Breastfeeding Your Baby
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Breastfeeding Your Baby |
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Experts agree that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It creates a
bond between you and your baby and provides the best nutrition for your infant.
Breastfeeding also protects your baby against many illnesses. Breast milk is
nature's perfect baby food. Your milk has just the right nutrients, in just the
right amounts, to nourish your baby fully. It also helps your baby's mind and
body grow. Breastfeeding (also called nursing) is a good choice for both the
baby and the mother. Feeding your baby is more than just a matter of nutrition, it's also about nurturing and comfort. Using feeding time to make eye contact and hold your baby are great ways to increase that bonding time. It's also a great time to talk to your little one. Don't panic if your newborn seems to have trouble finding or staying on your nipple. Breastfeeding requires patience and lots of practice. Don't hesitate to ask a nurse to show you what to do, and request visits from a lactation consultant while you're in the hospital (many hospitals have them on staff). Breastfeeding provides you and your baby with many benefits. From a healthier baby with a higher IQ to a mom who tends to lose her pregnancy weight faster and has more time free, breastfeeding is best for everyone involved. It also costs less money than other feeding methods in addition to the health benefits.A normal healthy diet is all you need while you're nursing. Although you can produce milk for your baby even if your nutrition isn't up to par, eating a well-balanced diet will ensure that the quantity and quality of your milk is all it can be and will help you feel your best. Follow your hunger rather than counting calories, and drink fluids throughout the day to stay well hydrated. When the baby is ready to be nursed, be sure and find a position that is comfortable for both of you. There are three basic options. It's important for both of you to feel relaxed so that nature can do its job. The most widely used position is to simply cradle the baby against your body. Support your baby's back and bottom with your arm and hand. Your baby will be lying sideways facing you. Your breast should be right in front of your baby's face. The football position consists of tucking your baby under your arm like a football with his or her head resting on your hand. Support your baby's body with your forearm. This may be a good position if you're recovering from a cesarean section or if your baby is very small. Another option is to lay on your side and have the baby lay beside you. You can use pillows to prop up your head and shoulders. This is also a good position if you're recovering from a cesarean section or an episiotomy. As you nurse you may experience the let-down reflex. This reflex makes breastfeeding easier for your baby and means your milk is ready to flow. A few seconds to several minutes after you start breastfeeding, you may feel a tingle in your breast, and milk may start to drip from the breast not being used. These are signs that your milk has "let-down." Let-down may also occur if a feeding is overdue, if you hear your baby cry or even if you think about your baby. Once feeding is established, the first milk that flows out of your breasts is watery and sweet. This quenches the baby's thirst and provides sugar, proteins, minerals, and fluid. As the feeding goes on, the milk becomes thick and creamy. This milk will give your baby the nutrients he or she needs to grow. Feed your baby as often as he or she wants to be fed. This may be 8 to 12 times a day or more. How often your baby wants to feed may change over time as he or she goes through growth spurts. Growth spurts occur at about 2 weeks and 6 weeks of age and again at about 3 months and 6 months of age. Let your baby nurse until he or she is satisfied. This may be for about 15 minutes to 20 minutes at each breast. Try to have your baby nurse from both breasts at each feeding. There are several signs that can reassure new mothers that the baby is getting enough to eat. Steady weight gain is often the most reliable sign that a baby is getting enough to eat. Although most babies lose weight soon after birth, it's typically regained, and then some, within 10 days to two weeks. Your baby will be weighed at each checkup. If you're concerned about your baby's weight, you may want to schedule more frequent weigh-ins. Another sign your baby is getting enough milk is to listen. If you listen carefully, you'll be able to hear your baby swallowing. Also look for a strong, steady, rhythmic motion in your baby's lower jaw. A small amount of milk may even dribble out of your baby's mouth. What goes in must come out. By the fourth day after birth, expect your baby to have six to eight wet diapers a day. Also expect regular bowel movements, often three or more a day. The stool will be dark and sticky for the first couple of days, eventually becoming seedy, loose and golden yellow. A baby who seems satisfied after feedings and is alert and active at other times is likely getting enough milk. |
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