Most mothers get overwhelmed with the feeling of nursing their newborns for the first time. Though breastfeeding comes naturally to most, sometimes it becomes challenging for new moms and babies. Whether you’re figuring out the meaning behind your newborn’s cries or how to hold your infant during latching, the following tips will help you make your breastfeeding journey easy
Scrubbing your nipples is a no-no
We’re still in the search of the old wife who started this rumor. Toughening up your nipples using a loofah or scrub brush is completely unnecessary. It does no wonder as believed.
Be a little patient
When you’re pregnant, your body prepares itself for milking. It begins to produce colostrum, which is nutrient-rich pre-milk syrup – your baby’s must-have need. Babies latch this pre-milk for the few first days of life. This explains the reason why it’s recommended to breastfeed right after birth. Your body properly starts to produce milk after two or three days. However, sometimes it may take about six or seven days and it’s completely all right.
Newborns nurse a lot of time
Wondering why your baby cries so much? Probably he is hungry. Newborns are hungry all the time and breastmilk is the perfect food as it gets digest quickly. Though a baby’s stomach is no bigger than the size of an egg, you need to refuel it now and then. There’s another reason why frequent nursing is important. Your crying baby helps your body to develop the need for milk.
Don’t fret over supplies
While breastfeeding, you cannot see how much milk your newborn is getting. It’s common for babies to cry when they aren’t getting enough food to fill-up their little tummies and for several other reasons. As long as your baby is wetting at least six or seven diapers and having 3-4 soft stools a day, and gaining ½ to one once /day, baby seems to be getting enough breastmilk. If you are still concerned, test-weighing the baby using a precise baby scale, before and after feeding will measure the amount of milk baby got during a feeding session. Using a breast pump also help you to see approximately how much breastmilk you are producing.
Eat a balanced diet and Hydrate yourself
Though your body produces milk naturally, eating a balanced diet and drinking enough fluid for hydration are important. Always keep your water supplies by your side, especially at night. You’ll never know when your body begins to feel weak and crave water.
Keep practicing
It takes a lot of time to figure out how to nurse your newborn. You may have seen pictures of moms looking at their angles during breastfeeding but that’s not what happens. You have to make huge adjustments and your body and baby, both take time to figure out how to properly latch.
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