As a first-time mom, you’re probably anxious and worried about the things you feel you could be doing wrong, including breastfeeding. You’ve probably seen a friend nurse her baby or watched a couple of breastfeeding videos on YouTube. Although such experiences give you a rough idea of how to breastfeed your little one, they are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s more to nursing a baby than just inserting your nipple in the baby’s mouth. To get a clear idea of what nursing entails, here are breastfeeding tips that can come in handy for you as a first-time mom.
1. Your Baby is the Boss
During the first few weeks, your baby will tend to breastfeed more often. This is because they have a tiny stomach that gets full fast and empties even faster. Therefore, there will be a high demand for milk, which you should strive to meet since your baby is the one in charge.
If your little one wakes up at midnight to demand milk, you should comply. Also, don’t always wait until your baby is hungry and crying before you nurse them. Nursing on demand also contributes to increasing the supply of milk and preventing breast engorgement.
2. Sit or Lie in a Comfortable Position
For optimum production of milk, you need to stay in a comfortable position in which you can nurse your baby with ease. Being comfortable will relax your muscles and make you focus on breastfeeding your baby, and this is an essential element in nursing.
To give you an idea, focusing informs your brains that you are breastfeeding and that’s when the prolactin and oxytocin hormones are secreted to increase milk supply. To enhance your comfort, sit on a reclined chair and support yourself with lots of pillows or lie on your side with pillows cushioning your body.
3. Take Enough Water and Fluids
Generally, water is crucial to your health, not just in the formation of breastmilk but also in the overall wellbeing. Hydrating every moment helps a great deal in increase the supply of milk as well as flushing out toxins from your body. Before your baby starts drinking water directly, make sure you drink for two for optimum milk production.
4. Position Your Baby Well
Your baby also needs to be comfortable when breastfeeding. This will help them focus and avoid wiggling from time to time. A comfortable baby tends to stay calmer and feeds starting with quick short suckles followed by slow and deep ones. If your little one isn’t able to stay calm even when hungry, high chances are that they are not in a comfortable position.
To seek more comfort, consider using a nursing pillow that accommodates your baby fully, giving them the much-needed coziness.
5. Bond With Your Baby
Breastfeeding is one of the times you get to thoroughly bond with your baby. That’s why pediatrics recommend that you keep phones, laptops, and all distractors away during breastfeeding.
To get the most out of nursing, maintain eye contact with your baby, and watch them suckle happily. Smile at them and touch their cheek as you talk to them with affection. Believe it, they understand. You can also support the breast for your baby by placing four fingers underneath the breast and slightly pressing the top using your thumb. The thumb also helps to regulate the flow of milk to avoid choking your baby with too much milk.
6. Burp the Baby After Every Feed
During nursing, your baby occasionally swallows air together with milk, and this may cause bloating or make the baby spit. If the baby produces loud clicking sounds during breastfeeding, no doubt they are swallowing a lot of air. Breastfeeding should be nearly quiet. To achieve this, make sure the baby is firmly holding the nipple and the dark part of the breast, known as the areola, is inside the mouth.
However much you try, your baby may still swallow air at some point during breastfeeding. Burping helps to get rid of the air and prevent stomach upsets. Hold your baby on your chest in a vertical position and gently rub the upper back until they belch.
7. Eat a Balanced Diet
As a nursing mom, your diet plays a great role in the health of your baby. What you eat transfers to the baby in the form of milk. This means you should always eat a balanced diet composed of lots of fruits and vegetables. You should also avoid or minimize foods and medications that may affect your milk supply negatively.
Final Thoughts
These incredible breastfeeding tips can help you manage parenting as a first-time mom. Besides, you should maintain hygiene to keep your baby healthy at all times. Having adequate sleep and enough rest can also help you produce more milk. If you need any kind of parenting support as a first-time mom, AGAPE Confinement Nannies will always be there for you.