How is breastfeeding the right way?
Breast milk is the perfect natural source of nutrition for your baby in the first few months of life. Breast milk contains immune-boosting antibodies and beneficial enzymes that no scientific research can produce. Breastfeeding helps babies recognize the mother's breath and feel the mother right from the moment of birth.
Breastfeeding is the perfect solution for your baby. However, there are many mothers who still feel confused the first time they breastfeed. So how to properly breastfeed your baby to help mom and baby experience breastfeeding to the fullest?
The most appropriate time to breastfeed
Babies need to be breastfed as soon as possible after birth. After birth, babies have a natural breast-finding reflex. Colostrum is an extremely valuable source of nutrients, rich in energy, easy to digest and contains many antioxidants. The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages mothers to breastfeed within one hour after birth.
Your baby's need to breastfeed during the first month of life is about 8 to 12 times a day, depending on the baby. In the months that follow, the number of feedings will be less and the feed will be longer, but each feed will be longer.
Correct posture when breastfeeding
Make sure she is sitting comfortably and has firm back and arm support.
Take off your baby's clothes when feeding your baby, skin-to-skin contact helps the baby suckle more naturally and smoothly.
Holding the baby on your lap, the baby's face facing the chest and chin in contact with the mother's nipple is the best contact position.
Let your baby lie on his side in the most comfortable position.
Mother's hand lifted her breasts from below.
One hand supports the baby's head and neck, the other hand uses the finger to clamp the areola or nipple, the thumb above and the index finger below, to help the baby can latch in the most comfortable way.
Gently touch the baby's nipple against the baby's lips to stimulate the baby's ability to find the mother's breast by himself, thereby opening his mouth to latch on to the mother. Encourage your baby to latch on to the whole breast instead of just the nipples, this will help the baby suckle more and the mother does not have a nipple headache.
Point the nipple into the baby's mouth, not deep into the baby's tongue.
Mom continues to lift her breasts until the baby is feeding and swallowing breast milk in a rhythmic manner.
If the mother hurts when the baby starts to swallow, take out the nipple and start again.
Let your baby fully suckle from one breast before moving to the other breast to make sure your baby gets enough milk before and after. Milk after milk has more fat and energy, if the baby does not get this part of milk, it will not be full enough and the mother is at risk of clogged milk or mammary gland inflammation. When feeding the baby on the other breast and the baby only suckles a little, the mother should express the rest of the milk.
Signs that your baby is full
Mothers often have a feeling of tightness in their breasts before they are about to breastfeed. When the baby is finished, the breast becomes soft and relieved, which means that the mother's milk has been fully utilized by the baby.
After a full breastfeed, the baby starts to slow down and deepen the feeding rhythm, sometimes even chewing on the mother's breast.
The sound your baby swallows from his throat can be small or loud. If you hear this swallowing a lot during breastfeeding, your baby has received a lot of breast milk.
The baby's expression showed satisfaction, joy and no sign of wanting to continue feeding.
Note when breastfeeding
Remember that breastfeeding can be more difficult if you limit breastfeeding, give your baby more formula when the baby is not ready, or use a pacifier too soon.
During the first 6 months of life, babies should not drink water or formula but exclusively breastfeed their babies. Because the more often your baby breastfeeds, the more milk she will have.
Encourage and take advantage of the support from your baby father and other family members to make breastfeeding more convenient.
If the mother still has difficulty in breastfeeding, do not be discouraged or give up. Try repeating each step one at a time and try to find the most comfortable way for both mother and baby for the whole process.
Breastfeed according to your needs. Mother let the baby continue to suck until full, the baby will naturally remove the breast and leave the breast.
It is recommended to regularly alternate the breast that starts to feed each time the baby sucks, this will help the baby get used to the position and help the milk come back evenly on both sides.
You can experiment with breastfeeding your baby in different positions to find the positions that are most comfortable for both of you.
Research the menus that both help to get more milk to breastfeed without making mothers gain weight.
It is quite important that mothers need to keep a good mood, do not be discouraged if they are not proficient in breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is inherently a mother's instinct, sometimes it is not necessary to be too strict when applying the above methods. Maybe your baby will actively find the mother and make the job of breastfeeding easier than ever.
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