One of the first steps that you will take as you begin to nurture your baby is ensuring proper feeding. For most of the mothers, it means breastfeeding. Even though it is all-natural, new moms might worry about whether they can provide the right nourishment to their child. You might also have a trillion question about what works and what doesn’t and whether you are doing it right or not.
Well, our best tip will be to ask you to relax. After all, there is an unbreakable bond between a mother and a baby which is bound to flourish. Still, we have put together a list of tips to help you on this memorable journey of motherhood.
Breastfeeding tips for mommies
- Watch out for the tell-tale signs
- Let your baby determine
- Sit in a comfortable position
- Shed your nervousness
- Help your baby in finding a position that suits it the best
- Leaking is normal
- Take good care of your skin
1. Watch out for the tell-tale signs.
Rather than waiting for your baby to cry, you should learn to anticipate its desires. The repetitive turning of head, opening and closing of the mouth, sticking out of tongue and sucking on whatever’s near are all signs that your baby might be hungry. If you see any of these signs, it is better to try breastfeeding right away. When your baby observes that it doesn’t need to fight to get its needs noticed by you, it will deepen your bond.
2. Let your baby determine
For now, your baby knows its needs better than you do. Don’t set intervals and keep your baby hungry just because you have recently fed it. On the other hand, don’t bother to wake up your baby if it is sleeping just because a couple of hours have passed. Wait patiently to let the baby communicate its needs for itself. Similarly, you should also let your baby decide the duration of nursing. While some babies may be full in ten minutes, others might need 45.
3. Sit in a comfortable position.
You need to keep yourself healthy to take care of your baby. Make sure that you are sitting in a comfortable position with adequate support while nursing. If not, you may have backaches, neck pain and shoulder pain, which can make it difficult for you to nurse for a prolonged period.
If you are sitting in an uncomfortable position and are continually shifting your posture, your baby might get irritated, and this may lead to increased hunger. Here are two breastfeeding positions which will help you in being more comfortable –
- Lie side-to-side with your baby facing you
- Go for a reclined position supporting your back with your baby in your arms.
For most women, a large bed with a couple of cushions for support will work well. Yet, you can mix and match according to your needs. Keep yours and your baby’s comfort in mind throughout the process.
4. Shed your nervousness
To ensure the best experience for both you and your baby, relax yourself. Your baby can sense your nervousness and tension, and that has a high chance of being passed on. The stress will hinder the process as the baby won’t be able to latch on to the areola.
Make sure that the environment you are sitting in is calm and serene as it can affect the vibe in a big way. If nursing is making you sweat, try giving yourself a pep talk before going into it. Calm down, take a few deep breaths and visualize a happy place. Nursing is supposed to be a pleasurable experience which provides an unparalleled opportunity for you to bond with your new-born.
5. Help your baby in finding a position that suits it the best
Through the course of the process, you will be able to observe that your baby will be more inclined to get into a position that is more comfortable for it. Every baby is unique and has different needs. Yet there are some guidelines that you can follow to determine this position quicker –
- The head of your baby should be positioned in such a way that it is at the same level as your nipple. It should not need to turn around its head at all.
- By slightly tilting its head backwards, the baby should be latch onto the entire areola and not just the nipple.
- By keeping its chin right up against your breast, you can ensure that its nose isn’t blocked and breathing is easy.
Most importantly, you shouldn’t try to force any of these positions. The right one will come forth naturally.
6. Leaking is normal
Don’t worry if you notice leaking during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. It is normal and can happen due to a lot of reasons. You might see it while playing with another baby, going through a rollercoaster of emotions, missing your baby when you are out or if you haven’t nursed your baby for several hours. The leaking will go away on its own in some time. In the meanwhile, you can go for a nursing pad if that makes you feel more comfortable.
7. Take good care of your skin.
The skin of your breasts is very delicate and may get chapped and irritated with regular nursing. Even though it can be uncomfortable, it is natural and you can follow these tips to take care of your skin –
- After breastfeeding, just pat dry your skin with a soft cloth and apply a healing product. You don’t need to over wash it. Taking a bath once or twice a day with a gentle cleanser serves well.
- Let your breasts breathe once in a while to avoid irritation from clothing and use a mild healing product in-between the nursing sessions to ease discomfort.
Wrapping up
Breastfeeding might seem overwhelming at times, and the journey of motherhood might seem challenging. Yet it is worthwhile, and Ninio is here by your side to help you out. Take care of your health and keep yourself hydrated. Keep an eye on your beloved and watch out for tell-tale signs of hunger. Sit back and watch your baby thrive!