When you are a new mother, every act of nurturing your kid may frighten you. One question always appears in your mind, ‘Am I doing it right?’ No exception in the case of breastfeeding. You may always worry and stress about if your infant is getting the proper nutrients. As a new mom, you may take time to learn all the processes to give your baby the perfect breastfeeding experience. But you will learn all the tactics eventually.
There is no doubt about how essential your breast milk is for your baby to shape his health and sound development. Therefore, while you decide to provide breast milk to your baby, keep in mind that right now, you are doing the best thing for your baby you can. Keep doing that, and to have the best breastfeeding experience, follow these subsequent suggestions.
9 Breastfeeding tips for new mothers:
Try to read his signs.
Waiting for a baby to cry and then feeding him is the first mistake new mothers always make. Instead, you should read your baby’s mind by observing these signs.
A hungry infant often –
- Stirs and does rapid eye movements while sleeping,
- Makes sucking sounds, or tries to suck whatever is near,
- Turns or raises the head frequently,
- Fusses and shows irritation.
If your baby starts crying out of hunger, do not initiate breastfeeding before calming him down. Otherwise, his tongue won’t be in the appropriate place, and he will not get sufficient milk.
Let your baby determine his feeding time.
Please remember that right now, your baby knows about his hunger better than you do. Let them determine when and how long he prefers to eat. Do not set an interval time between feedings until he wants so. Also, keeping your baby away from feeding while he wants to eat is not a good idea.
You need to avoid waking a sleeping baby to feed them simply because he did not eat for the last three hours. Let your asleep baby rest peacefully and provide breast milk when they wake.
Let your baby determine how long he wants to drink. Some infants are quick eaters, while some prefer to eat slowly. No need to worry when feeding time lasts for ten minutes, and do not feel stressed if it extends on for forty-five.
Don’t compromise with comfortable wear.
A newborn demands 8 to 12 feeding times. So, be sure whatever you are wearing. The days are long gone where women used to wear oversized clothes while nursing their babies. Several types and brands of nursing wear and nursing bras are now available to comfort moms while breastfeeding. These clothing types provide enough accessories and designs to ease the hassle during lactation. They properly carry your breast according to your size, prevent stretch marks or hanging problems.
Ensure the correct position for you and your baby
The proper feeding position determines your comfort. Therefore, every mom needs to find an appropriate sitting posture that works for her and the baby. While absorbing breast milk, babies eventually locate the best position for them. So, you have to follow them. Remember that:
- The mouth of your baby and your nipple need to remain at the same level, whatever the position is.
- The infant needs a position where he doesn’t have to turn his head much.
- His head needs to be lean backward slightly.
- Your baby needs the practice to latch the entire areola, not just the nipple.
- Set their chin right up against your breast. In this way, their nose will remain clear, and they will not face any breathing problems.
But, do not force any positions on your baby. Your baby will find it naturally, while you need to ensure that your baby is in comfort and can breathe while eating.
How to ensure if the breastfeeding is going well or not
Every new mom wants to know that how they will determine an ideal nursing session. When your newborn first starts eating, they’ll drink each time they suck. As milk decreases, they will get full or fall asleep, and swallowing will reduce.
In the end, the baby will release your breast and appear sleepy. Their skin muscles will start to become relaxed.
It is normal if you get wet diapers after feeding your little one. Healthy babies have four to eight bowel movements each day during the first few weeks. Your baby is doing fine, and there is no way to have constipation as long as his bowel movements are soft, and the diapers are wet with urine.
Make sure your baby is gaining weight constantly. It’s not necessary to weigh the baby daily. Checking the monthly weight of your baby is sufficient.
Leaking is normal
Leaking is natural. In the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it may happen when you hear another baby cry, or when you do not nurse the baby for several hours, or when you think about your baby.
This leaking will start to lessen and will disappear entirely as your baby continues to nurse. So, there is no place for worries. Just place a nursing pad in your bra to absorb the leaks.
Do not worry much
Your peace of mind is essential while feeding your baby. Your baby can sense your discomfort, stress, and tension. It may directly affect him, and in this condition, he may not latch properly. So, try to be happy, do whatever makes you relaxed, and avoid negative people and stressful environments.
Hydration is a must
Stay hydrated. While breastfeeding, you’re eating and drinking for two. How to determine if your water intake is enough for both of you? Wise is to drink a glass of water whenever you breastfeed every single time. Consumption of enough water will secure your hydration and will help your body to produce enough milk.
Try to avoid engorgement.
Engorgement is when a mother produces more milk than her babies need, and her breasts become overloaded with milk. It happens particularly right after the baby’s birth. Engorgement is painful, and it makes the feeding process more difficult. The best method to avoid this uncomfortable situation is to nurse the baby more frequently. If the engorgement still exists, hand-express the milk by softly rubbing the areola between your fingers. Express milk under a warm shower also enhances the milk flow. You may also use a pump to soften your breast to avoid engorgement.
The accurate number of proteins, fats, and vitamins within breast milk improves a baby’s growth, fights against infections and diseases, and boosts his IQ level from early childhood. By following these nine tips we have mentioned above, every mother will have the ideal breastfeeding experience—cheers to this great starting of the exciting journey of motherhood.
