Home and FamilyBreastfeeding How-to's: Breastfeeding Could Not Be Easier If You Follow These Simple Tips
Breastfeeding is a fantastic time for moms to bond with their newborn babies while giving them vital nutrients essential for their growth. It is important that you prepare yourself for breastfeeding before giving birth to make the transition to your nursing role as smoothly and painlessly as possible.
Here"s a couple of breastfeeding gear a nursing mom must have:
- A bottle of Lansinoh Lonolin lotion to heal sore and cracked nipples.
- Nursing bras for the support of your enlarged and heavier breasts.
- Nursing tops for quick access to your breasts via discreet flaps for your baby to feed.
- Breast pads in your bra to keep your breasts dry and prevent unwanted leaks.
- A baby sling for hands-free support of your baby while you are breastfeeding.
How To Position Your Baby During Breastfeeding
The most common breastfeeding position is the cradle position. Other positions include the cross-cradle (transverse), tailor, lying down and clutch (football) positions but I cannot cover all of them in this article due to the restrictions on the article length. You can do the cradle hold on a chair or bed in a sitting posture. You might want to place a normal pillow or nursing pillow on your lap to make it more comfortable for you and your baby. Straighten your back and ensure there is sufficient support for your arms and back because you will be in this position for quite a while. Place your baby on your lap or pillow in such a way that your bellies touch each other. Rest your baby"s head on either of your elbow bends depending on which nipple you wish to start nursing from and ensure his/her mouth is directly in front of your nipple. Use one of your hands to support your baby"s head and spine while your other hand may be used to hold onto your breast if required.
How To Get A Good Latch On
A good latch on will ensure a pleasant breastfeeding experience for you and your baby. Contrarily, an improper latch on will cause you a lot of distress and result in inadequate milk to your baby. Breastfeeding should be a comfortable process even though there may be discomfort at the beginning. Hold your breast with one hand and brush your nipple on your baby"s lips to entice him/her to open wide. Bring your baby towards your nipple and make sure he/she has a large portion of the areola in his/her mouth. Remove your baby if you feel the latch was not done properly and repeat the process till you get a good latch on.
Frequency and Duration Of Breastfeeding
A newborn baby requires breastfeeding every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night, which adds up to roughly 8 to 12 feedings per day. It is important that you ensure your baby does not go beyond 3 hours without breastfeeding. Be alert for any baby hunger signs like increased activity, sucking, rooting or mouthing in between feedings to keep your baby well fed. The average time of each nursing session varies and it usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes or however long your baby takes to be full. It is highly recommended to begin breastfeeding as early as possible after child birth and maintain an exclusive breastfeeding diet for a minimum of 6 months. On average, a child will usually breastfeed till they are 2 years old.