Welcoming a baby into your home can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling things people can experience. There’s a new person in the world, and you want to give them the best start to life that you can offer. Unfortunately, this isn’t always as quickly done as said, since over 90% of new mothers report having problems breastfeeding.
Luckily breastfeeding has been done since the birth of the human race, so we have a few collective tricks up our sleeves that can make this process easier. Here are three tips that will make it easier for anyone who’s trying to feed their baby.
Don’t Stress Yourself Out
This tip is the most important tip I can give you. I understand that it’s hard not to stress out when you’re focused on something as important as feeding your child, but you have to take it calmly. Don’t fuss and keep repositioning your child, don’t worry if it takes then a couple of seconds to latch. Stress levels are already high enough, with a lack of sleep and the physical and mental exhaustion that comes with having a child.
If you worry that your child repeatedly isn’t latching on, and there are concerns about them getting adequate nutrition, that would be the time to talk to a lactation consultant. They’re everywhere. You can find a lactation consultant from Kingston to Los Angeles, so look for a good match for your situation.
Keep The Feet In Mind
This tip may feel a little off the wall, but it helps infinitely. Many new mothers have trouble thinking of the babies’ feet when feeding since all attention is on the baby’s face and mouth. Babies want to feel secure, protected- just like everyone else in life. When holding your baby, you can tuck their legs under an arm so that their feet rest against your stomach- or keep them so that their feet set against the side of a soft chair if you sit while nursing.
Holding them well allows their full attention to be on your nipple so that they can feed.
Let Your Child Take The Lead
You can’t schedule a child any more than you could plan when lightning is going to strike. Let your child tell you by crying or fussing when they’re hungry. If you notice that they’re wriggling a lot in one position, change the pose you’re both in so that they’re more comfortable.
Infants are just continually searching for the next thing that will make them comfortable and keep them healthy.
The most important thing you have to do is listen to the signals they’re sending you.
There are limits, of course. If your child is refusing to eat for longer than four hours or you notice extreme changes in mood or temperament, you should seek medical advice. It’s better to seek help and find out it was a false alarm, rather than to ignore the symptoms and find out later that it’s something significant.
Take the feeding time to bond with your baby, and don’t stress yourself out.
