Essential Breastfeeding Tips: A Guide for the Early Months

If you choose to breastfeed your infant, you should know that this is a decision you won’t regret. Even the best baby formula on the market can’t duplicate the nutrients found in breast milk, so it is truly the perfect food for your baby. That being said, if you are a first-time mom, breastfeeding isn’t always what it seems, but there are things that you can do to make it a little easier.

Breastfeeding Is Best

When it comes to newborn feeding, you have a lot of options available to you, but experts agree that breast milk is always best. Just like everything else in life, breastfeeding becomes easier the more you do it, but in the meantime, below is a list of things that you can do to help you feel a little more comfortable with the art of breastfeeding.

1. You Don’t Make Milk Right Away

When you first give birth, your baby won’t be consuming actual breast milk. Instead, you’ll be making a thick yellowish liquid known as colostrum. Colostrum is chock full of vitamins and other nutrients, and it builds up the baby’s immune system. After about three or four days, your milk will come in and it will be thinner than colostrum. Because of its ability to strengthen the baby’s immune system, it’s important for you to nurse as much as possible at this time.

2. The More You Nurse, the More Milk You Make

One of the most important breastfeeding tips to remember is that the more you nurse, the more milk you make. This is yet another reason why breastfeeding is so beneficial. Your baby’s needs will help your body make the right amount of milk, and if your baby misses a meal, you should go ahead and pump so that your milk supply remains consistent. A good electric breast pump can be your best friend when you’re nursing.

3. Get Comfortable When You Breastfeed

Since each nursing session can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, it’s important that you get as comfortable as possible before you get started. Find the position that’s most comfortable for you and load up some pillows if needed. Even better, consider buying a pillow that’s specially made for nursing moms. You can’t breastfeed unless you’re relaxed, and you can’t relax until you get comfortable.

4. Take Good Care of Yourself

Keep in mind that in many ways, you have to take care of your body just like you did when you were pregnant. This means to eat right, get as much rest as possible, exercise when you can, and drink a lot of water. You’ll need roughly 500 to 600 extra calories per day just to make the milk, so it’s important that you never diet while you’re breastfeeding. Also, pay attention to foods that may make your baby gassy, such as broccoli and cabbage.

5. Determine Which Hold Is Right for You

When it comes to breastfeeding techniques, determining how to hold the baby is important. Most women choose to put the baby across their chest, but the football hold, which means holding the baby so their body is in back of you, is usually best for moms who have had C-sections. Talk to your doctor or the hospital’s lactation specialist to get the help you need when researching various breastfeeding holds.

6. Know the Benefits of Breastfeeding

If this is your first time breastfeeding, it might be tempting to give up and switch to formula when things become a challenge, but try to resist the urge to do this. Instead, you should get some help with the problem then move on and keep breastfeeding. Nursing provides tons of perks for the baby and for the mom, including a much lower risk of becoming overweight, getting Type 2 diabetes, getting ovarian or breast cancer, and even getting endometriosis.

7. Always Nurse the Right Way

While breastfeeding is simple overall, first-time moms will still have questions about the process. For example, when you place the breast in the baby’s mouth, make sure that the entire areola is in their mouth, not just the nipple. Many moms make the mistake of having the baby suck only on the nipple, and this can cause a lot of discomfort and pain in the nipple area. This is something that no new moms want to have happen.

8. Feed When the Baby Wants to Eat

In other words, you should feed on cue instead of feeding every few hours. Most of the time, the nursing guide that you decide to use will tell you to let the baby eat whenever they’re hungry. This is the best way to keep a lot of milk coming in on a regular basis, and it will help both you and the baby become more comfortable with the entire breastfeeding session. For these and numerous other reasons, you should always feed your baby whenever they’re ready to eat.

Conclusion

Even though breastfeeding is natural, it can still be a challenge to new moms, but the more you learn about breastfeeding before the baby arrives, the easier it should be for you. The most important tip to remember is to relax. You can do this!

If you do need assistance, rely on your doctor, a lactation specialist, or other moms who have breastfed themselves. Once you get started nursing, you’ll likely be surprised at how easy it is and how quickly you get used to it, so relax and both you and the baby will enjoy the experience.