Breast Feeding Tips & Facts

Simple facts

1. It’s the best first thing you can do as a mother for your child. So ask for lactation consultation when you are a month or so away from your delivery date. Get comfortable and used to the fact that its simple, easy and best for your baby and yourself.

2. Do you know that breastfeeding for 4- 6 months reduces your risk for developing breast cancer!! Furthermore, according to an Australian research study recently, they found that women who breastfed for more than 13 months were 63% less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who breastfed for less than seven months.

3. Start by getting comfortable.

• Support yourself with pillows if needed. Then cradle your baby close to your breast — rather than leaning forward to bring your breast to your baby.
• Support the baby & head with one hand and support your breast with the other hand. Tickle your baby’s lower lip with your nipple to encourage your baby’s mouth to open wide.
• He or she will take in part of the darker area around the nipple (areola). Your nipple will be far back in the baby’s mouth, and the baby’s tongue will be cupped under your breast. Look and listen for a rhythmic sucking and swallowing pattern.

4. Every child is unique so there feeding patterns are different too. For the first few weeks, most newborns breast-feed every two to three hours round-the-clock. Watch for early signs of hunger, such as stirring, restlessness, sucking motions and lip movements

5. Wait for the feeding pattern to stabilize

6. Say NO to pacifiers

7. Sleep with your baby in the same room.

8. Take care of your nutrition and body:

• Eat a healthy diet. To keep up your energy, stick to healthy-eating basics, such as choosing plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your health care provider might recommend taking a daily multivitamin as well.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice and milk can help you stay hydrated. Moderate amounts of caffeine are generally considered OK as well — but scale back if you suspect that too much caffeine is interfering with your baby’s sleep. If you have an alcoholic drink, avoid breast-feeding for two hours afterwards or discard the milk one feed from both sides.
• Rest as much as possible. If you can, sleep when the baby sleeps.
• No smoking. Smoking during breast-feeding exposes babies to nicotine, which can interfere with your baby’s sleep, as well as risks a cigarette burn to the baby.
• Be cautious with medication. Many medications are safe to take while you’re breast-feeding. Still, it’s best to get your health care provider’s OK first. If you have a chronic health condition, ask your health care provider if it’s OK to breast-feed your baby.
• Keep nipple clean after every feed and use nipple shields. If there is any new lump or excessive pain in the breast, consult the doctor and ask for ultrasound of the breast. It’s safe in lactation also.