Starting Out Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your child, and is the only way to provide your baby with the most amount of nutrients. Formulas are similar to human breast milk, but don’t provide an adequate substitute. Sometimes the modern hospital system makes it difficult for mothers to begin the breastfeeding process, creating a frustrating situation for both mom and baby.
The first thing to remember is to sit in a comfortable position, preferably with your legs crossed in a manner that makes your lap comfortable for the baby. Then hold the baby in your arms to get the baby to latch on to the breast properly. You will need to guide the baby to help him latch on, especially if you have a lower supply of milk. If the baby is having trouble latching on properly, the baby will not be satisfied. This will make the whole process longer causing frustration to both mother and child.
Ideally, the hospital should make you comfortable with the breastfeeding process before they let you go home. But, that usually does not happen. As a mother, you will have to devise your own methods to feed your baby. So, follow your own intuition and if you feel uncomfortable, try to find out how to solve the problem. Start trying to get the baby to latch onto the breast immediately after birth. If the baby tastes formula milk before breastfeed, he will take longer to get used to it.
As a mother, it is your duty to eat a well balanced nutritious diet so that you can pass on the nourishment to your baby through breast milk. Cook simple but healthy meals at home and avoid junk food completely. You need to have healthy things in your body so that you produce healthy breast milk. Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit and watch your weight.
Breastfeeding is very important not only to keep your baby healthy but also to build a bond between the mother and child. It was said in the good old days that the mother’s love flows through her breast to the baby. There is an element of truth in this statement. The warmth of the mother’s breast provides emotional comfort to the baby as much as the milk provides nourishment to his body. Only your breast milk provides the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop. It has been proven that breastfeeding also helps a newborn baby fend off diseases and build a healthy and strong and immune system.
Although for some reason breastfeeding was not encouraged quite so much for years, there is a comeback. Now mothers and doctors are touting the benefits of breastfeeding and saying how important it is to breastfeed your child. It makes sense, if you think about it, simply because breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your newborn baby after giving birth. It is nature’s way of providing your child with much needed nutrients, and allows mother and child to bond and fall into a natural schedule for feeding.
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