The TRFO team supports breastfeeding as the best choice for your baby’s nutrition. We also recognize that breastfeeding can be a difficult and frustrating process if it is not going well. Read below for discussion on the benefits of breastfeeding, resources for successful breastfeeding, and contacts for support with breastfeeding.
We also recognize that there are situations where breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding is just not possible. We want all of our patients to feel supported in making sure their baby gets adequate nutrition, in whatever form that may be.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Nutrition
Colostrum (the early milk produced in the first few days after delivery) and breast milk are produced to match your baby’s nutritional needs through their different stages of life. You don’t need to read the ingredients list or decide which protein source is needed for your baby.
Breast milk is made up of many components that benefit your baby:
Water - to provide hydration to your baby and carry the other components of breast milk
Fats - important for the development of the brain and building blocks of other cells in the body
Sugars - these are the body’s main source of fuel for growth; they are also important for the growth of healthy, normal bacteria in your baby’s digestive system
Proteins - a source of energy and further building blocks for the body
Enzymes - specialized proteins that help to digest and absorb nutrients
Vitamins and minerals - used for many processes in the body and for building blocks
The one vitamin that breast milk does not have enough of is Vitamin D - breastfed babies should get 400 Units of Vitamin D a day
Immune System Development
Your breast milk contains millions of cells from your own immune system which help to protect your baby while their own immune system develops.
When a baby is born, their body does not produce most immune system parts right away. Receiving breast milk provides baby with passive immunity - immune cells from you to help protect against infection.
Breastfed babies tend to have lower risk of infection overall compared to exclusively formula fed babies. They may specifically have lower rates or respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.
Mother-Baby Bonding
The skin-to-skin contact involved in breastfeeding can be an invaluable part of the bonding process with your new baby. Holding your baby skin-to-skin and the actual process of breastfeeding causes both your baby and you to release hormones. These can help to calm both you and baby, to help you be more aware of your baby’s needs, and to comfort your baby.
Brain Development
Although the how of it is not well understand, it has become clear that breastfeeding helps with babies’ brain development. Children who are exclusively breast fed tend to have higher cognitive scores later in childhood. There are also trends suggesting that these children have lower rates of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
It is important to remember that brain development involves a huge number of other factors including genetics, family history, and environment and that breastfeeding alone cannot prevent development of ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
Other Various Benefits
It is free!
Even if you need to purchase a pump or nipple shields, this still remains cheaper than buying formula
Jaw and tongue development - important for learning to speak
It can help you to lose weight after a pregnancy
It is easily portable - breast milk is available wherever you and baby are without carrying bottles and formula
It may help lower your risk of developing breast cancer
Establishing Breastfeeding
Getting your baby to latch at the breast and feed well can take considerable time and effort. We often think that this should be a simple, instinctual process and it should be something easy to do. Keep in mind though, that your baby has just been born and has never been asked to do any task in its life. Likewise, this may be your first time trying to breast feed and even if you have breastfed before, this baby is different than any other baby. Add in the fact that every breast and nipple is different and its no wonder that breastfeeding is a skill that usually needs to be developed.
It can be difficult to understand from writing how to get your baby to latch and feed well. We have tried to put together here some basics of getting your baby to latch. Looking through the other resources listed below for videos and other tips that can be helpful. Work with your nurses while in the hospital to help get a good latch started.
Forming a Good Latch
Have baby skin-to-skin with you
This helps to keep baby warm and stimulates the hormones that help with let-down (breast milk moving through the ducts to the nipple for feeding)
Bring your baby’s head to the breast, finding a comfortable position for yourself with your baby’s head and spine lined up with each other
Your baby’s head should not be turned or tilted to either side, but you may find that having them laying on their side is a better position for you both
Bring baby’s mouth to your nipple and encourage your baby to open their mouth wide
You may need to gently move your baby’s lower jaw or lower lip to encourage an open mouthed position, similar to a yawn
More of the breast should be in the lower part of baby’s mouth, with the nipple placed deep into the mouth
Feel and look for signs of baby sucking and drinking
Baby’s jaw and tongue will move to encourage milk flow; you may see and feel this
Baby will have swallowing movements and you may also hear them swallowing
A proper latch should not be painful
If feeding is painful or uncomfortable, try to adjust the latch by opening baby’s mouth further, encouraging the nipple to be placed deeper into the mouth, or adjusting your and baby’s position
Resources for Breastfeeding
Please note: many of these resources include links to services and paid consultations. TRFO does not specifically support or recommend any of these services - they are provided for your information only.
Resources in Kamloops
Public Health Breastfeeding Clinic
Access to lactation consultants (free) and public health nurses
519 Columbia St
Monday 1:00-3:30pm; Thursday 9:00-11:30am
Drop in appointments
Please note: During the COVID-19 outbreak, appointments are to be booked instead of drop-in
Call 250-851-7300
Breastfeeding Matters in Kamloops
This website contains numerous resources about breastfeeding
They have excellent videos and links to help support you in breastfeeding
They also run a milk depot for donor milk
Lactation consultant services
Resources on breastfeeding
Local support group for breastfeeding with experienced parents
Further resources on their website