Breastfeeding Benefits and Tips For New Mommies
Although breastfeeding is the most natural thing it doesn’t always come naturally and will take some time for the mother and infant to get a hang of it. Especially in the beginning, it can sometimes be the most fulfilling and bonding experience and sometimes the most daunting and demanding experience. Every mother knows the countless benefits of breastfeeding; it’s the perfect amalgamation of all the essential nutrients for the baby. Packed with antibodies helps boost the immune system of the infant that is weak in the first year. It is way easier than formula milk which makes the baby super colic, hard to keep the bottles sterilized and mind you formula milk is expensive. If any mother feels that her supply of milk is low she can try breastfeeding drinks to increase production but never give up on breastfeeding at least for the first 6 months.
Breastfeeding Benefits for New Moms
I strongly urge every mother to at least try breastfeeding, it’s worth every effort you put in. Not only is it great for the newborn baby it has amazing benefits for the new mom. Did you know that breastfeeding helps you come over postpartum depression? Yes, it’s true if you start breastfeeding within the first couple of days it will help reduce the force and time of the depression. In the longer run, women who breastfeed exclusively have a lower risk of having breast and ovarian cancer.
Mommies who want to fit into their old clothes and don’t want to go on a strict diet and exercise regime right after delivering this one’s for you. Breastfeeding exclusively, will help you reduce 500 calories a day!! Another benefit that is beyond amazing is that nursing your child can bring the size of the uterus back to its post-delivery size.
Breastfeeding can also delay your periods and become a natural birth control so that you can give the baby all the time in the world. It also saves you money, the formula milk can be expensive and you have to discard whatever is left by the child, every time. Whereas breast milk can last up to 4 hours on the counter, 4 day in the fridge and up to 9 months in the freezer, beat that.
Stages of Breast Milk
Breast milk is god’s miracle according to me; I mean what else can justify this. Breast milk changes over the course of the first two weeks, each stage designed to me with the exclusive needs of the child at that time (mind blowing!).
Stage 1 Colostrum This is a thick yellowy substance that’s liquid gold for your child’s immune system. Available for a very little time after delivery, that is why it’s suggested to feed within the first hour of giving birth. Crammed with indispensable vitamins, proteins and minerals, colostrum gives the baby the perfect coping mechanism against bacteria and allergies. Fuels the first bowel moments, reduces the risk of jaundice and initiates the making of antibodies in the baby.
Stage 2 Transitional milk Next one on the menu is transitional milk, it replaces the colostrum. As the name suggests it is the milk between the colostrum and mature milk, looks like a heady mixture of milk and orange juice. This one has less antibodies and more lactose, fat and calories.
Stage 3 Mature Milk After about 10 days the taste changes and mature milk comes in. It’s white, slimy and watery but has all the necessary ingredients the newborn needs to be healthy.
Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
Let the baby lead the way, for the first few weeks the demand for milk will be skyrocketed and will have no certain pattern. That’s perfectly fine, don’t fret, look out for the clues that the baby will give before he gets hungry. Restlessness, sucking fingers, lip movements, stirring and sticking out tongue are all the signs that it’s time to nurse. Let your baby thoroughly drain the breast until it feels soft, this will increase milk supply naturally. After you feel that the baby is full, before putting him to bed make sure to burp him. This will make the infant visibly relaxed and save you from those nasty smelly milk spills.
Get a Comfortable Spot
Breastfeeding is time taking, you cannot speed it up. Mommies spend a good amount of time nursing the baby so they should opt for a comfortable position that doesn’t hunch their back. If you don’t give this much thought then it can lead to a strained back, shoulder and neck.
Don’t be Anxious about Milk Supply
New mommies are too hard on themselves, always self-doubting and anxious about a number of things like low supply milk. Well there are ways to know if your milk supply is enough or not. For starters, check the poop and urine frequency, if the baby poops 4-6 times initially and peeps 10-12 times it means you are doing good. A steady weight gain and a peaceful baby are all signs of a well-fed infant. Even then if you feel that the supply is low, consult a lactation expert or try breastfeeding drinks like fenugreek tea or fennel seeds tea, they can stimulate the production of the milk.
Aim for a Good Latch
According to me if you and your baby have struck the perfect latch then you have won half the battle. It’s going to be easy from here onwards. Half the problems in breastfeeding occur due to a bad latch. A good latch is when the baby is not only sucking the nipple but a good part of the areola as well. When the nose and the chin both touch the breasts it indicates a good latch. Nursing is not painful at all, neither during or afterwards so if it hurts before or after then consult your doctor.
Eat Well
New moms are so overwhelmed by the new task at hand that they tend to forget to take care of their health. Include green leafy vegetables, fruits and plenty of water in your diet. Avoid comfort food, opt for healthy options.
Motherhood is an ever learning process, so don’t be hard on yourselves. Just go with the flow and everything will be fine.