Breastfeeding is one of the basic and most important aspects for new moms, as natural as breastfeeding is you might still worry and stress about providing adequate nutrients for your baby.
As a new mom, you wish to do your best and make sure your baby is receiving all the nutrients you can give. Just to help you calm your nerves and not worry, we’ve put together a list of 10 breastfeeding tips that will be useful to you as a new mom.
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Breastfeed within one hour of birth
The first hour after birth, is the ideal time to start breastfeeding, newborns are most alert and interested in feeding at this time. Research shows that immediate initiation of breastfeeding increases the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding for the first four months. So make sure to start breastfeeding as soon as you can.
It is important to practice skin-to-skin with your newborn, skin-to-skin helps regulate the baby’s body temperature and stabilize blood sugar, while assisting you with milk production and bonding.
Feed early and often
Feeding often helps establish your milk supply, prevents and relieves engorgement, and helps the baby gain weight. So it is advisable to feed your baby early and often, you don’t have to wait until the baby gets hungry.
Keeping your baby close to you after birth is important for establishing a strong breastfeeding relationship. Rooming-in helps you learn and respond to your baby’s early feeding cues quickly.
It is normal for the baby to lose some weight, especially if you involve your baby in exclusive breastfeeding. So expect weight loss in the first three to five days after birth because babies lose fluids and clear out the meconium in their gut, both of these factors contribute to weight loss.
Engorgement is a painful swelling and hardening of your breasts that occurs when you produce more milk than your baby consumes. Engorgement is most frequent when your milk first comes in right after your baby is born. The best way to avoid this painful condition is to nurse your baby as often as possible.
Take care of your skin
The skin of your breasts is very delicate, with regular nursing, your skin can become dry, chapped, irritated, and even cracked over time. This can make breastfeeding a painful experience. So don’t forget to take care of your skin as you nurse your baby.
In the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it’s common for milk to leak from your breasts. Don’t be alarmed, this is completely natural. It can happen when you hear another baby cry, when your baby hasn’t been nursed for several hours when you think about your baby, or even when you feel a strong emotion.
Reading and trying to learn how to breastfeed from youtube is one thing, but actual breastfeeding is another. If you are clueless about what to do after birth make sure you ask for help, don’t assume you will get it right the first time.
Stay hydrated, this is the most important tip for you and your baby. As a mom, this is necessary because you are eating and drinking for two. Make sure you drink water before you breastfeed your baby, this will ensure your body makes enough milk and that you stay hydrated.
