Hukum Pidana | Hukum Perdata | Hukum Acara

• Cradle hold. This position requires the mother to hold her baby with its head on her forearm and its entire body facing hers. The baby’s head is supported in the crook of the mother’s arm. This position is comfortable for most mothers. Pillows can be used under the mother’s arm to support the baby.
• Cross-cradle hold. Also known as the transitional or crossover hold, this position requires a mother to hold her baby along the opposite arm of the breast she is using. The baby’s entire body should be facing hers. The baby’s head is then supported with the palm of the mother’s hand at the base of its neck. This position is recommended for mothers who are just beginning to breastfeed. It is also an ideal position for premature babies, or babies who are having difficulty latching-on.
• Clutch or “football” hold. This position requires the mother to hold her baby in her arm while nestling the baby close to her side. The baby should be lying on its back with its head at the level of the mother’s nipple. The baby’s head is then supported with the palm of the mother’s hand at the base of its head. This position is recommended for mothers with large breasts, inverted nipples and premature or small babies. It is also ideal for women who have had a C-section, and those with multiple infants who need to nurse two babies at a time.
• Side-lying position. This position requires a mother to lie on her side with the baby facing her. The baby is then pulled toward the breast. The mother’s lower arm can be used to cradle the baby’s back. This position is ideal for women who have had a C-section. It also allows the mother to rest or sleep while the baby nurses.

Women can receive instructions for these positions from a lactation consultant or other expert at the hospital. No matter what position a woman chooses, the baby’s mouth needs to be near the nipple and it should not have to turn its head in order to breastfeed. For most positions, the baby should be on its side, with its entire body facing the mother. Pillows can also be used under the arms, elbows, neck or back for support. Pillows can also be placed under the baby to help with positioning.

After the baby is positioned correctly near the nipple, the mother will need to ensure that it latches on (take the breast into his or her mouth) properly. This may be difficult if the breast is engorged, requiring the mother to press back the breast tissue for easier access to the nipple. A good latch-on is necessary to ensure that the baby is nursing successfully and without causing pain to the mother. During the first few weeks of breastfeeding, a mother will require practice and patience for a baby to latch-on well. It can become frustrating for both the hungry baby and mother if the baby is unable to latch-on to the breast and successfully nurse.

To properly latch on a baby, a mother should:

1. Support the breast with her hand by positioning her thumb on top and her other four fingers on the bottom. The fingers should be kept far back enough so that it leaves enough of the nipple and areola (the darker skin around the nipple) for the baby to latch on to. The mother may need to support her breast for the entire feeding.

2. Gently slide the nipple from the middle of the baby’s bottom lip, down to its chin. This will encourage the baby to open its mouth. The baby’s mouth should be opened wide with its tongue down. Then quickly bring the baby to the breast, chin first.

3. Make sure the baby has taken in as much of the areola as possible, with more areola showing at the top lip then at the bottom lip. The baby should not be latched on to the nipple only as this will not stimulate milk production. In addition, latching on to the nipple only will cause pain to the mother.

4. Make sure the baby’s nose is nearly touching the breast and not pressed against it. The baby’s lips should be turned out (flanged), not tucked in or under. If the positioning of the baby’s lips is unclear, gently press on the lower chin to pull the lower lip out. The baby’s tongue should be cupped under the breast. Then, listen for sounds of swallowing and look for movement along the baby’s lower jaw. There may also be visible movement at the junction of the baby’s temples and ears.

Once the baby has latched on properly, there may be 30 to 60 seconds of pain while the milk is “let down.” Often, the mother will feel a tingling sensation indicating the milk has reached the nipple and will be released with nursing. After this initial period, the pain should subside and the mother will only feel a tugging sensation as the baby sucks on the breast. If the pain continues, the baby is most likely latched on improperly. It may feel like the breast is being pinched. The mother should stop feeding and reposition the baby on the breast.

When the milk is first released from the nipple, it may come out in a quick burst. This amount may be difficult for the baby to handle and can cause the baby to cough. Some mothers find it helpful to hand express the first release of milk and begin nursing when the milk is produced in a slow, steady stream.

As it begins to nurse, a baby should give four or five sucks, followed by a five- to 10-second pause. As the amount of milk increases, so will the baby’s sucking. Once the flow of milk begins to slow, the baby may only give three or four sucks with pauses that last more than 10 seconds.

Babies usually release the breast on their own. When a baby does not release the breast, but its sucking appears limited to the front of its mouth, a mother can take the baby off by slipping her finger in the side of the baby’s mouth. The finger should be placed between the gums, then turned a quarter turn in order to break the suction. The suction may also be released by gently pressing down on the top of the breast near the areola. When it is latched on properly, a baby should not easily come off the breast.

Once the baby has finished nursing, the mother should try to burp the baby. The baby should then be placed on the other breast. A mother should also switch the baby to the other breast any time it no longer seems interested in eating or has difficulty with one breast. After the baby is finished with the second breast, the mother should make another attempt to burp the baby if the first try was unsuccessful. After nursing, the mother’s nipple should not appear flattened or creased. This may be a sign of an incorrect latch.

Newborn babies require frequent feedings, especially when being fed breast milk which is easily digested. Mothers will have to breastfeed at least every two hours. However, feedings should not be based on a schedule. A baby should be fed whenever it shows signs of hunger. Common signs of hunger include:

• Being more alert or active
• Mouthing (putting its hands or fists to its mouth and making a sucking motion with the mouth)
• Rooting (turning its head in search of a nipple)

In the later stages of hunger, a baby may also begin to cry. During the first few days, however, the baby will be sleepy and may not be awake to demonstrate any of these signs. For this period, the mother will need to wake the baby every one to two hours for feedings. In addition, the baby may fall asleep during feeding and may need to be awakened to continue nursing. With time, the baby will begin to establish a regular feeding schedule and nurse for a sustained period of time.

Most newborn babies want to breastfeed approximately eight to 12 times every 24 hours. This frequent feeding stimulates the breasts to produce a large amount of milk. Babies will begin to nurse less often as they get older, and begin to eat solid foods.

Mothers may wonder if their babies are consuming enough milk. A common method used to determine if a baby is eating enough is counting the number of wet and dirty diapers. In the first couple of days after birth, the baby should only have one to two wet diapers a day. By the third or fourth day after birth, the mother’s milk supply will increase. As a result, a baby should have at least five to six wet disposable diapers or six to eight wet cloth diapers. There should also be at least three to four bowel movements. With breastfeeding, the bowel movements are not formed but rather tan to brown liquid.

Although some weight loss is normal after birth, a healthy baby should not lose a lot of weight. A baby who loses more than seven to 10 percent of its birth weight during the first three to five days of life may not be getting enough nourishment. After the first week of life, there should be a steady weight gain of approximately four to eight ounces a week for the first three months. A baby’s weight will be monitored on well-baby visits, however, if a mother is concerned about growth, she should contact her baby’s pediatrician.

In general, a woman can feel confident that her baby is receiving enough milk because the breasts regulate the amount of milk the baby receives. For a baby who requires more frequent feedings, the breasts will increase the amount of milk they produce.