Breastfeeding is a fabulous time for moms to bond with their newborn babies while giving them important nutrients essential for their growth. Learning how to breastfeed your baby before giving birth will help you ease into your new nursing role as swiftly and effortlessly as possible.
Here's a couple of breastfeeding gear a nursing mom must have:
How Can I Position My Baby While Breastfeeding
The most common breastfeeding position is the cradle position. Although there are other positions like the clutch (football), cross-cradle (transverse), lying down and tailor positions, I shall focus on the cradle position due to my article length constraints. The cradle hold can be done in a sitting position on a chair or bed. You might want to place a normal pillow or nursing pillow on your lap to make it more comfortable for you and your baby. Straighten your back and ensure there is sufficient support for your arms and back because you will be in this position for quite a while. Place your baby on your lap or pillow in such a way that your bellies touch each other. Decide which nipple you want to start nursing from and rest your baby's head on the corresponding elbow bend and adjust his/her position so that the mouth is directly in front of your nipple's position. Use one of your hands to support your baby's head and spine while your other hand may be used to hold onto your breast if required.
How To Get A Proper Latch On
A proper latch on will ensure a pleasant nursing experience for you and your baby. Should your baby latch on improperly, he/she will not receive sufficient milk and your nipples may get very sore. Breastfeeding should not hurt but there may be slight soreness at the beginning. Hold your breast with one hand and brush your nipple on your baby's lips to encourage him/her to open wide. Bring your baby towards your nipple and make sure your baby puts most of your areola in his/her mouth. Remove your baby if you feel the latch was not done properly and repeat the process till you get a proper latch on.
Frequency and Duration Of Breastfeeding
Every newborn baby needs to be breast fed at a minimum of every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night, or approximately 8 to 12 feedings per day. It is important that you ensure your baby does not go beyond 3 hours without feeding. Watch out for baby hunger signs such as mouthing, sucking, rooting or increased activity in between feedings to prevent your baby from going hungry. The average time of each nursing session varies and it typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes or however long your baby takes to be satisfied. You should start breastfeeding as soon as possible after the birth of your child and provide him/her with an exclusive breastfeeding diet for a minimum of 6 months. On average, a child will usually breastfeed till they are 2 years old.
