“Breastfeeding doesn’t smother babies,” says Dr. Ruth Lawrence, past president and founder of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. “I don’t know a mother who hasn’t fallen asleep while feeding her child, whether nursing or bottle-feeding,” Lawrence adds.
How do babies breathe when breastfeeding?
When your baby latches on to your breast properly, the top of his nose may be touching your breast, but he should still be able to breathe. If your baby’s nose does get blocked while he’s nursing, he will open his mouth and let go of your breast so that he can breathe through his mouth.
What causes baby to choke while breastfeeding?
When your breasts are stimulated by your baby suckling, oxytocin causes the let-down reflex that releases the milk. If you have an overactive or forceful let down, this release happens too fast for your baby to respond appropriately, causing them to gulp or choke while breastfeeding.
Do I always have to hold my breast while breastfeeding?
You may only need to use a breast hold for a short time. As your baby gets older, breastfeeding becomes more established, and you become more confident, you might find that you no longer need to hold your breast when your baby latches on to breastfeed.
Is it OK to sleep while breastfeeding?
“Add to that a state of hormone-induced calm and it’s not surprising that mothers struggle to stay awake while breastfeeding. Falling asleep is the natural inclination.” This inclination can become dangerous because it can result in accidental co-sleeping, a risk factor for sleep-related infant deaths.
Is baby OK After choking?
After any major choking episode, a child needs to go to the ER. Get emergency medical care for a child if: The child has a lasting cough, drooling, gagging, wheezing, trouble swallowing, or trouble breathing. The child turned blue, became limp, or was unconscious during the episode, even if he or she seemed to recover.
Can baby get pneumonia from choking on breastmilk?
A major complication of aspiration is harm to the lungs. When food, drink, or stomach contents make their way into your child’s lungs, it can damage the tissues there. The damage can sometimes be severe. Aspiration also increases the risk of pneumonia.
Does leaking breasts mean good milk supply?
Leaking is a clear sign of milk production and milk release—two down, one to go! You’re making plenty of breast milk; it’s exiting the breasts; now all you need to do is get the milk into your baby instead of onto your shirt.
When should I switch breasts during breastfeeding?
When he stops suckling and swallowing, or when he falls asleep, you’ll want to switch him to the other breast. If he hasn’t released the first breast, simply slip your finger into the corner of his mouth to break the suction (and protect your nipple) before removing him from your breast.
How long should you hold your baby upright after feeding?
To help prevent the milk from coming back up, keep your baby upright after feeding for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if your baby spits up or has GERD. But don’t worry if your baby spits sometimes. It’s probably more unpleasant for you than it is for your baby. Sometimes your baby may awaken because of gas.