After giving birth, one of the first things you’ll find yourself doing as a mother will be to breastfeed your baby. Shortly after giving birth, you will discover yourself having to breastfeed rather often. Breastfeeding is natural and is the best source of nutrients for your newborn.
Breastfeeding can be difficult at times, especially if you are a first-time mother. It takes a whole lot of trial and error before it becomes easy. With that being said, you’re probably wondering what you need to know in order to prepare and make the process easier for both you and your baby. Minis Pediatric Walk-In Clinic is proud to offer lactation consultation services. We’ve compiled some of the best tips to help you understand how to properly breastfeed.
Breastfeed Right After Birth
Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby after giving birth. Of course, using formula is an option, but the healthiest way to go about feeding your baby is to breastfeed. The earlier you start, the easier it will become and you won’t have to take much time to learn how to breastfeed properly. If you want to spend less time struggling, it is best to start right away.
Anticipate Feeding Time
It is recommended that you try to feed your baby even when they are not crying because there are other signs that indicate feeding. Some babies will open and close their mouths, stick out their tongues repeatedly, or try to suck on whatever is around them. If you notice your baby doing any of these actions, try to feed as soon as possible. This will also help you when the time to transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding arrives.
Let Your Baby Set the Nursing Schedule
If you want to set a breastfeeding schedule, you must let your baby eat for as long as they can go and feed them whenever they show signs of wanting to be fed. At this point, your baby knows when they want to eat more than you do. You shouldn’t rely on your predetermined schedule; you should let your baby do that for you and from there, you’ll be able to know when your baby wants to be fed.
Find the Best Place to Nurse
Nursing requires you, as a mother, to sit down and take time out of your day to feed your little one. Because this can take great intervals of time, try sitting down in the most comfortable space possible. Make sure you have pillows and other sources of support to best hold yourself up as you feed so you won’t tire your body out.
Know that Leaking is Normal
Leaking is going to happen even before your baby is born. This is normal, so you don’t have to be worried too much about this. Your breasts will also leak when your baby cries, as this is a natural response to their needs. In the meantime, you can use nursing pads to absorb the leaks and prevent contact with your bra.
Be Gentle with Your Skin
The breasts are very delicate, especially the skin where your baby feeds. This means your breasts are more likely to become dry, sore, and irritated. In order to keep up with breastfeeding, it is best that you use gentle cleansers in the shower and dry them as much as possible after feeding or leaking to prevent buildup and irritation.
Get Plenty of Rest and Maintain Healthy Habits
In order to provide your baby with the best supply of breastmilk, you must take care of yourself. The better sleep you get and the healthier your diet is, the more nutrients your baby will get out of feeding. Essentially, whatever you are eating or putting in your body, your baby will also be consuming.
Watch Out for Swelling
Your breasts can swell when they begin to produce more milk than the baby is consuming. This is also normal and most mothers experience this right after giving birth as this is when their breasts are encouraged to produce the most. This is why it is important that you breastfeed your baby immediately after birth. This way, your breasts won’t build up more breastmilk than they should.
Meet with a Lactation Specialist
For extra guidance and support, consult with a lactation specialist! We can help you on your journey of breastfeeding your baby. Even after giving birth, you can check in with a professional and they can assess your and your baby’s health. If you need any help, you can discuss your needs and concerns.
Learn More About the Lactation Consultation Services at Minis Pediatric Walk-In Clinic!
Minis Pediatric Walk-In Clinic now offers lactation consultation to our services. We can better tend to your baby’s health by also examining yours! If you are in need of lactation consultation services, call us to make an appointment and to learn more about how we can help