We are living in 21st CE, where we have to discuss some informative issues openly. Do you know what Breastfeeding is? Benefits of Breastfeeding your baby? Tips for breastfeeding? What are the challenges that mothers faced while doing breastfeeding? There are a lot of questions that are still left to discuss and to find the answers? Don’t worry! Here are all the answers to your questions.
When you feed your baby milk directly from your breast is called breastfeeding and nursing. Breastfeed is a personal matter. Recommend by American doctors of The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American College of Obstetricians, and Gynecologists; to breastfeed for six months. Depending on the feeding of the baby and it varies their longing hours of food. And this will change the growth of the baby. Newborns often want to feed every 2-3 hours. By 2 months, feeding every 3-4 hours is common, and by six months, most babies feed every 4-5 hours.
BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING THE BABY:
Breast milk provides all the nutrients that are important for the baby. It provides fats, proteins, vitamins that help the baby to grow. The benefit of breast milk is that it contains antibodies that would help your baby to fight off bacteria and viruses. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of allergies and asthma. Also, they have fewer risks of getting affecting by respiratory illness, diarrhea, ear infections, and fewer trips to doctors and hospitals.
SIGNS THAT THE BABY IS HUNGRY:
One of the most common and easy ways to know that your baby is hungry is to cry. Other ways to know when your baby is hungry and ready to be fed are:
When they lick their lips through their tongue and stick to it.
Moving their Jaw, Mouth to mother’s breast
While putting their hands in their mouth
Opening their mouths
SOME PRECAUTIONS AND STEPS TO BE TAKEN DURING BREASTFEEDING
Wash your hands before each feeding.
Place your baby in one of the breastfeeding positions (outline below).
Put the thumb of your free hand on top of your breast and your other fingers below.
Touch your baby’s lips to your nipple until your baby opens their mouth wide.
Put your nipple all the way in your baby’s mouth and pull your baby close to you. This lets your baby’s jaw squeeze the milk ducts under your areola (nipple).
CHALLENGES FACED BY MOTHER’S WHILE BREASTFEEDING
Most moms feel terrible while doing breastfeeding and some easily do. It totally depends on the comfort level of mothers. For some of them, it is easy and good to go while for some it is a bit uncomfortable and difficult. Here are some concerns that new moms should be taken care of and this would help you in the future too if right now you are in mid of
pregnancy period.
PERSONAL COMFORT
While breastfeeding for the first time some moms feel uncomfortable and don’t know much about but this would also be done with support, proper education, and practice.
LATCH ON
Latch On pain is normal until 1st week to 10 days. It is also possible that mothers would feel pain in the nipples and breasts while breastfeeding because of the inappropriate position but if the pain continues and increases then you should consult your lactation doctor because it also occurs due to the infection in the breast.
DIET
During breastfeeding the baby women should be aware of the fact to not consume unhealthy products because these all will pass it to the baby through milk from the breasts. Women should avoid high mercury fish, lower the limit of low mercury fish, shouldn’t consume alcohol, Vitamin A, and less caffeine because it would directly harm the baby and can cause mental problems and restlessness.
The best position of breastfeeding is the one where you and your baby are both comfortable and relaxed, and you don't have to hold the position. Here are some common positions for breastfeeding your baby:
Cradle position
Rest the side of your baby's head in the bend of your elbow with their whole body facing you. Position your baby's belly against your body so they feel fully supported. Your other, "free" arm can wrap around to support your baby's head and neck or reach through your baby's legs to support the lower back.
Football position
Keep your baby's back along your forearm to hold your baby like a football, supporting the head and neck in your palm. This works best with newborns and small babies. It's also a good position if you're recovering from a cesarean birth and need to protect your belly from the pressure or weight of your baby.
Side-lying position
This position is great for the night while feedings in bed. Side-lying also works well if you're recovering from an episiotomy, an incision to widen the vaginal opening during delivery. Use pillows under your head to get comfortable. Then settle yourself close to your baby and use your free hand to lift your breast and nipple into your baby's mouth. Once your baby is correctly "latched on," support the head and neck with your free hand so there's no twisting or straining to keep nursing.
Sit straight in a comfortable chair that has armrests. Hold your baby in the crook of your arm that's opposite the breast you will use to feed them. Support their head with your hand. Bring your baby across your body so your tummies face each other. Use your other hand to cup your breast in a U-shaped hold. Bring your baby's mouth to your breast and cradle them close, and don't lean forward.
This position, also called biological nurturing, is a lot like it sounds. It's meant to tap into the natural breastfeeding instincts you and your baby have. Lean back, but not flat, on a couch or bed. Have good support for your head and shoulders. Hold your baby so your entire fronts touch. Let your baby take any position they're comfortable in as long as their cheek rests near your breast. Help your baby latch on if they need it.
Comments