KNOWN BY:

30. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
Your hospital will likely teach you the basic cradle hold. But with some trial-and-error,
you might find another breastfeeding position works better for you and your baby.
Here's the lowdown on all the basic breastfeeding positions:
CRADLE HOLD CROSSOVER
HOLD
FOOTBALL
HOLD
SIDE-LYING
POSITION
LAID-BACK
POSITION

31. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
CRADLE HOLD
Position your baby so that her head rests in the bend of
your elbow of the arm on the side you'll be
breastfeeding, with the same hand supporting the rest
of baby's body. Hold your breast with your opposite
hand and compress it very gently so that the nipple
points toward baby's nose.

32. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
CROSSOVER
HOLD
Hold your baby's head with the hand opposite to
the breast you’ll be nursing from. For example, if
nursing from the right breast, hold the head with
your left hand. Using your free hand, cup your
breast as you would for the cradle hold.

33. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
FOOTBALL
HOLD
Your baby's legs are tucked under your arm on the
same side as the breast you're nursing from. Hold
your baby with that arm on a pillow to lift her up,
and use your other hand to cup your breast.

34. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
SIDE-LYING POSITION
A good position if you’re nursing in the middle of
the night. Lie on your side with a pillow under your
head. Baby should face you, head in line with your
nipple. Use your hand on the side you’re not lying
on to cup your breast if you need to. You may want
to place a small pillow behind your baby’s back to
hold her close.

35. BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
LAID-BACK
POSITION ("biological
nurturing")
In this position, you lean back comfortably, semi-reclined,
on a couch or bed with pillows supporting your upper back,
neck and head. Place baby on you, tummy to tummy, lying
on your chest in pretty much any direction that's
comfortable, with the baby’s cheek on your breast. Your
little one's weight will be supported by your reclining body.
The idea with this nursing position is to take advantage of
gravity and naturally let baby seek out your nipple, but
you can also hold your breast and point it toward baby to
encourage latching. This is a great breastfeeding position
for newborns, babies who spit up a lot, and infants who are
gassier have ultra-sensitive stomachs. It also leaves your
hands freer to cuddle with and caress your little cutie.

36. HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BABY IS
GETTING ENOUGH MILK
Many new nursing mothers worry at some point that baby isn't eating enough.
Your breasts aren't calibrated on the outside, after all, so you don’t know how
much milk you’re producing and baby is consuming. If you’re concerned, a few
indicators can help you check that your baby is getting her fill:
01 02 03
DISPOSITION DIRTY DIAPERS WEIGHT

37. HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BABY IS
GETTING ENOUGH MILK
01 DISPOSITION
If your little one seems happy and content after most
feedings, then chances are she's a satisfied customer and is
getting enough milk. If she's crying and fussing or sucking on
her fingers frantically after a full feeding, she might still be
hungry (though these can also be signs of gas or infant colic).

38. HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BABY IS
GETTING ENOUGH MILK
02 DIRTY DIAPERS
Keep a careful count. After three or four days, your newborn
should be pumping out at least six and up to 12 with clear to very
pale yellow urine and at least three or four soft, yellow bowel
movements over a 24-hour period in the beginning. For the first
several weeks, it's a good idea to keep a record of breastfeeding
frequency and diaper output, which you can bring along to the
pediatrician's office at each visit.

39. HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BABY IS
GETTING ENOUGH MILK
03 WEIGHT
Infants should gain weight steadily every week from the second
week on; 4 to 7 ounces per week is typical for newborns,
although weight gain varies depending on age and other factors.
Your pediatrician will let you know if your baby's growth is on
track.

40. BREAST
SELF-EXAM
A breast self-exam for breast
awareness is an inspection of
your breasts that you do on your
own. To help increase your
breast awareness, you use your
eyes and hands to determine if
there are any changes to the
look and feel of your breasts.

41. BREAST SELF-EXAM
If you notice new breast changes, discuss these with your doctor. Though
most breast changes detected during a self-exam for breast awareness
have benign causes, some changes may signal something serious, such as
breast cancer.
Most medical organizations don't recommend routine breast self-exams as
a part of breast cancer screening. That's because breast self-exams haven't
been shown to be effective in detecting cancer or improving survival for
women who have breast cancer.
Still, doctors believe there is value in women being familiar with their own
breasts, so they understand what's normal and promptly report changes.

42. WHY
IT’S
DONE
A breast self-exam that you do for breast awareness helps you
understand the normal look and feel of your breasts. If you
notice a change in your breasts that seems abnormal or if you
notice one breast is different when compared with the other,
you can report it to your doctor.
THERE ARE MANY CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE CHANGES IN YOUR BREASTS,
INCLUDING BREAST CANCER.
ALTHOUGH THE BREAST SELF-EXAM TECHNIQUE ISN'T ALWAYS A RELIABLE WAY TO
DETECT BREAST CANCER, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WOMEN REPORT THAT THE
FIRST SIGN OF THEIR BREAST CANCER WAS A NEW BREAST LUMP THEY DISCOVERED
ON THEIR OWN. FOR THIS REASON, DOCTORS RECOMMEND BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE
NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF YOUR BREASTS.

43. RISKS
A breast self-exam for breast awareness is
a safe way to become familiar with the
normal look and feel of your breasts.
However, there are some limitations and
risks, including:
ANXIETY CAUSED BY FINDING A LUMP
OVERESTIMATING THE BENEFITS OF SELF-EXAMS.

44. ANXIETY CAUSED BY FINDING A LUMP
Most of the changes or lumps women find in their breasts aren't cancerous.
Still, finding something suspicious in your breast can make you anxious
about what it may mean. You may endure several days of worry until you
can see your doctor.
Additional tests and procedures may be necessary to check out lumps or
changes. If you discover a suspicious lump, you may end up having imaging
test such as a diagnostic mammogram or a breast ultrasound, or a
procedure to remove breast tissue for examination (biopsy). If it turns out
the lump was noncancerous (benign), you might feel that you've
undergone an invasive procedure unnecessarily.

45. OVERESTIMATING THE BENEFITS OF SELF-EXAMS
A breast self-exam isn't a substitute for a breast exam by your
doctor (clinical breast exam) or a screening mammogram. Becoming
familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts can
supplement breast cancer screening, but can't replace it.

46. HOW YOU PREPARE FOR A
BREAST SELF-EXAM
Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Before you begin breast self-exams
for breast awareness, you may find it helpful to discuss the instructions
and technique with your doctor.
If you menstruate, choose a time in your cycle when your breasts are
least tender. Your hormone levels fluctuate each month during your
menstrual cycle, which causes changes in breast tissue. Swelling begins to
decrease when your period starts. The best time to perform a self-exam
for breast awareness is usually the week after your period ends.

47. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
Face forward and look for puckering, dimpling, or changes in size, shape or
symmetry.
Check to see if your nipples are turned in (inverted).
Inspect your breasts with your hands pressed down on your hips.
Inspect your breasts with your arms raised overhead and the palms of your
hands pressed together.
Lift your breasts to see if ridges along the bottom are symmetrical.
If you have a vision impairment that makes it difficult for you to visually
inspect your breasts, ask a trusted friend or a family member to help you.
Begin with a visual examination of your breasts. Sit or stand shirtless and braless in
front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. To inspect your breasts visually, do
the following:

48. Next, use your hands to examine your breasts
Common ways to perform the manual part of the breast exam
include:
Lying down. Choose a bed or other flat surface to lie down on
your back. When lying down, breast tissue spreads out, making
it thinner and easier to feel.
In the shower. Lather your fingers and breasts with soap to
help your fingers glide more smoothly over your skin.

49. When examining your breasts, some general tips to keep in
mind include:
Use the pads of your fingers. Use the pads, not the very tips, of your
three middle fingers for the exam. If you have difficulty feeling with
your finger pads, use another part of your hand that is more sensitive,
such as your palm or the backs of your fingers.
Use different pressure levels. Your goal is to feel different depths of the
breast by using different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue.
Use light pressure to feel the tissue closest to the skin, medium
pressure to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure to feel the tissue
closest to the chest and ribs. Be sure to use each pressure level before
moving on to the next spot. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk
with your doctor or nurse.

50. When examining your breasts, some general tips to keep in
mind include:
Take your time. Don't rush. It may take several minutes to carefully
examine your breasts.
Follow a pattern. Use a methodical technique to ensure you examine
your entire breast. For instance, imagine the face of a clock over your
breast or the slices of a pie. Begin near your collarbone and examine
that section, moving your fingers toward your nipple. Then move your
fingers to the next section
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts
using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask
your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.

51. RESULTS
MANY WOMEN FIND LUMPS OR CHANGES IN THEIR BREASTS, SINCE SOME OF
THESE ARE NORMAL CHANGES THAT OCCUR AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE
MENSTRUAL CYCLES.
FINDING A CHANGE OR LUMP IN YOUR BREAST IS NOT A REASON TO PANIC.
BREASTS OFTEN FEEL DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PLACES. A FIRM RIDGE ALONG
THE BOTTOM OF EACH BREAST IS NORMAL, FOR INSTANCE. THE LOOK AND
FEEL OF YOUR BREASTS WILL CHANGE AS YOU AGE.
WHAT’S NORMAL?

52. WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU NOTICE:
A HARD LUMP OR KNOT NEAR YOUR UNDERARM
CHANGES IN THE WAY YOUR BREASTS LOOK OR FEEL, INCLUDING THICKENING
OR PROMINENT FULLNESS THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE SURROUNDING TISSUE
DIMPLES, PUCKERS, BULGES OR RIDGES ON THE SKIN OF YOUR BREAST
A RECENT CHANGE IN A NIPPLE TO BECOME PUSHED IN (INVERTED) INSTEAD OF
STICKING OUT
REDNESS, WARMTH, SWELLING OR PAIN
ITCHING, SCALES, SORES OR RASHES
BLOODY NIPPLE DISCHARGE
YOUR DOCTOR MAY RECOMMEND ADDITIONAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES TO
INVESTIGATE BREAST CHANGES, INCLUDING A CLINIC

53. THANK YOU!