Breastfeeding tips

Breastfeeding tips are important for a first timer to consider, even before she decides to breastfeed. Breastfed babies are healthier than bottle-fed babies, especially in the first few months of their lives. Breastfed babies are also held in close proximity to their mother's body, strengthening the mother-child bond and providing comfort for the babies.
Tip 1: Let your baby suckle often to kick start or increase production of breast milk. In the first year, babies will have growth spurts every three to four weeks. You will find them wanting to suckle more. This is a natural process that helps increase milk production. Where possible, let your baby suckle often during the first week of their lives, to ensure that your milk production does not cease prematurely. The first milk produced contains lots of good stuff that helps protect your newborn from falling ill. Even if you do not intend to breastfeed, let your newborn feed on this first production.

Tip 2: Soften your nipple with breast milk after wiping your breast with clean water, and before and after breastfeeding. Never use wet tissue to do this where possible because wet tissue has been chemically sanitized and your baby will be absorbing these chemicals during breastfeeding. Breast milk has antibodies which will provide a natural sanitising agent for the breast. The milk will also keep your nipple soft and soothed after breastfeeding.

Tip 3: It takes about three months before your nipple is supple and not hurt during breastfeeding. The pain at and around the nipple is the sacrifice a first-timer at breastfeeding has to make. As the saying goes, 'No pain, no gain.' Expect soreness for at least a month, if you are lucky. If not, expect the discomfort to last at least three months. Place a warm to hot towel over the breast after each feed, to help release soreness.

Tip 4: Train your child from young not to bite. Dozing occurs during breastfeeding, due to chemicals in milk which induce sleep in the child. Often, you will find your baby asleep even when he is not done feeding yet. Stroke his cheek and body, talk to him and shake him a little to wake him up. Another trick is to try to remove the nipple from his mouth. Biting of the nipple is often accidental when the baby is below six months old, especially when he is drowsy. If need be, gently insert your clean pinkie into his mouth, and pull out your nipple.If your baby does not have sufficient feed, he will end to demand milk more often, leaving you sleepless at night.

Tip 5: Always bring extra bra pads, bra or top along during the first few weeks. Expect your breast to overproduce the first few weeks, and your bra may be milk-soaked. It is also good to have a change of clothing often, to keep the breast clean for feeding times.

Tip 6: Eat normally when breastfeeding. Eating beans and fish are known to increase breast milk. When you are sick, let the doctor know that you are breastfeeding so that he will not prescribe strong medications. Otherwise, bottle-feed your baby until you are well. Avoid unhealthy habits such as consumption of alcohol or drugs, as you are likely to pass the passion to him too.


Tip 7: Best places to breastfeed are always those shut to public viewing. This is to prevent unnecessary stares and comments. Your baby will also learn in later life not to expose you in public, when he is old enough to be mobile independently. You will never know when a pervert chooses to take advantage of your so-called freedom in public breastfeeding. If feeding rooms are not available in shopping centres, go into a clean and sanitized toilet. Alternatively, carry the conventional bottle feed whenever you go out to unknown territory. Breastfeed in a brightly lit room to ensure your child does not fall asleep easily, and to get him associated with eating in daylight and not in the middle of the night.

Tip 8: Best positions for breastfeeding depends on yourself and your son's age. A newborn baby is small and fragile. Lay him on a huge soft pillow placed on your abdomen and adjust the pillow, the baby and your position to one that is comfortable for you and the baby. This frees at least one arm for doing something else. Prone positions are discouraged when babies are not able to sense the danger of being squashed or suffocated by you.

Tip 9: Handle stored breast milk with care and always sterilize it before use. It is safer to eliminate the risk of contamination than leave it to chance. Thus, stored excess breast milk should be placed in a container of boiling water until hot, then left to cool to warm before feeding your baby. Never direct-boil breast milk, as it will destroy its natural goodness.

Tip 10: Never stop breastfeeding without consulting your gynaecologist, especially after a prolonged period of breastfeeding and especially when hormonal imbalances were present during pregnancy. Breastfeeding induces hormonal changes in the body. During breastfeeding, hormones and protective antibodies are present in the milk. If these are not fed off to the baby and are left in the breast, they need to be channelled off somewhere else. Nevertheless, most mothers dry up naturally before this stage is ever reached.

Tip 11: When do you stop breastfeeding? When both you and your child are ready, or when the breast dries up naturally. Some children are allergic to cow's milk and soy milk is not a viable alternative. Breast milk may be the best solution for the first few years.

Breastfeeding builds an intimate relationship between you and your baby. Where possible, breastfeed as long as you feel comfortable. Your baby is not the only one who will feed good.