Here's The Real Reason Every New Mom Must Breastfeed And How You Can Help Them

Breastfeeding is extremely crucial for the wellbeing of both the child and the mother after the delivery of the baby. Not only does breastmilk supply the infant with the nutrients that they need, they also have important antibodies that are easy to digest. This is why all healthcare professionals advise that moms breastfeed their little one’s until they reach 6 months old at the very least. But in recent years many women have stopped breastfeeding their babies due to numerous challenges and the societal pressure to bounce back right after giving birth to their child. But if you’d like to know why it is imperative that mothers breastfeed their babies and how you can make this process easier for them, this is the article for you! Read on to know more.

Why Must Mothers Breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is a valuable means for every mother to nourish her child with the essential nutrients they require during their early months. Regrettably, due to evolving lifestyles and busy routines, many new mothers encounter challenges in maintaining breastfeeding for an extended duration. While baby formula serves as an alternative, it can’t truly substitute the benefits of breastmilk unless the mother faces genuine difficulties in producing breast milk from the time of delivery.

Caring for a baby demands considerable attention and effort, and breastfeeding is far from the simple process it’s often portrayed as. However, the likelihood of women achieving their breastfeeding objectives improves when they receive support both during pregnancy, while in maternity care facilities, and after discharge. This support is crucial because the more a child receives natural, maternal milk, the stronger their immunity becomes.

A child with a strong immune system is better equipped to ward off diseases effectively. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the mother of the baby receives all the necessary support to establish a conducive environment for breastfeeding her newborn.

Here are a few ways in which you can help:

1. Family Support

Family Support
share button

Image: Shutterstock

Family holds immense significance, especially when a new addition demands an abundance of care and attention. A new mother faces a multitude of challenges: recovering from surgery and childbirth, grappling with fatigue, and adapting to the inclusion of a baby into her life. These factors can render breastfeeding a particularly daunting task, and without adequate support, the breastfeeding relationship can erode in a matter of days, or even hours. Such a loss can have enduring consequences for the mother, the baby, and the family’s future. Therefore, it is vital to offer unwavering support to the mother in any way possible. This may include assisting with milk pumping, ensuring she maintains a well-balanced, nutritious diet, and taking on nighttime responsibilities to afford her much-needed rest.

2. Get Professional Help

Get Professional Help
share button

Image: Shutterstock

At times, a mother may encounter difficulties in the breastfeeding process, and in such instances, seeking professional assistance is not only acceptable but also advisable. Fortunately, hospitals now offer the services of experienced lactation consultants who can provide the necessary guidance and support.

Lactation consultants are dedicated to offering personalized aid to mothers of newborns. They address technical challenges, such as enhancing the baby’s latch, resolving common issues encountered by new mothers. This ranges from breast engorgement to blocked ducts. They assist new mothers in ensuring their baby receives an adequate milk supply, identifying factors contributing to low milk production, and alleviating breast engorgement with the use of a breast pump.

3. Stop Shaming Moms For Breastfeeding In Public

Shaming Moms For Breastfeeding
share button

Image: Shutterstock

Feeding a baby is the most natural thing on earth so there is no reason to gawk at the mother for breastfeeding. Although there have been many instances in the past that have shamed women for breastfeeding in public, it’s time to move past that old notion. Demoralizing and ridiculing women for taking care of their babies and providing them with food is intolerable. Breastfeeding in public should be treated as a normal and necessary process. It’s just a part of life.

4. Make Her Feel Comfortable

Make Her Feel Comfortable
share button

Image: Shutterstock

Breastfeeding can be an uncomfortable and tiring process so try to make the mother as comfy as possible. Bring her a pillow, let her watch her favorite show while the baby feeds. Feed her food if she is unable to eat due to constantly breastfeeding the newborn. These are all small ways in which you can make a big difference. At the end of the day, you want her to be able to breastfeed without it causing too much of a strain.

Breastfeeding may not be the easy magical journey that you envisioned but it is still extremely important for the health of your baby. This is why one should encourage moms to breastfeed by making it easier for them to do so which can be accomplished by taking small measures.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.