If you’ve decided to breastfeed your baby, you’ve made a good choice because in every study ever done, nothing can replace breast milk. Unfortunately, many women have trouble breastfeeding, but that doesn’t mean your efforts should be abandoned. While breastfeeding involves more than just placing the breast in the baby’s mouth, there are a few things you need to learn about it before you get started, and this article should help.

A Few of the Basics

To breastfeed successfully requires both physical and mental preparation, but this doesn’t mean it is difficult. One thing to remember the entire time you’re nursing is that your body needs a minimum of 300-400 extra calories per day just to make the milk. This is why many doctors recommend adding 500 calories or more per day to your diet, and this is one of the most important breastfeeding tips you can learn.

It’s also important to remember to start breastfeeding as soon as your baby is born. Why? Because in the first two or three days, your body is making colostrum and not milk. Colostrum is a yellowish liquid that is filled with tons of antibodies and therefore, it strengthens the baby’s immune system. This is something that baby formula can’t do, so it’s an extra perk you can pass on to your newborn.

Timing is also important when it comes to successful breastfeeding, and by “timing,” we mean this: if you wish to get the baby used to both breastfeeding and the bottle, you have to firmly establish their ability to feed off the breast first, which means not introducing the bottle too early on in the process. This is because in general, babies find bottles easier to feed from, and if you introduce the bottle too soon, they may reject the breast.

This is why it’s recommended that you breastfeed exclusively for a minimum of three to four weeks before you introduce the bottle. This way, the baby will be comfortable enough with the breast and won’t automatically prefer the bottle. After about three or four weeks, it’s a good time to introduce the bottle, preferably a bottle filled with breast milk.

Other Tips to Remember When Breastfeeding

When it comes to breastfeeding essentials, the above-mentioned tips are important, but there are other suggestions that also make breastfeeding more likely to be successful. Below are a few of the dos and don’ts to follow when you’re breastfeeding your baby.

Dos:

• Breastfeed every two hours in the beginning. It helps increase the flow of milk and allows you to make more so your baby has enough food at all times.
• Change the baby’s diaper before the feeding starts. In studies it was shown that babies tend to eat more when they are wearing a diaper that is clean and dry.
• Remember that just because you’re not using bottles doesn’t mean there’s nothing to sterilize. Wash your hands, keep yourself clean, and sterilize the breast pump and equipment before you start to nurse.
• Make sure you are getting as much rest as possible and eating right so your baby gets the most from each feeding. Also, drink eight glasses of water a day to replace the fluids lost while breastfeeding.
• Always place the entire areola in the baby’s mouth when feeding. If they suck on just the nipple, you can experience soreness or even bleeding.

Don’ts:

• Remember not to take any type of painkillers if you are nursing. When you’re breastfeeding, everything you take for pain has to be approved by your doctor first.
• Never eat spicy or gassy foods, including broccoli and cabbage, as it can affect both the smell and the taste of the milk once it gets to the baby.
• Don’t breastfeed if you are feeling too anxious, angry, or nervous. Try to do something to relax first, such as taking a nice warm bath or listening to your favorite music.
• Never give your baby anything that you think will soothe them, such as honey, sugar water, or any product with glucose in it, especially before the very first breastfeeding session.

For the new breastfeeding mom, it might seem there are tons of rules you need to abide by, but if you relax, learn a few basics, and have some confidence in yourself, you’ll quickly realize that breastfeeding is not as overwhelming as it may seem in the beginning. Plus, the more you do it, the more natural and the easier it will be for both you and the baby.

Of course, you’ll want to consult with your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about breastfeeding. If you’re still in the hospital, there will likely be a lactation specialist on staff who can help you get started, which is invaluable. The most important thing to remember is to trust yourself because you are giving your baby a huge gift. When you keep in mind a few basic types, you can be a breastfeeding pro in no time.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding is natural and has been used to feed babies since the beginning of time, but that doesn’t mean that mothers, especially new mothers, don’t run into some challenges along the way. Keeping yourself healthy, breastfeeding frequently, placing the breast in the baby’s mouth the right way, and consulting with your doctor if you’re feeling any pain are just a few of the tips that are important to remember when you breastfeed.

Keep in mind that the hospital’s lactation specialist and your obstetrician are both excellent sources of valuable information when you need it.