Nothing is more exciting than the arrival of your newborn child. However, along with joy and excitement, new moms should be aware of the challenges this new stage in their life could bring. While many new moms are willing to breastfeed their babies, there face some struggles in doing so.
Breastfeeding is beneficial to both the baby and the mother. Not only does it provide complete nutrition to your baby, it also forms a bond between you and your newborn child. Breastfeeding, however, is a process that you need to learn and develop; no one is born knowing how the process is done. To ensure that you will be able to provide your nourishing milk to your baby, here are 5 breastfeeding tips for new mothers.
Breastfeed your baby within the first hour of delivery. Once your baby is born, the doctors will let you hold your baby and encourage you to nurse him or her. Take advantage of this opportunity as this will help your uterus contract, signaling your mammary gland to provide colostrum for your baby.
Feed on demand. When your baby shows signs of hunger, make sure to offer your breast and let him or her get all the milk the he or she wants. Let your baby nurse completely on one breast before offering the other in order for him or her to get both the foremilk and the hind milk.
Avoid introducing bottles and pacifiers to your baby early. Make sure that breastfeeding is well established first so that he or she would prefer nursing from you.
Increase your milk supply. If it seems like you do not have enough milk to satisfy your little one, there are a lot of ways to improve your milk flow. Stay hydrated and consume soups, juices, and lots of water. There are also food supplements that can help you improve your milk supply such as fenugreek. Moreover, practice skin-to-skin contact with your baby.
Stay calm and relaxed when feeding your baby. When your stressed or worried that you may not be feeding your baby well, it affects the entire process of breastfeeding. Just stay calm and believe that you are providing enough nutrition and satisfaction to your little one.
If, after following these breastfeeding tips for new mothers, you still find breastfeeding a big challenge, you may need to turn to a lactation consultant who can give you sound advice on what you may not be doing correctly.