5 Breastfeeding Tips for New Mothers

Breastfeeding your newborn is no easy job. Fortunately, breastfeeding tips are available these days for better nursing.

According to a report by the Institut français des relations internationals or IFRI, only 38% of infants between the age of 0 and 6 months receive breastmilk.

In 2012, the World Health Assembly (WHA) initiated a campaign endorsing six nutrition targets globally to increase exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) by 2025. The purpose of this initiative is improving the nutrition of mothers and infants across the world by breastfeeding newborns.

Five Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

New mothers often have a common question, “How do new moms breastfeed?” To help with the matter, we have listed five breastfeeding tips for new moms. Here is the list:

1) Figure out Your Baby’s Feeding Needs

One of the first tips for successful breastfeeding is to figure out when your baby needs nursing instead of him/her to cry. You can anticipate that by observing a few visible signs when your baby is hungry, such as turning the head, gaping the mouth, or suck whatever is nearby. If you see these body languages in your baby, begin nursing right away. This way, your baby does not have to try hard to get your attention.

2) Leave the Nursing Time and Duration to your Baby

Babies know their needs quite well. This is why let your baby decide when and for how long you nurse. Do not set your own time or interval between feedings and deny your baby the much-needed nutrition.

Also, let your baby decide the duration of the nursing time. Do not feel concerned if the nursing lasts only a few minutes or goes on for 30 minutes. Babies take time according to their feeding requirements.

3) Be Comfortable While Nursing

You are likely to spend considerable time holding your baby to your breast while feeding him/her. Check out the tips for getting baby latched on to the breast. If you breastfeed your baby in an awkward position, it will feel uncomfortable both for you and the baby. Sitting in an uncomfortable position for some time may cause pain in your shoulder, back, and neck.

Two recommended positions for nursing your baby are lying on your side and facing your baby, and sitting in a reclined position while your baby is lying in your arms.

4) Help Your Baby Get to the Right Position

During breastfeeding, your baby will naturally find the best position. Keep checking how your baby moves during breastfeeding, and make it easier for him/her to get to a specific position. There are, however, a few general breastfeeding latching tips to find an ideal position for your baby.

The most important tip regarding this is to avoid forcing these positions. Your baby may be comfortable in a little different position. Make sure it happens naturally so that your baby is comfortable and can breathe comfortably throughout the nursing time.

5) Take Care of Your Hydration

We will end with one of the breastfeeding tips for producing more milk, which is staying hydrated. It is a critical factor that you drink adequate water because you are doing it for two. Make sure you drink water every time you breastfeed your baby as water replenishes the body. It will also ensure that your body produces enough milk so that your baby gets enough nutrition.

Before We Go

Breastfeeding is the first nurturing act for new mothers, as it is a natural process to provide food for babies. You may worry and stress about providing proper nutrients for your baby. We advise that you stay calm and follow the tips listed in this article, and everything will be fine. Motherhood is nature’s blessing, and every mother learns about the right ways of nursing with time. Keep nursing your baby, and you will cherish your motherhood.