A Cynthia Anka Post
Even though breastfeeding is natural and instinctive, making it happen easily and smoothly is not always what Moms encounter.
Both Mom and newborn have been through a lot and fatigue and recovery are all encompassing.
Remember that mother's milk takes 3-5 days to come in. Colostrum is full of nutrients and satisfies most until the milk arrives. Sometimes this is not the case and supplementing is necessary for a little while.
What follows are some guidelines to enable the experience to be rewarding for both.
HOW TO BREASTFEED
- Get comfortable in the chair
- Sit back
- Hold infant in optimum position i.e. cradling or football
- Hold your breast in your hand
- Bring infant up under your breast; can smell the milk
- Mouth will open
- Gently cradle the back of the head, tilt head up and inwards
- Mouth should close around almost the whole aereola
- Should be able to hear sucking and swallowing
- No air sounds
- No milk dripping from the sides of the mouth
- Should not be painful. Might feel discomfort when first latching on but should ease quickly.
- Feed on one side 10-15 minutes. Can go a bit longer if infant is a hearty eater and really gulping
- Infant should ease off the nipple
- Allow infant to relax there for 3-5 minutes before moving position for burping
- Shift slowly
- Burp for 5-10 minutes
- Change diaper
- Swaddle (if doing so) (under a month of age)
- Continue feed on second side
- Repeat the feeding rhythm
- Infants less than 3 months of age will sleep through almost the entire feed
- Infant will fall into deep sleep when satiated
- Feed should take an hour to and hour/fifteen
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