Nursing your baby can be a hard thing, even if you have prepared ahead of time. Getting her the proper nutrition she deserves is your number one priority, but sometimes it just seems like the hardest task you ever had to accomplish. Here are some breastfeeding tips to bring you some peace of mind.
Start Right Away
Tell the hospital exactly what you want. Not all doctors and nurses are that strict, but you should always be able to demand to raise your baby exactly the way you want to. Those first moments after birth are crucial in the proper latch of the newborn. Be sure to be clear about having your baby placed in your chest after delivery, and immediately with you after the cleanup and never away from your side. All the bonding you can make with your baby is crucial to succeeding at breastfeeding and doing it with ease since the first moments together with your child.
Get Help
Do not refuse help. If the nurse staff or the doctor’s show up to the room begins giving you tips, and offering help, do not hesitate in accepting it. Sometimes you might feel your nipples sore or even if grandma says the latch looks great but still hurts, call a lactation consultant ASAP. If you sense something is not quite right, you should speak up quickly. Newborns can have a hard time or even forget how to latch to the breast very quickly, so it is compulsory to be able to get help as soon as possible.
Breastfeeding Tip: Positioning
When nursing, focus on your baby’s jaw to see if he is latching properly and getting enough milk. The baby should not be sucking on the nipple so his jaw should be positioned well into the breast tissue. That would be the only way to assure he is getting enough milk because his suction movements encourage the breast to produce more milk.
Don’t use Bottles
Avoid bottles at all cost. It will only bring the baby nipple confusion, and it will be harder to get the baby to latch on if he ever does. Some babies refuse the breast after getting all their feedings through bottles.
Critical Breastfeeding Tip: Feed on Demand
Finally but most importantly, feed on demand. The only way to assure you will produce enough milk for your baby is feeding her every time she is hungry. As I said before, the suction motion helps the breast produce more milk, and if suction is frequently happening, the breast will produce milk frequently.
The love you have for your child will help you take care of him but advice or help of any kind does not hurt, that is why people say, not in vain, that it does take a village to raise a child.