Breastfeeding day to day

In reality, there are very few contraindications to breastfeeding. The French High Authority for Health (HAS) lists the following: "Medical reasons that contraindicate breastfeeding are exceptional, both for the mother (HIV infection, except pasteurisation of milk) and for the newborn (congenital metabolic disorder: galactosaemia)."

Even the smoking and breastfeeding, although it is more than strongly recommended not to smoke, even more so during breastfeeding, it is not a firm contraindication as breast milk remains the best option for your baby. There are, however, steps you can take to limit the harmful effects, as it will have an impact on your baby: do not smoke before or during a feed, but rather just after, whilst spacing the next feed by at least 2 hours. Be mindful of passive smoking. 

We are in any case surrounded of pollutants, some of which may be found in breast milk. That said, breast milk is not "polluted" and will always be the best option for your baby. Breastfeeding may even be beneficial in protecting your baby from the effects of these pollutants. 

Finally, another common myth: becoming pregnant while breastfeeding is not a contraindication, breastfeeding while pregnant is possible. You can absolutely breastfeed during a pregnancy, but you should make sure you are eating well and getting all the essential nutrients for yourself, your baby, and your baby-to-be. Don't hesitate to speak to your healthcare professional about taking a pregnancy food supplement multivitamins to meet your nutritional needs. 

I'm unwell — can I still breastfeed? 

In many illnesses (flu, covid, etc.), a breastfeeding mother who is unwell may be contagious even before the first symptoms or fever appear. Before symptoms show, contact between mother and baby has continued, meaning the baby has already been exposed to the illness. In this case, stopping breastfeeding is rather contraindicated! Your milk is remarkable — it will pass on substances (antibodies, etc.) to your baby, helping them to fight the illness and stay protected. To find out more, read our article on fever and breastfeeding. 

You should however ensure that any medication you are taking is compatible with breastfeeding. The website of the CRAT lists compatible products, allowing you to breastfeed safely and with peace of mind. This site is also useful for checking compatibility anaesthesia and breastfeeding, as not all anaesthetics are compatible. It states that "as a general rule, the duration of action of general anaesthetics is brief. For most of them, there is no measurement of their passage into breast milk."

For example, lidocaine, bupivacaine and fentanyl are commonly used during labour for anaesthesia. More information on epidural and breastfeeding in our dedicated article. 

Beyond the myths about contraindications to breastfeeding, many concerns remain about the baby, their development, and continuing to breastfeed. The frequency and duration of feeds are among them.

The frequency of feeds varies. After birth, a baby may want to feed every 2 to 3 hours, and at times every 30 minutes. Put the baby to the breast as often as possible. It is perfectly normal for a baby to feed between 8 and 12 times in 24 hours, or even more. They may want to feed more often if they are unwell, teething, or going through a developmental leap, etc. The fact that baby feeds frequently does not mean that you are not producing enough milk or that your milk isn't sufficient for them. It is not necessary to take breastfeeding food supplements. If you need more advice, have a look at our article on how to increase your milk supply. 

If the frequency of feeds is worrying you, you can follow the breastfed baby weight chart. But it is also important to interpret it correctly! For example, in all babies, weight drops after birth — this is completely normal and physiological. It is mainly a loss of water. Weight loss can reach up to 10% between birth and day eight! The growth charts in French health records are not suitable for assessing weight gain in breastfed babies:

During the first month of life, if milk transfer is going well, a breastfed baby will wet between 6 and 8 nappies per day, have 3 stools in 24 hours, up to 8 per day, decreasing towards the end of the first month (from 6 per day to 1 per week). Birth weight is normally regained between 4 and 8 days of life (10 days at the latest). 

If you are concerned about weight, seek support from an IBCLC lactation consultant, and make sure you are feeding on demand. The consultant may suggest temporary supplementation, with breast milk where possible, and using a supplemental nursing system (SNS), or a cup. 

Don't worry about the "nipple confusion", which could occur when a bottle or dummy is given to a breastfed baby. Experts are clear: "No, a baby does not 'confuse' their mother's breast with a bottle. They will never refuse their mother's breast! Never, ever, even as they grow older! (…) Come on, seriously, we really shouldn't underestimate babies!" This would more likely indicate a sucking difficulty. 

Day to day, it is important to maintain a good diet to meet both your needs and those of your breastfed baby. Choose nourishing, organic and minimally processed foods. 

Stay well hydrated — breastfeeding requires higher fluid intake, not least because breast milk is 88% water! Your milk is both the food and the drink for your baby, exclusively so until they are 6 months old. They do not need any additional water, even in summer — you do not givewater to a breastfed baby, before weaning. They need to feed, and to do so frequently, both for nourishment and hydration. 

To be ready to feed on demand wherever you are, choose your nursing bra ! To make breast access easier, most nursing bras feature a discreet clip that can be fastened and unfastened easily with one hand — handy when you're holding a wriggling, hungry baby. An inner support band can also reinforce the bra's hold when the clip is undone, which is very useful.

At home, make sure you always have everything you need within reach and that you are comfortably settled. 

Feed on demand at night as well. Night feeds are beneficial for establishing and maintaining breastfeeding. Don't worry — studies show you actually sleep more than mothers of non-breastfed babies! One option is to practise co-sleeping, following a few guidelines, which allows you to breastfeed more while also getting longer stretches of sleep. Our article breastfeeding and sleep will give you more information.

Don't hesitate to seek help and support if you need it. Just because you're breastfeeding doesn't mean you have to do it alone! Your co-parent can help you with breastfeeding. Support is the best help. 

Breastfeeding day to day can be magical, but also tiring, and it can bring worries and raise many questions. Being well informed and supported makes all the difference for you and your baby. Our bodies and our babies are made for this.