The flow goes with you - Breastfeeding advice for new moms
Once your baby is there, you just want to give it love, warmth, closeness and your calming presence, protection, security and nourishment. Breastfeeding plays a crucial role. From now on all other daily tasks such as cleaning, shopping and cooking are secondary. To breastfeed will be (ideally) your primal purpose for the upcoming weeks.
Mother nature is great and clever. She designed your breastmilk so that it provides your baby with protection and nutrition according to its growth stages. But although it seems to be the most natural thing in the world, it might not be easy at all in the beginning. Loads of women have problems with breastfeeding. The reasons vary and are numerous, we hope to provide you help and advice with breastfeeding problems and how to increase the milk production in our next post. In this article we would like to share our favorite breastfeeding tips and hopefully sooth your concerns.
The starting point
The earlier the better. Put your baby on your stomach and let it feel your skin and ideally give it your breast as early as possible. By doing so your brain activates the milk production and you establish the breastfeed bond between you and your baby. At first there is just colostrum coming out of your breast (yellow colored pre lactose breast milk), but even that contains a lot of important nutrients for your baby.
The frequency
Try to breastfeed your baby the first day (24) approx. 4 times, the second day minimum 6 – 8 times and the third day up to 8 – 10 times. After the first three days we suggest you to breastfeed your baby as needed. Your baby will let you know when it is hungry.
Breastfeeding positions
In general you can distinguish between three different positions: breastfeeding while sitting, while lying down and while using the so called C-hold.
1. While sitting. During the day sitting can be the easiest and the most practical way to breastfeed. The so called cradle hold is the mother of all breastfeed positions: Choose a chair with armrest as the armrest makes it easier and more comfortable for you to hold the baby. Get a breastfeeding pillow so you can cushion your arm and have your baby laying on a soft ground.
Turn your baby's belly to your belly. Place your baby's little head in the crook of your arm. Avoid leaning down towards your baby to breastfeed and rest your legs on a stool as this will help you prevent back pain.
Try the reverse cradle hold which is ideal for baby´s that have difficulties latching on to the breast: lie down the baby on the breastfeeding pillow the opposite way, so that you can clamp its little legs under your arm. You can support the back with your forearm while the baby's head is laying in your palm.
2. While laying down. The lateral position is the easiest and most relaxing way of breastfeeding. Lay down and rest your head on a pillow and turn your baby with its belly towards you. Put a breastfeeding pillow behind baby's back to support it. Important: it has to be easy for your baby.
3. The C-hold. Helps you hold your breast in the right way. Place your breast in the palm of your hand placing your thumb on top of your breast while the other fingers are placed around the bottom of your breast. Your hand should look like the shape of the letter C. This grip helps you have better control over your breast and makes it easier for your baby to find the nipple without clenching the milk duct.
All beginnings are difficult, so give yourself some time to find the best position for you and your baby! Have any doubts? Please let us know.
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