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Help Center & FAQs

Here you'll find helpful advice and answers to parents' most common questions.

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Breastfeeding

At what rate will I gain weight during my pregnancy, and how much weight can I expect to gain?

Weight gain is usually slow during the first 3 months. After this, your baby begins to grow more quickly. Although everyone is different, here is a guideline of what you can expect.

First Trimester: 1 to 4 pounds total during the first 3 months
Second and Third Trimesters: 2 to 4 pounds per month during the 4^th to 9^th months (second and third trimesters)

On average, you may gain a total of 25 to 35 pounds during your pregnancy if you started in a healthy weight range. Underweight women may need to gain more to store extra energy. If you started out a bit heavier, you may need to gain a little less.

Related: Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain

Do you have any products designed specifically for breastfeeding moms?

For breastfeeding moms, we have Enfamom Prenatal Multivitamin. Enfamom Prenatal Multivitamin is an advanced prenatal vitamin for you that helps to support your baby's brain, bones and body. It's an easy-to-take soft gel that can be used before, during and while breastfeeding to help support you and your baby's needs. It has Choline, DHA, and folic acid to help support brain and nervous system development, and other important nutrients.

In addition to prenatals, breastfeeding moms may want to consider using Enfamil® Breastfed Infant Probiotics & Vitamin D - a dual blend of probiotics for breastfed infants. Breast milk alone does not provide infants with an adequate amount of vitamin D, even if mothers are taking vitamins containing vitamin D. Shortly after birth, most infants will need an additional source of vitamin D.

How can I relieve engorged breasts?

You may feel a little fullness if your milk comes in very quickly the first few days after birth. This is normal. Your breasts may swell, and feel uncomfortably full. Excessive engorgement, however, may be painful.

Tips:

To avoid engorgement, feed your baby often, and throughout the night. Let them nurse for 10-20 minutes on each breast.
If you still feel pain, express some of the milk with a breast pump. Or try releasing it manually by massaging your breast, then compressing it just outside the areola (Try doing this in the shower).
To help relieve severe engorgement, try cold packs, crushed ice in a plastic bag or cold cloths between feedings. Keep hot water away from your breasts while showering.
If you're still in pain after a day or so, call your doctor or lactation consultant about this issue and any other breastfeeding questions you may have.

How will breastfeeding feel?

When your baby takes your nipple, along with the areola, into their mouth and begins to suck, the sensations you feel cause a reflex called let-down. This signals your breasts to release milk. You may feel a little tingling or surging sensation when your milk lets down. You might feel slight discomfort at first, but if they latch on properly, you should not feel pain. If you do, they probably aren't latched on properly.

Problems with Let-Down

If you're distracted, tired, stressed, anxious, embarrassed or have pain in your breasts, your milk may not let down.

Tips

Get some rest.
Nurse in privacy, and try to release your mind of stressful thoughts and obligations during feeding time.
Spend a few moments looking into your baby's beautiful eyes, and let nature take its course.
If breast pain is a problem, work with your lactation consultant to review positions and latching on.

Leaking

This possibly embarrassing situation happens to all of us. For some, just thinking about their baby is enough to turn on the milk machine.

Tips

Apply pressure to your nipples directly with your thumb and index finger.
Try crossing your arms tightly across your chest.
And wear absorbent breast pads in your bra.

What are the benefits of formula-feeding my baby?

Formula not only meets your baby's basic nutrition requirements, it also provides the nutrients your baby needs for their growth and development. Formula-feeding also allows other family members or friends to feed and bond with your baby, and for you to have a little break. And some parents just feel more comfortable with formula-feeding.

What if my breastfed baby wants to nurse more often than the four-hour schedule suggests?

Your newborn's stomach is small. That's why many experts recommend feeding "on demand." At first, your newborn may breastfeed every two to three hours, or eight to 12 times in a 24-hour period.

If your newborn sleeps more than three hours between feedings, ask your baby's doctor about waking them to nurse. They need the nourishment, and your breasts need the stimulation to continue to produce milk.

By the way, the four-hour schedule should arrive as your baby gets a little older.

What's the right way to breastfeed?

Have your nurse or lactation consultant help you with positions to hold your baby for feeding. Hold your breast with a “C” hold, your thumb above the breast and your four fingers supporting your breast underneath. Make sure your fingers are positioned away from the areola, so your breast can go far into your baby's mouth. Tickle your baby's lower lip to get them to open their mouth. Once they open wide, pull them close and place their open mouth fully on your breast.

Sore Nipples

Some nipple tenderness is normal during the first days of breast feeding. But if your nipples become sore or cracked, this can hurt.

Tips: To avoid this, be sure your baby is latched on properly. They should be sucking on your breast and your nipple should be far back in their mouth. Talk to your lactation consultant if you're not sure.

To help relieve this:

Avoid excessive moisture between feedings.
Let your nipples air-dry.
Don't use nursing pads with plastic liners, which can trap moisture.
Lotions or lanolin can help, once the nipple is dry.
Try alternating breasts for a few feedings until the condition improves.
Also, wash your breasts with warm water and avoid soap, which can be drying.
If the condition doesn't improve, check with your doctor or lactation consultant about this issue and any other breastfeeding questions you may have.

Can I still produce enough milk for my baby if I have small breasts?

Whether you're a double A or a double D, it's possible to make enough milk to feed your baby. Nature designed a perfect supply-and-demand system. The more your baby stimulates your breasts by sucking, the more milk you'll produce. So even if your baby is in a growth spurt and nursing more often, your body will "keep up." Remember, mothers of twins and even triplets can have enough milk supply to breastfeed successfully.

How can I keep breastfeeding when I go back to work?

Many women manage the breastfeeding/working schedule with a little planning. Whether you go back to work full-time or part-time, you can develop a breastfeeding routine that works for you and your baby. Here's a schedule that many moms follow:

Nurse early in the morning, right after your baby wakes up.
Nurse again just before you leave for work.
Pump your breast milk two or three times during the workday. Store it in a refrigerator and bring it home in an insulated cooler with ice packs to feed your baby the next day.
Have your child-care provider feed your baby the stored breast milk during the day.
Nurse your baby as soon as you get home from work or pick them up from child care.
Nurse during the evening.

Related: Breast Pumping at Work

How can I tell if my baby has had enough to eat?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is your baby gaining weight steadily? Your doctor can confirm this.
Do they wet six or more diapers and have at least one bowel movement every 24 hours?
Are they nursing at least eight times (and up to 12 times) every 24 hours during their first month?
Do your breasts feel softer and "empty" after nursing?
Does your baby swallow after sucking a few times during their feeding?

What are the breastfeeding benefits for moms?

Breast milk has nutrients your baby needs. It helps protect your baby from many illnesses, and it's easily digested. For you, it's convenient and economical. You can feed your baby anytime, anywhere. You may need to buy bottles or nipples if you plan to express milk and bottle-feed your baby now and then.

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is a breast infection. It can start out as a plugged duct that gets infected, and it may cause temperature, aches, and fatigue.

To help relieve plugged ducts, massage your breasts focusing on the firm area before each feeding. Then nurse your baby right afterward and try to drain the affected breast.

To avoid mastitis, empty your breasts regularly, avoid tight clothing, and try to stay rested. If you do get a breast infection, call your doctor at once. You may need an antibiotic, but you probably won't have to wean your baby. Follow your doctor's advice.

Related: Breastfeeding Your Baby

When can I start breastfeeding?

Soon after birth. At first, your baby will receive not breast milk but colostrum, a yellowish fluid full of antibodies, protective cells and nourishment. Once your milk comes in, they will get both protein-rich foremilk and high-fat hind milk.

When is the right time to switch my baby from breast milk or formula to cow’s milk?

Cow’s milk can be introduced at the age of 1 year. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should not be fed cow's milk before their first birthday, which includes whole, reduced-fat (2 percent) or fat-free (skim) milk.

Although milk is appropriate for older children, it is not recommended for infants during the important first year of life. The nutritional profile of cow’s milk differs from that of breast milk or infant formulas. Cow’s milk is low in iron and vitamin C and has higher protein, sodium, and potassium.

Why are my breasts leaking?

This possibly embarrassing situation happens to all of us. For some, just thinking about their baby is enough to turn on the milk machine.

Tips:

Apply pressure to your nipples directly with your thumb and index finger.
Try crossing your arms tightly across your chest.
And wear absorbent breast pads in your bra.

Why does breastfeeding make my nipples sore?

Your baby may not be "latching on" correctly. "Latching on" refers to the way your baby attaches their mouth to your breast. If they have latched on properly, they'll get a good flow of milk, and you won't get sore nipples.

You can help your baby latch on by touching their lower lip to your nipple as they root for your breast. they'll turn toward the side where they are touched. Then, when their mouth is open wide, lift your breast with one hand and pull your baby close to you. Their mouth should attach firmly onto your breast, not just your nipple.

If you're suffering from sore nipples, try these tips to help relieve them:

Avoid excessive moisture between feedings.
Let your nipples air-dry.
Don't use nurturing pads with plastic liners, which can trap moisture.
Lotions or lanolin cna help, once the nipple is dry.
Try alternating breasts for a few feedings until the condition improves.
Also, wash your breasts with warm water and avoid soap, which can be drying.

Why won't my milk let down?

If you're distracted, tired, stressed, anxious, embarrassed or have pain in your breasts, your milk may not let down.

Tips:

Get some rest.
Nurse in privacy, and try to release your mind of stressful thoughts and obligations during feeding time.
Spend a few moments looking into your baby's beautiful eyes, and let nature take its course.
If breast pain is a problem, work with your lactation consultant to review positions and latching on.

At Enfamil, we are dedicated to giving the millions of babies and toddlers that rely on our formulas the best start in life.

We are currently experiencing increased demand for many of our brands. We recognize that the inability to find your favorite brands, in the format you are accustomed to, can be worrisome. We want to reassure parents that we have ample supply across the Enfamil family of brands to meet the needs of babies who rely on our formulas. We have increased production and continue to work with all of our distribution channels to ensure availability of product where you want it. Should you need assistance in finding the formula you need, please reach out to our Customer Service team 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123).