10 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
Getting into breastfeeding can be a stressful experience, but it's ultimately rewarding. While you might experience pain and frustration in the short term, you can take pride in your accomplishments in the long term.
If you do feel frustrated while trying to breastfeed, remember that these kinds of moments with your child won’t last forever. Try to savor these moments when you can and keep these breastfeeding tips for new moms in mind. It'll help you and your baby bond better.
1. Get Help
One of the most obvious breastfeeding tips is to get help. Of course, you're already doing that by reading this article, but there's a lot more support out there available for you.
2. Get the Right Latch
When it comes to breastfeeding, getting the right latch. is a key part of the process. Before you leave the hospital and return home, it's a good idea for you to ask a lactation consultant to check your latch technique.
Allowing your baby to get a good latch with your breast is a fundamental part of breastfeeding. Without getting this technique down, you'll struggle with breastfeeding.
3. Don't Feel Pressured
As a new mom, it's easy to feel pressured to do it all. When you experience setbacks, it's easy to feel like you're a failure, especially when your hormones are all over the place.
Accept that moms throughout history have struggled with breastfeeding. You're not the first and you won't be the last. Before you know it, your child will be grown up, so take the time to appreciate these moments while they last.
4. Expect a Challenge
Don't make the mistake of thinking breastfeeding is something that should come as naturally to you as breathing. This is very much a skill just like learning to play the piano or tying your shoes.
5. Steer Clear of Nipple Confusion
Your baby might enjoy “artificial nipple” objects, such as bottles and pacifiers, but these can make things more complicated when you're trying to breastfeed.
For the best chances of success, your own nipples should be the only nipple-like objects in your child's life. This only needs to last until you have the proper breastfeeding techniques down.
6. Get Comfortable
When you're trying to breastfeed your child, it's important that you're comfortable. Find a place where you can sit comfortably and easily get into position.
Breastfeeding can take a great deal of time, so it pays to have things set up for you to do in advance. Maybe you could have a good book to read or watch some of your favorite movies on a streaming service such as Netflix. If you're not a subscriber to these kinds of services, it might be a good time to start.
7. Get Everything Ready
You should also try and make sure you have anything you might need next to you. This includes things like snacks, your phone, and breast pads.
There's nothing worse than finally getting your child to feed and then being forced to get up. Consider setting up a little table with all the things you're going to need. When you're able to sit comfortably, it's a lot easier to relax and not get frustrated.
8. Make Sure You Eat
You needed to eat more during your pregnancy to help the baby grow; you also need to eat during breastfeeding to help you produce enough milk. It's recommended that you consume around 500 additional calories a day during this period.
When you're dealing with a newborn baby, it's difficult to find the time to sit down and eat. It's worth keeping a selection of snacks next to you at your nursing spot. This can help you to get the right amount of calories throughout the day.
Consider buying Chocolate Cookie Mix specifically formulated for breastfeeding mothers.
9. Find the Right Position
Finding a comfortable position to breastfeed is vital if you want to breastfeed successfully. The last thing you want to do is cause an injury to yourself when you're busy raising your child.
If you're always leaning over while you're breastfeeding, you're going to end up with back pain. Once you have this kind of injury, breastfeeding becomes a lot more of a challenge.
10. Get the Right Clothing
Having the right clothing can make a big difference. Many new mothers buy countless toys, clothes, and gadgets for their children, but they forget to shop for themselves. Make sure you buy some comfortable nursing bras and a good nursing top.
If you're struggling to breastfeed your child, it’s important to understand that you’re not alone. Almost every new mother experiences the same difficulties; despite what you might think, it's not something you should instinctively know how to do.