I teach prenatal classes regularly, and here’s a question we hear all the time from expectant moms…

Q: How do I know if I will be able to breastfeed my baby?

A: While pregnant women may doubt their ability to feed their babies, your body assumes that you will breastfeed and begins to prepare for it right from the day you conceive! The milk production tissues and ducts develop throughout your pregnancy, and it is estimated that 97% of women are physically capable of producing all the milk their baby will need. The key is ensuring that the baby latches well to the breast so that he/she can access the wonderful milk that you have!

Originally posted 2017-06-21 11:27:22.

Here’s a question from Connie in Toronto, ON:

Q: My baby is four days old. The nurses at the hospital said she has a good latch (we’ve been home for two days now), but my nipples are getting so sore! Is there some kind of cream that will help?

A: You mentioned that the hospital nurses said your baby is latching well – it would be good to confirm this by going back to the breastfeeding clinic at your hospital or Public Health clinic, since a proper latch is critical in avoiding nipple trauma. It is normal to experience some tenderness in the early days of breastfeeding, but pain that does not lessen in the first few seconds after latching can be a sign of other problems, including an improper latch. If the latch is determined to be correct, an excellent nipple ointment is available called APNO – All Purpose Nipple Ointment”. It was developed by Dr. Jack Newman, world-renowned breastfeeding expert whose clinic is right in your hometown of Toronto, Connie! APNO is made up of four ingredients that have been shown to treat a wide variety of nipple problems – you can learn more about it at http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-APNO.

Originally posted 2013-10-01 11:46:14.