Breastfeeding: The First 48 Hours with Sally Wright, IBCLC
One of the first things on our minds as soon as we have our babies is feeding them. Those first few days can feel like a blur and if you're choosing to breastfeed you may be feeling overwhelmed by ALL of the things you need to learn seemingly overnight. If you're worried about if you're producing enough or whether your baby is eating enough, or what the heck is happening to your nipple, don't worry.
Today, I'm here with our special guest, Sally Wright, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and mother of five, to help clear up the confusion and pump out the facts you actually need to know!
Sally grew up in Hawai'i and now lives in Utah. She is the mother of five children, including a set of twins. She has been an IBCLC since 2016 and has served as a volunteer Leader with La Leche League since 2006, providing community breastfeeding support. Sally especially loves helping parents of multiples meet the joys and challenges of a life with abundance. When she's not working with nursing families, Sally is driving her kids around to basketball or skating, or playing with her dogs. Sally shares a collaborative practice with three other experienced IBCLCs called Motherfed, located in downtown Salt Lake City.
Show Notes:
1:12 - Our reviewer of the week shares that they love how the My Essential Birth shares both sides of the story and that they feel more confident in their pregnancy and birth because of the information they've found here.
3:44 - Sally Wright is an IBCLC, or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. While there are lots of professional titles with "lactation" in them, an IBCLC is the only one qualified to provide clinical support.
5:33 - Sally is a mother of five children including a set of girl/boy twins and has been an IBCLC since 2016 and has served as a volunteer Leader with La Leche League since 2006, providing community breastfeeding support. She has a collaborative practice in Utah called Motherfed.
6:52 - It's no secret that your breasts change during pregnancy but when do they actually start producing that liquid gold? Sally shares that you may start producing colostrum in the third trimester.
7:35 - We tend to think that the removal of the baby is what triggers lactation but it's actually the removal of the placenta.
8:28 - Even a small piece of retained placenta can interfere with the onset of lactation.
8:53- Mature milk should come in around day 3 or 4 postpartum. If you're not seeing full milk production by day 5 or 6, you should ask your provider to rule out retained placenta via ultrasound.
9:35 - IGT or insufficient glandular tissue can also affect milk supply.
11:30 - If you've been here a while you probably know that I recommend immediate skin to skin to get that oxytocin flowing to release the placenta and start milk production but when do you actually need to put baby to the breast? If you're getting that skin to skin, your baby should be on the breast within that first, golden hour.
14:00 - If complications arise in the early postpartum period and you're unable to put baby to the breast, Sally suggests hand expressing into a spoon or syringe to get a good visual of how much colostrum your baby actually needs and coat their gut with that amazing liquid gold.
16:16 - What is the recommendation for mothers who want to formula feed? Should you still give your baby colostrum?
18:40 - If you're pumping and not getting very much, question your pump before you question your body. The pump that's best will be unique to you and your needs.
20:58 - Pro tip: Using a video of your baby fussing will help with let down while pumping.
21:30 - To tell the difference between clogged ducts or mastitis and swollen lymph nodes figure out where you feel yucky. If you feel sore in one isolated spot it's most likely a clogged duct. "Even if you're sick, your milk is perfect."
23:30 - To relieve a clogged duct, go easy on your breasts! Don't massage too hard and focus more on heat, rest, and empty breasts.
25:20 - Changing breastfeeding positions can help get milk moving especially when a duct may be clogged.
28:17 - How often should you actually nurse? Should you wake your sleeping baby to get it done? Aim for a minimum of 10 nursing sessions in 24 hours and look for those feeding cues. Aim for only one 4-6 hour stretch of sleep in 24 hours for the first 6 weeks.
34:00 - Small, frequent feedings are the biological norm and cluster feeding, especially during the night, is normal. If you're feeling touched out or baby is crying a little extra, it's time to reach out for help.
37:00 - Your perceived problem may not be your problem at all, reach out to an IBCLC if you have any concerns in your breastfeeding journey.
40:30 - How do you measure if your baby is getting enough milk? Is counting wet diapers the best method for measuring nutrition?
45:15 - If baby isn't having any urine output and is showing other signs of emergency like lethargy, Sally says to skip the IBCLC and go straight to emergency. "The number one rule is to always feed the baby."
47:45 - How and when do you introduce a bottle into your feeding routine?
49:50 - Do you need to burp your baby? Ask your baby! Bottle fed babies take more air during feeding and will need help getting it out. Sally shares her pro tip to finding that perfect spot to burp your baby without triggering their startle reflex.
52:35 - Every mother is the expert on their own baby. There is no one right way to care for your baby.
55:00 - How should you address tongue and lip ties? Everyone has frenula and is a normal part of anatomy but can cause issues if it's restricting the motor function of the tongue. An IBCLC can help make recommendations if your baby is experiencing motor restrictions.
1:01:20 - Can your IBCLC help you with postpartum mood disorders related to breastfeeding frustration?
1:04:15 - Can you successfully breastfeed and pump simultaneously so that your partner can help with feedings too? Your partner can be included in so many ways and you can pick which way works best for your family.
1:05:49 - What stops women from getting help when they do know that IBCLCs exist? How do you find the provider that will handle your specific needs?
1:08:55 - How to find Sally and get care from Motherfed (yes, even virtually!)
Resources:
My Essential Birth
