Whether you’re a first time mom or delivering your third child, each pregnancy and birth is something to celebrate. We also know how it can be exhilarating and overwhelming (and yes, often at the same time) to welcome a new baby into the world. We hope our Baby & Maternity Guide can be a go-to for advice, ideas and a way to put you at ease so you can get that sleep you desperately need!
Got Milk? What’s Normal
It can take anywhere from two to five days for a woman’s milk to come in, a time when the new mom’’s body produces colostrum, a thick yellow substance high in nutrients and disease-fighting antibodies. Don’t worry! Your body is producing the perfect amount of colostrum for baby’s tiny tummy. It is suggested that moms breastfeed eight to 12 times within a 24-hour period, and avoid the use of bottles and pacifiers in the first month. “Feeding often will help milk supply and prevent engorgement. Cluster feeding is normal and does not mean you don’t have enough milk. Keep in mind that babies come to the breast not only to eat, but also to satisfy physical and emotional needs,” Hickman said.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Ask to hold your infant as soon as possible after delivery, putting baby to breast within an hour of birth. Skin to skin contact is also an invaluable part of the bonding process between mother and baby and helps to accomplish a successful latch-on. If you have any concerns or questions, just ask!
Breastfeeding 101 for New Moms
By: Heidi Borst
Congratulations! You’re about to welcome a brand-new bundle of joy into your life! What could be sweeter? But let us warn (ahem, inform) you: giving birth isn’t the hard part, the devil’s in the details– swaddling, diapering, rocking, feeding (all the demands of a little human who depends exclusively on you). While the decision of how to feed your baby is a personal one, new moms are encouraged to try breastfeeding as a way to bond with baby emotionally, and to nourish them physically.
Breastfeeding Resources
La Leche League of
Toledo Meetings
734-847-0039
Every 2nd Wednesday at 10am (monthly)
St James Lutheran Church,
4727 W Sylvania Ave., Toledo
Every 3rd Thursday 7pm (monthly)
St. Charles Hospital,
Board Room in basement, Oregon
Wood County Hospital
419-373-7665
Breastfeeding support groups on
the last Tuesday of the month at 7pm
Wood Co. Hospital,
Bowling Green, OH
ProMedicaLactation Center Services
419-291-4577 Breastfeeding
WARMLINE Call for questions or
concerns or to schedule with a lactation
consultant Visit promedica.org for all
programs and services, including classes
Mercy Family Resource
Center Lactation Services
417-820-2327
Outpatient Lactation Clinic
Call from 9am-4:30pm M-F with
questions or concerns or to schedule
with a lactation consultant
Mercy Children’s Hospital, Toledo