One of your first nurturing acts as a new mother will likely be feeding your baby. For many women, that will mean breastfeeding. As natural as breastfeeding is, you may still worry and stress about providing the proper nutrients for your baby. And you probably have a million questions about how it all works and how to do it correctly.
From the moment your baby is born, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances for breastfeeding success. Nursing your baby is no easy feat. Our best advice is to relax, you and your baby will get the hang of it eventually. To help calm your worries, we’ve put together a list of important tips on how to breastfeed for new mothers.
- Position yourselves nose to nipple, belly to belly.
Make sure that your baby’s stomach is touching yours, so she/he doesn’t have to turn her/his head to latch. And point your nipple at her/his nose, not at her mouth, so she’ll lift her head up, open her mouth wide, and latch on deeply
2. Help your baby find the right position
If you’re sitting upright, bring your baby to your breast once his mouth is completely open. Press between his shoulders firmly to bring him to you, while you support your breast. Your nipple will fill the roof of his mouth. If it still hurts after the first few sucks, de-latch and reposition.
3. Lie on your side
It lets you rest your shoulders and lower back if you tend to hunch over, and it’s good for moms who’ve had a C-section, or who are just exhausted. Put a pillow between your knees and your arm under your head, and bring the baby in facing you. Have someone help you at first.
The Dons of Breastfeeding A Newborn
- Don’t push the back of your baby’s head: That triggers his instinct to resist and chomp down. Instead, put your hands at the nape of your baby’s neck, and bring him swiftly to your breast.
- Don’t count minutes: You can leave your baby on the first breast until she comes off on her own and then offer the second breast. It’s typical for some babies to take one breast at some feedings and both breasts at some.
- Avoid pacifiers at first: Delay the pacifier for the first month because it can suppress hunger cues and steal time from the breast during a critical period. After that, offering a pacifier shouldn’t hurt.
- Don’t buy a whole nursing wardrobe: It can be easier to just lift up your shirt. If you wear a blouse over a camisole, you’ll have a lot of coverage.
- Don’t get a used pump: A good electric pump has a limited number of hours of motor life before the suction starts to die.
We know breastfeeding can be overwhelming at times, but putting the tips above into practice will help you make the most of your time with your little one while breastfeeding. So pay close attention to your little one’s needs, get comfortable, and relax. Evaluate the signs that breastfeeding is going well, and make sure you’re staying hydrated.
