Just like pregnancy, breastfeeding is a different experience for every new mother. It can be a full-time job, and if you don’t get it right the first time, it’s okay. Breastfeeding/nursing is confusing to new moms, often because they don’t know what will work for the baby. Breast milk contains antibodies that you can never find in formula food, and you should consider nursing your baby for the first six months at the very least. In this post, we will talk about some of the basic things about breastfeeding and how to breastfeed like a pro mom!
Understanding breast milk
Did you know that the breast milk you produce changes with time and by each passing week? Your body knows what the baby needs and milk is produced accordingly. Right after childbirth, breast milk is highly important, and what a woman’s body produces is known as colostrum and it is slightly yellow in color. Colostrum contains important antibodies and all the essential nutrients, and you baby doesn’t need a lot of it. Colostrum is replaced with what is called ‘transitional’ milk after two to five days. This is neither colostrum nor mature milk but something in between. From the second week, your body will produce mature milk, which is usually a lot thinner than both colostrum and transitional milk.
Getting the latch
This is what that needs practice. Not every mom gets the latching right, and that’s completely normal. Before you try, make sure that you are in comfortable chair and are getting enough support for the back. Now, hold your baby in position, and you know you are doing it right when the baby’s tummy touches yours. In some cases, adding a pillow to the lap will help in getting the position right. Babies will know where to latch after you guide them, so make sure that you are holding him/her in the right position. It’s hard to put in words, but you can easily know when the baby is suckling milk. Sucking is a different thing altogether.
Getting help
Breastfeeding doesn’t come natural to every woman, and getting professional help is never a bad idea. In fact, your doctor will guide you on how to get ahead for the first two days. You can also choose to try a nipple shield, which helps the baby to latch on.
Patience is the key when it comes to nursing, so check for that.
