Why Breastfeeding a Newborn is Different, with Theresa Nesbitt

The Birthful Podcast: Episode #82

We’ll be talking about why breastfeeding a newborn is different from an older baby. It’s often assumed that breastfeeding will simply work, but most moms report significant problems within the first week. Fortunately, understanding why newborns feed the way they do can make the whole process a breeze. Theresa Nesbitt is tells us more, including how to avoid nipple pain, encouraging a good latch, and setting yourself up for a good milk supply. Check it out.

What we talked about:

• Most common newborn feeding complaints: pain, difficulty latching, milk production concerns
• Good ways to avoid those difficulties
• Helping your newborn get a mouth-full of breast
• How a newborn’s lack of voluntary movements affects breastfeeding
• Why the “bottle-feeding images” we have in our heads don’t work for newborns
• Re-programming those “bottle feeding” images with the “training-wheels” position (aka natural breastfeeding)
• Your newborn’s built in GPS system
• Anchoring your newborn’s pressure buttons to activate their core-stabilizing inborn motor patterns that help them to breastfeed. (Or as I call it: the frog legs!)
• Helping your newborn get a mouth-full of breast
• Position yourself before you position newborn
• Avoiding common setbacks
• Fussy at the breast? “Swoosh and squoosh”
• How “breast shaping” can help

Resources and links to great info mentioned on the show:

• The Vojta Principle: Who developed Vojta Diagnostics and Therapy?
• NaturalBreastfeeding.com– Free video and other instructional materials for getting breastfeeding off to a great start
• YouTube.com/NancyMohrbacher – Free short videos that show the Natural Breastfeeding positions in action.
• BiologicalNurturing.com Information and clips of laid-back breastfeeding.
• NancyMohrbacher.com See blog section on Breastfeeding Positions and latch animation in Videos under Breastfeeding Resources.
• La Leche League Internationals resources on breastfeeding positioning  Go to the section on Laid-back Breastfeeding. Has some great printables in their Tear-Sheet Toolkit
• Breastfeeding: Instinct or Instruction?, from La Leche League International
• Midwifery Today’s article by Suzanne Colson, the researcher behind “Biological Nurturing”

Courtesy of Theresa Nesbitt

[mark]About Dr. Theresa Nesbitt[/mark]

Dr. Theresa Nesbitt is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist with special training in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Theresa promotes health and wellness for women with a focus on mothers. She has a particular interest in brain growth and development. Dr. Theresa is Director of Family Health Coaching, editor of Babies and Breastfeeding Magazine and author of Evolutionary Eating: How We Got Fat and 7 Simple Fixes. She is also co-author (with Nancy Mohrbacher IBCLC, FILCA) of the Natural Breastfeeding Program – The Solution to Successful Start.

Dr. Nesbitt developed an interest in breastfeeding because she observed that although many pregnant women plan to breastfeed, they are not really prepared to do so. Her interest in brain health, nutrition and developmental kinesiology have helped her to look at Breastfeeding and Human milk from a new perspective.

Learn more at her website DrTheresa.com, and at NaturalBreastfeeding.com

Like the music on the podcast?:

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).