BREASTFEEDING IS NATURAL FOR BABY
Every 2 hours to 90 minutes, the new babies need to eat often. Feed your baby
when she begins to show signs of hunger, such as rooting or sucking on her lips,
fingers or fist. Try to feed her before she cries. Feeding your baby often won’t
spoil her. It will help you learn to become more aware of your baby’s
needs.
Don’t limit feeding times. Babies need different amounts of food at different
times of the day, just as grown people do.
Relax! Take your time. The more you nurse your baby, the more milk you will
have. Do not give your baby formula or water. If you do, you will make less
milk. If you think you do not have enough milk, nurse more often and nurse longer.
Breastfeeding is natural, but it takes a little time for babies and mothers
to learn what works best for them. You may have sore nipples when you first
start breastfeeding. The pain can be reduced if your baby is held properly when
attached to the breast.
Here are some useful tips:
- Hold your baby’s tummy to your tummy, baby’s chin to your breast.
You can do this sitting or lying down. Hold your breast in a “C-hold,”
with your thumb on top and fingers underneath. Tickle your baby’s lips
with your nipple until her mouth opens wide. Quickly bring her onto the breast.
Allow the tip of your baby’s nose and chin to touch the breast.
- Make sure your baby’s mouth covers your entire nipple and much of
the darker part around the nipple. Your baby’s upper and lower lips
should be rolled out. If the lips are not rolled out, break the suction by
slipping your finger between the baby’s gums and your breast. Then latch
the baby on again.
- Offer your baby both breasts at each feeding. Your baby will tell you when
she is finished by “falling off” the breast.
- After feeding, rub a few drops of breast milk onto your nipples. Let them
air dry. Then cover the nipple with nursing pads, a bra or clothing. This
will help keep them from getting too dry.
Your nipples may be tender in the first few days of breastfeeding. This is
common. By and large, tenderness goes away once the milk begins to flow. If
you have a lot of pain, call a breastfeeding counselor or your doctor. Your
doctor or counselor can also help if you have cracked or bleeding nipples. If
it doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t right.
If you are out with your baby, you can still breastfeed. You may want to take
along a receiving blanket or shawl with which to cover up.
If you have to be away from your baby, you can still give her breast milk.
You can withdraw or “express” breast milk by hand or with a breast
pump into a sterile container. Then someone else can give it to her in a bottle.
It is important for you to have adequate, high-quality nutrition and drink
enough water. You should avoid drugs while breastfeeding unless the doctor specifically
tells you to take a certain medication even though you are breastfeeding. (by
greatdad.com - Baby.TopResource.NET Reference)
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