An Ultimate Breastfeeding Guide for New Mothers

Breastfeeding or pumping milk and feeding through nipples are the two ways to give breast milk to a newborn. Whatever the method, breast milk [colostrum (first milk) ] is the ideal food that has a perfect balance of nutrients for infants, including fat, protein, salt, calcium, and iron, making it excellent for brain and nervous system development. Milk Formula may have hypoallergenic formulas that help babies to get allergies and skin rashes; thus, breast milk, a natural food, is superior to milk/baby formula.

Mothers, too, get benefits from nursing because it improves their health, saving them from some deadly non-communicable diseases such as premenopausal breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, gestational weight gain, myocardial infarction, and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, you will have skin-to-skin contact with the baby while breastfeeding; this thus makes the mother-baby connection extra strong.

Thus, as a nursing mom or would-be-nursing-mom, you must know to be aware of the Guide for Breastfeeding Mothers. Thus to provide you with complete details, we have come up with this blog.

Read Also: Know your baby’s movement, if it is normal

 

 

Understanding the early days of a baby's hunger

As a mother, you must look for signs that your baby is hungry; these signs are yawning, stretching when waking, licking lips, bringing hands to mouth, and crying. In the early days, you must breastfeed up to twelve times in a 24-hour period. You must keep your baby close day and night to feed at the right time and regularly.

Which breast, how long, and which position?

You can use any breast for breastfeeding, but you must change the breast you start with at each feed. Nursing mothers must feed from each breast to balance out the number of feed times and amount of time milk is given. 

Now, to understand the correct positioning, you must turn your baby towards you and hold your baby with your forearm while supporting the baby’s neck and shoulders with your hand. Wait and let your baby open their mouth wide and then give your nipple for the milk pump.

Baby's first sucking is rapid, which is then followed by a slower suck/swallow pattern with pauses. If you experience any nipple pain, cracks and bleeding, you must contact the doctor. Read Also: How to keep your baby safe in the car?

 

5 5 5 rule for breast milk

Nurses recommend the 5-5-5 rule where:

If mothers do not feel like there is no need for immediate breastfeeding, then mothers can pump their milk and keep the breastmilk out at room temperature for 5 hours, 5 days in the fridge, and 5 months in the freezer.

Wrapping Up!

Breast milk is way better and more nutritious than the available formula. Breastfeeding is something that actually connects a mother with her child. So, always be aware of the breastfeeding time, the number of feeding, and positioning.

For further information, please visit Breastfeeding Tips for New Mothers.