Breastfeeding is widely accepted as the best food for infants and by far the most natural. Breast milk is known to contain the essential nutrients as well as the antibodies that can perfectly match the nutritional requirements of a growing infant.
Its composition can effectively help in reducing the incidents of diarrhea, digestive upsets and constipation. So if you are planning on breastfeeding your child, here are some valuable pointers you need to know.
Before the baby is born
Most women do not know that the preparation for breastfeeding actually starts even before the baby is born. While we all know that breast milk is natural, this does not necessarily mean it’s easy.
An important part of preparation for breastfeeding comes even before your baby is born. Breastfeeding is, of course, completely natural – this does not, however, mean that it is necessarily easy. Almost all women can breastfeed, as long as they get good advice and good support. It would be good to enroll on antenatal classes for proper guidance in breastfeeding. Good quality breast shells are also necessary investment to help air the nipples.
Starting out
In most cases, breast milk may not come in until a few days after delivery, so mothers need not worry if the baby doesn’t seem to be taking much in. Please bear in mind that it is perfectly normal for babies to lose about 10% of their body weight during the first few days. Some mothers experience anxiety over the fact that they are not producing enough milk. However, on the first few days, babies are actually drinking colostrum that contain high calorie content and vital antibodies to ward off infections.
Perfect Positioning
First time mothers should also know that while their babies instinctively know how to suck, they do not know how to latch on properly – which is a skill that should be taught. The proper way to do this is to gently stroke the nipple down from her nose until the baby’s mouth opens and sucks on the nipple, head pointing upwards towards the roof. This may require several tries to get it right.
Pillows can also be a good support when feeding the baby. Hold your baby with one hand at the back of the neck or head to adjust him/her to the right angle. As soon as the baby has successfully latched on, start counting from one to ten. If it becomes painful, then there may be something wrong, since breastfeeding should not be uncomfortable.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/a-crash-course-on-breastfeeding-829916.html
About the Author:Gem Villamin owner and author of http://preggytips.com a newsletter that talks about Pregnancy, Baby Care, Parenting and more. Check out more articles on http://preggytips.com
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