Learning to Breast Feed Your Newborn Successfully
Breast milk is the best form of food for a new born as it contains all the required nutrients in the right amounts. Babies who are properly breast fed by their mothers have lower occurrences of rashes, infections, allergies, diarrhea and other illnesses in comparison to babies who are bottle-fed. It is said that breast milk comprises of over a 100 nutritional ingredients required for the optimum growth and development of the baby. It contains the right mix of lactose, fatty acids, amino acids and water in the right amounts.
Begin Early: It is said that breast feeding of the new born should ideally begin just one hour after the delivery. This is because during this time, the sucking instinct of the baby is quite strong. Though the mother’s breast would not have begun producing milk as yet, but it contains colostrums containing antibodies which protect the new born against diseases.
Find the Right Position: Keeping the baby in the right position during breast feeding is quite important. The baby’s mouth should be opened properly and the nipple should enter his / her mouth appropriately. This would reduce the soreness of nipples as well. You can also take the help of a nurse or qualified midwife to find the right position.
Breast Engorgement: Immediately after pregnancy, the breast produces a large amount of milk due to which the breasts become bigger, harder and more painful. At this time, the new born should be breast fed more often to find relief. This would also adjust your body to produce the amount of milk that the baby requires.
Nipple Care: Nipples should be allowed to dry in air after nursing every time to avoid cracking and infection. In case of any cracking, you can apply breast milk or vitamin E oil to soften them.
Proper Diet and Rest: Proper rest is essential for a new mother after delivery to avoid breast infections due to fatigue. The lactating mother must also eat a healthy diet containing at least 500 extra calories each day along with eight glasses of fluids to ensure proper milk products everyday.
Before delivering your baby, try to learn as much as you can about breast feeding with the help of pediatricians, midwives, obstetricians, childbirth instructors, nurses and other women who have successfully breast-fed their babies.
