Breastfeeding means feeding a baby or child with the milk from a woman, usually a mother’s breast. According to WHO, exclusive breastfeeding, i.e., feeding of only mother’s milk and no other fluids or solids should be done for a minimum of six months from the birth of the baby.
After that, breastfeeding accompanied by other foods can be done for another 2 years or as long as mother and child desires.
Breastfeeding is known to maintain good health for both baby and mother. The longer the breastfeeding is continued, the better are the health benefits. Therefore, doctors always recommend breastfeeding to newborns baby and infants alike.
Now when it comes to breastfeeding, it’s the most natural process. However, it isn’t always as easy as one thinks it to be. So, here are some tips to follow that make breastfeeding best suited for both Mama and baby.
- Simply never scrub your nipples. Scrubbing them gives them an undulating surface which might not be the best thing your newborn’s tender lips will brush against.
- Take real professional help. Before your baby is born, consider taking appointments with lactation consultants and other nursing help who can make you understand the technical and tricky parts. There are even training and demo sessions where you can actually see real Moms feeding real babies.
- Don’t hesitate to breastfeed within the first hour of the delivery. As funny or harsh as this might sound or no matter how tired you are, this is a sheer must! Nursing within the first hour of parturition not only establishes an instant strong relation between Mom and baby, but also provides the newborn with abundant antibodies to increase his or her immunity.
- Don’t lay down the feet of your baby on the same level as the rest of his body. Let his or her little feet rest against something like a pillow, your own feet or even an arm of a chair. Research says that this helps babies feel more secure.
- Avoid formula-diet immediately after birth.
- Don’t push the back of his or her head. This might be detrimental to the feeding.
- Last but not the least, get into the mood of feeding.
