3 Breast Feeding Tips for New Moms

The WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics, both recommend mothers across the globe to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months of their life. Breast milk is an essential part of your baby’s diet. It contains the right amount of nutrients and antibodies that are vital for their initial growth and development and also help boost their immune system.

Breastfeeding has its fair share of ups and downs. With time and practice, you’ll eventually set into the right knack for breastfeeding. Luckily for you, we’ve clubbed some of the smartest tips and tricks from healthcare experts to help you have a laid-back breastfeeding experience.

• Latching Correctly While Breastfeeding

For a few fortunate ones, the baby automatically latches onto the breasts without much effort. But for most, getting the right latch takes some time and practice. Firstly, choose a comfortable position for breastfeeding. Then lift your baby up to your nipple’s height and slowly place your nipples on the baby’s lips until the baby latches onto it. You’ll sense a suck-swallow breathe pattern if the baby has effectively latched onto the nipples and started sucking the milk. Have patience and relax as you’ll need to try it out a couple of times to get it right, you also need to have the best feeding pillow for making the baby comfortable.

• A Nutritious Diet

Breastfeeding moms must remember that your baby will get all the nutrients from your breast milk, so a well-fed mommy will raise a healthy baby. Eat a balanced nutritious diet.

Whole grains contain vitamin B, fiber, minerals, and plenty of Carbs making it your ideal Carbohydrate source. Consume at least four servings of Protein and Calcium daily. Try including Salmons and Sardines in your diet as they are rich in DHA that is vital for your baby’s nervous system. When it’s time to snack, opt for dates and apricots as they increase Prolactin in your body thereby increasing your milk production. Most importantly, drink plenty of water because you need to keep your milk flowing.

These are a few general tips. You should always consult a registered nutritionist.

• Prioritize Your Breast Health

While breastfeeding, you must keep your breast health in check. Breastfeeding shouldn’t be a painful process, in such cases consult a lactation expert immediately. During the course of your breastfeeding, your nipples might get overworked and become sore and cracked. A lanolin cream might come in handy here. You can apply it to your nipples after every nursing session. You can even come across a blocked milk duct, in such scenarios keep breastfeeding, the block will eventually get cleared out.

At the end of the day, breastfeeding is a beautiful mother and baby bonding experience. It is indeed love shared in the form of food. A good breastfeeding nursing pillow can help you create the perfect breastfeeding position for both of you. Some may feel that women should breastfeed only from the confines of their rooms but we believe that there’s no wrong place to do it. All you need is a good looking great quality nursing cover and you’re good to go.