You should begin breastfeeding your
baby an hour after delivery.
Colostrum, the yellowish milk produced
by the mother in the first 3 days, is very healthy for the child.
The baby does not need anything other
than breast milk for the first 4-6 months of life. Breast milk provides
adequate nutrition and immunity for the baby.
A baby who has only breast milk (no
additional water), and urinates a minimum of 6 times in 24 hours is getting
enough breast milk.
There is no need to worry about frequent
watery motions in an exclusively breastfed baby, as long as the baby is
active and passes urine adequately.
Your baby should be free to breastfeed
whenever and for as long as she chooses. More suckling means more breast
milk. Demand feeding alleviates breast engorgement and breast infection.
It is important that the baby not only
get foremilk (rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins, that also helps
quench the baby's thirst), but also get hind milk (rich in fat and calories).
Therefore, you should allow the baby to keep suckling from one side until
he leaves the breast on his own, so that he gets enough hindmilk.
Try to avoid bottle-feeding entirely.
It is not necessary at all.
Bottle-feeding may be a direct cause
for breastfeeding failure.
If the baby cannot tolerate bottle-feeding
or artificial feeding, it can lead to a serious illness.
Knowing the basics
of breastfeeding
Positioning:
The baby should be unwrapped before
being put to the breast. This will allow her the freedom to feel
her mother's body, especially her warm breasts. She must be positioned
such that she is in a semi-upright position with her stomach touching your
stomach, her lower shoulder touching you, and her upper shoulder close
to your breast.
Latching on:
She must take the entire nipple
(the dark areola) in her mouth. If she is still very young and has
a small mouth, it is more important that her lips cover the lower part
of the areola than the upper part of the areola. It is her lower
jaw that will do all the suckling.
Timing and Frequency of Feeds:
She must be allowed to feed as often
and as long as she wants (including during the night). This will
ensure that she gets enough hindmilk, and also a feeling of security.
Ban on Feeding Bottles:
Although you may have got many feeding
bottles as gifts, it is important that you never use them. The use
of feeding bottles could cause nipple confusion and result in breastfeeding
failure.
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