Make breastfeeding a breeze
Breastfeeding should, ideally, come natural to mothers –
after all it’s nature’s method of feeding the newborn. However, in reality,
many new mums have their own fears and dilemmas to deal with when it comes to
breastfeeding. There are a lot of factors to be considered, and many issues
like nipple problems, wrong latch, etc. can make breastfeeding painful for the
mom and frustrating for the baby. While consulting a lactation expert can help
solve many issues, here are a few tips to make the process easier.
Plan a gentle birth: This
would mean to give birth in the most natural way possible, with less
interventions. ‘Try to plan a birth without much of disturbance. Too much
noise, harsh lights, medical interventions – all of these have an impact on the
baby, which isn’t very gratifying. The transition from womb to the world needs
to be gentle,’ informs Effath
Yasmin, internationally certified lactation expert and the founder of Nourish
& Nurture lactation care and parenting education. Anything
that’s unpleasant disturbs the baby, which in turn affects the connection
with the mother, thus affecting a smooth start to breastfeeding.
If you had a C-section, remember to give your baby enough
skin to skin and garner a lot of patience to help your baby latch well to start
nursing naturally. Know more about the benefits of
breastfeeding.
Practice breast crawl: In
the womb the baby receives all the required nutrition supply through the
placenta. But once out in the world the mother’s breast is the only source of
food the baby relies on. Hence separating mother and the baby right after birth
is going to dehydrate the baby, hamper bonding and also make it difficult for
the baby to get on with latching, which is reflexive right after birth. ‘The
process from birth to breastfeeding should work like a relay match. Once the
nutrition supply from the placenta ceases, the baby should be put on mother’s
chest to do a breast crawl and ensure proper bonding and start breastfeeding,’
says Yasmin. A separation of several hours between the mother and baby can make
this difficult. Know more about the benefits of a
breast crawl.
Give skin to skin: This
process is more talked about than implemented. Tell your hospital staff and
doctor that you would like to have a skin to skin contact with your baby right
after the birth. Make sure you mention about this in your birth plan. Skin to
skin contact will help your baby feel secure and protected and give him
adequate assurance and support to start suckling and get on with
breastfeeding. A skin to skin contact also helps in better bonding with the baby. Read on
to know more.
Hold your baby right: Even
if you have done everything by the textbook, you would fail to achieve any
success in breastfeeding if you can’t make your baby feel comfortable at the
breast. Hold your baby right to help ensure better latching. Remember if you
choose to feed on the left side, your baby’s head should lie on the crook of
your left arm, while the entire hand supports your baby’s back. Put your right
hand beneath your left hand for added support. Learn how to manage a newborn.
Position yourself right: Once
you feel fine after the delivery and can sit upright, choose to sit in a
reclining position, holding your baby right. ‘A reclining position would give
more skin to skin contact to the baby, help to achieve a
better latch and give a good start to breastfeeding,’ says Yasmin. Know
more on how to get on with breastfeeding.
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