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Breastfeeding is a practice women have done for ages. It is meant to nourish your baby with the nutrients that they need to develop well and grow healthy and strong. In addition to this, it also promotes the wellbeing of you and your baby. But it isn’t always an easy process. In fact, it can be quite tricky and challenging to get your baby to feed adequately. Many women need help learning how to breastfeed their infant. But even after several classes, reality is always a little different. It takes skill and practice to figure out the knack of breastfeeding. While you figure out exactly how to cater to your little one here are a couple of things you should know and keep in mind to make the process easier.
The Basics
Your milk will start to fill up once your baby is born but first you will need to expel pre-milk called colostrum from your body. This may be thin,watery and white or thick with a yellow hue. The premilk has a slower flow to slowly introduce feeding to your baby. It is only after 3 to 4 days that your real milk will come in. And yes, this is normal! Your newborn baby will have to feed every 1 to 2 hours, so make sure to wash your hands before every feed to ensure that your baby is safe from germs and bacteria. Putting your baby in a feeding position and placing the thumb of your free hand on top of your breast and the rest of your fingers below to guide the nipple to your baby’s mouth will also help them open wide for a fussless feed. Pulling them closer to you will allow their jaw to squeeze the milk ducts under your areola making the process easier for the both of you.
Learn To Tell When Your Baby’s Latched On
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It’s easy to tell when your baby has fully latched on. Both their lips pout out and cover nearly the whole areola. Your baby will also move their jaw back and forth in order to suck in the milk. And they will also make low swallowing noises instead of loud smacking noises. This process is not supposed to hurt so if you feel pain your baby may not have latched on properly. It’s okay if your baby’s nose touches your breast while you breastfeed. Their nose is designed to allow an unrestricted passage of air but if you are concerned you can always gently press down on the portion of your breast that touches their nose so that they may breathe freely. Your baby will not have to strain their neck or turn their face from one side to another to nurse. Let them settle down, it should go smoothly from there.
Look Out For The Let- Down Reflex
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The let-down reflex basically signifies that your breastmilk is ready to flow and this makes the process of breastfeeding easier for you and your baby. This also means that you may feel a tingling sensation right before you start to breastfeed. Oftentimes, breastmilk tends to drip down from a breast even when it’s not being used. This is an integral sign of your milk being “let down”. This may also happen when a feeding is overdue or if you hear your baby cry or even think about your baby. It is simply your body’s instincts trying to care for the needs of your infant and it is common. However, sometimes the let-down reflex is counterintuitive in this regard. The force of the flow can get too strong for your newborn and cause them to cough or gag which can make feedings difficult. If this is often the case with you, try to squeeze out some milk with your hand before you breastfeed your baby.
Figure Out When To Feed The Baby
Feed your baby as often as they want to be fed. There are several signs that indicate that your baby is hungry. Crying is an obvious sign, but it may be too late as your baby is already upset and will have a harder time latching on. Instead, look out for subtle signs like sucking motions and noises, putting their hands in their mouth or turning towards your breast when held. Your newborn is bound to get hungry at least every 2 hours but this will decrease as they age. However, there is a chance of the number of feeds required increasing during a growth spurt. Allow your baby to take their time and feed until they’re full. This usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes, they will let go once they’re done.
Following these simple guidelines and tricks will help you have a smoother feeding with your baby. Make sure to read up from reliable sources and ask your gynecologist and pediatrician lots of questions. It is better to be well educated and over prepared than to have no clue at all. Having tiny bits of information, like ensuring that your baby completely empties the milk ducts from one breast before they feed from the other, can make all the difference. Hopefully this breastfeeding starter pack covers all of your major questions and concerns. Happy feeding!
