London, Europe Brief News – From a young age, many women envision themselves becoming a mother and breastfeeding. This kind of long-held vision can lead mothers to feel like failures if they aren’t able to breastfeed. It can diminish the joy of becoming a mother.
Here are five breastfeeding tips to help you along the way:
1. Start off right – skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery stimulates milk production
We encourage mothers to hold their babies skin-to-skin for the first hour of life. In addition to the special bonding experience, hormones released during skin-to-skin contact promote milk production. It also encourages babies to feed more often, especially when they might be a little sleepy.
2. Reduce stress and get enough rest when breastfeeding
I know, I know. This is much easier said than done. But if you want to breastfeed your child, it’s in your best interest to do what you can to stay calm. If your stress level is high, your baby will sense it and won’t be relaxed – and your milk production can diminish.
Find a comfortable position to breastfeed where you feel peaceful. Skin-to-skin contact with your baby can help. If you feel stressed, try taking a warm shower, listening to soothing music, or breathing deeply.
3. If at first things don’t go well, try, try again
Incorrect latching and nipple pain are common for mothers who are trying to breastfeed. Your resiliency may be tested. It may not happen perfectly right away, and that’s OK.
To get started, place your baby’s belly on your belly, and then align the baby’s nose with your nipple. Allow the chin to lead first into the breast, so the baby’s head tilts up. This will make the mouth open wider and make latching more likely.
4. Optimize milk production
New moms often have the urge to lose their baby weight right away. But too much exercise can hinder your milk production. Some exercise is good – your body will release endorphins that can improve your mood and reduce stress – but don’t overdo it.
Eating a nutritional diet and staying hydrated are two of the best ways to encourage milk production. Drink one 8 to 10 oz. glass of water every time you breastfeed. Herbal supplements that can help milk production, such as fenugreek, also are available over the counter. Mothers who are breastfeeding should consume an additional 500 calories per day. That’s more than the 300 additional calories we ask women to eat when they are pregnant!
5. Ask for help
While it’s perfectly OK to get advice from your friends and family, don’t compare your breastfeeding experience to theirs. Every woman is different, and as I referenced earlier, there are many factors that can affect your ability to breastfeed.
Don’t feel like you’re alone when you’re trying to breastfeed. Your Ob/Gyn and our lactation consultants, nurses, and prenatal classes can help answer your breastfeeding questions. Your pediatrician may also be able to answer questions. There are a lot of pediatricians in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who embrace that role.
