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00:00:00 Your body produces milk to nourish your baby. It begins during pregnancy as your hormones, prolactin, and oxytocin prepare your body to produce and release milk. So once your baby is born, your body operates on a supply and demand system. The more your baby nurses, the more milk your body will produce. That's why early and frequent breastfeeding is super important to establish a healthy milk supply. Whether you're a first-time mom or you're looking to improve your establish a healthy milk supply. Whether you're a first-time mom or you're looking to improve your breastfeeding experience, this video is going to guide you through the basics of breastfeeding. We'll cover how lactation works, how to initiate breastfeeding, and the incredible benefits of
00:00:44 breastfeeding for you and your baby. So let's get started. There are two major hormones involved when it comes to breast milk production, and that is prolactin, which stimulates milk production. And then there's lactobacillus, which stimulates milk production. And then there's lactobacillus, which stimulates milk production. And then there's lactobacillus, which stimulates milk production and oxytocin, which triggers the milk letdown. So your brain basically signals your body production and oxytocin, which triggers the milk letdown. So your brain basically signals your body and your breasts to produce milk when prolactin levels are high and prolactin levels are increased through suckling and stimulation of the breasts. Colostrum is going to be that
00:01:17 first milk that your body starts to produce, and you produce this during pregnancy. It is a nutrient-packed first milk produced in the first few days after birth. Every mom produces colostrum. It might just look a little different depending on after birth. Every mom produces colostrum. It might just look a little different depending on where you're at in your journey. Usually it's this thick, yellowy substance often referred to as liquid gold. Your milk composition is going to soon transition into more mature milk around three to five days postpartum. A lot of new moms want to know when their milk is going to come in, and this is typically the standard. However, you must
00:01:57 be removing milk frequently from the breasts in order for milk production to work the way be removing milk frequently from the breasts in order for milk production to work the way it needs to. When you're first getting started with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact is key. You want to hold your baby close to you immediately after birth, if you can, to encourage their natural feeding instincts. Babies are born with the reflex to root and lash one to the breast. It may not come easy to every mom, especially in the beginning, but with lots of patience, lots of practice, you'll both get the hang of it. Don't stress yourself out if you feel like your
00:02:27 lots of practice, you'll both get the hang of it. Don't stress yourself out if you feel like your baby isn't getting enough. Remember, they're new to this, and so were you. It's going to work itself out. You just keep practicing and get support if you need it. Positioning is also very crucial when it comes to breastfeeding. You'll want to find a comfortable position for you and the baby because there's a good chance that you might be in that position for 30 to 45 minutes. You can try the cradle hold, the football hold, or a side-lying position. 45 minutes. You can try the cradle hold, the football hold, or a side-lying position. Make sure your baby's latch is deep and it's covering most of your areola, not just the
00:03:11 nipple, because that's what's going to cause pain and cracked nipples, and it's also not giving your baby an effective latch. Milk removal is best when most of your areola is inside the baby's mouth and the nipple. You want to make sure that your baby's latch is pointing up at the roof of their mouth. You might also want to surround yourself with pointing up at the roof of their mouth. You might also want to surround yourself with lots of pillows to prop your arm up and maybe rest your baby's head on because, again, you may be in that position for a long period of time and you'll want to be comfortable. As I mentioned earlier, you want to start breastfeeding within that first hour after
00:03:49 birth if you can. And more signs of a good latch to look out for is your baby's lips are flanged out. You're not experiencing extreme pain. A little bit of pain in the beginning is normal because You're not experiencing extreme pain. A little bit of pain in the beginning is normal because as your baby is suckling, it's going to release oxytocin, which is going to trigger your body to have light contractions, so it might feel like those early labor contractions that you had in the very beginning. That is your uterus contracting back into its pre-pregnancy size, so that's a good thing.
00:04:25 However, it can be a little uncomfortable, especially for first-time moms. However, it can be a little uncomfortable, especially for first-time moms. Another sign of a good latch is your baby has rhythmic suckling and swallowing, and you can kind of see their jaws moving, and you can hear the swallowing sounds. Address any challenges that may come up, like a shallow latch, really early to avoid soreness and ensure that you are getting effective feedings. Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits.
