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SOME POINTS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHEN BREAST-FEEDING
04 sep 2014
Breastfeeding may be the most beautiful experiences or a nightmare; it all depends on how you act the first hours and days.
- Nearly all healthy woman are capable of breast feeding. It just takes perseverance and a positive attitude. You need to relax and do not allow yourself to become stressed.
- Ask advice from specialists and other experienced mothers but at the same time use your common sense and observe your baby”s reactions. All babies are different. Let your instincts guide you.
- How you hold your baby to the breast is most important from the first moment at first the baby’s sucking will make your nipples tender and this can cause many mothers to give up but this is a temporary state. There are different postures that you can be shown when feeding that will help.
- Not all babies have the same feeding regime. Some will feed quickly and others will take longer, just adjust to your baby’s rhythm but try not to go longer than 4 hours between feeds, even if they are sleeping.
- There are no standard rules. Speaking with other mothers, you will find that some babies require hourly feeds and others will go 4 hours.
- Each mother will produce enough milk to cover the needs of the baby your production over time will adapt. Although it may appear that, initially, you produce very little, if you act correctly and do not panic, everything will be alright.The more the baby feeds, the more milk you will produce.
- Breast milk is always the best choice for your baby, its quality is always right.
- It always contains the correct nutrients and contains the correct hydration for your baby so that giving additional water is unnecessary.
- The milk supply in the first days after birth is different: It contains colostrum and is yellow in colour. The colostrum protects your baby from infections and contains essential proteins, vitamins and enzymes necessary for the neonate. The next stage of milk production is what we recognise as milk and will increase after your milk comes in. Lastly is the transition to mature milk which will happen 15 to 20 days after birth, and contains high levels of lactose and fats and less protein.
- The composition of your milk will alter during the day which is why it is important to breast feed every 4 hours to ensure that your baby receives the correct balance.
- The process of breast feeding should not be painful, even though, for the first few days. the nipples will be tender. The tenderness should not persist and, if it does, it is probably related to either bad posture or infection.
- If this persists, consult your doctor. If you notice small lumps developing or a burning sensation, quickly consult your doctor as it may be something that can be treated easily.
- It is important to maintain correct hygiene. Wash the hands before breast feeding and wash your breasts with a ph neutral soap before each feeding.
- Lastly, let others help you, ask for advice and tips and, above all, learn with your baby and you will achieve the best experience possible.