Breastfeeding is a natural and wonderful way to nourish and bond with your baby. While it can take some practice and patience, many women find it to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Here are some steps and tips to help you get started with breastfeeding:
1. Positioning and Latching
First, find a comfortable and quiet place where you can sit or lie down with good back support then hold your baby close to your body, ensuring their head, neck, and body are aligned in a straight line. Gently guide your baby's mouth to your nipple (always mouth to nipple, not nipple to mouth). It can help to support your breast so that the nipple is in a good position. Make sure your baby's mouth covers as much of the areola (the dark area around the nipple) as possible, not just the nipple. A proper latch is essential for effective breastfeeding and to prevent discomfort. It can be helpful to make sure that just before latching, babies mouth is as wide as possible. Tip: Placing your nipple is between babies mouth and nose can cause them to open wide before latching.
2. Feed Regularly
Newborns often need to feed frequently, usually 3 hourly is a good benchmark of how often you should be feeding your baby.
3. Recognise Hunger and Satiety Cues
Learn to read your baby's hunger and fullness cues, such as lip-smacking, sucking motions, and relaxed hands when full.
4. Feed from Both Breasts
Allow your baby to feed from one breast until they seem full or show signs of slowing down. It’s a good idea to always offer the second breast during each feeding session then start with the second breast again at the next feeding session. This helps to ensure that your baby is getting to the hind milk in each feeding session (more on fore milk and hind milk here).
5. Maintain Proper Hydration and Nutrition
Stay well-hydrated and eat a balanced, nutritious diet to support milk production.
6. Practice Skin-to-Skin Contact
This means holding your baby naked against your skin (usually your chest). Skin-to-skin contact is advocated as soon as your baby is born. It helps establish a strong bond and encourages your baby to latch onto the breast stimulating their natural feeding instincts. Skin-to-skin contact can also help to regulate your baby’s temperature, breathing and heart rate.
7. Burping Your Baby
Burping helps to alleviate gas and discomfort for your baby and is usually done after a feeding session. Generally breastfed babies need burping less than bottle fed babies - this is because they swallow less air when feeding. However some breastfed babies need burping much more than others.
8. Breast Care and Nipple Health
It’s a good idea to use a nipple cream or balm such as Generation Mama Nipple Balm before and after breastfeeding to keep your nipples from becoming sore or cracked. Nipple soreness is really common during the breastfeeding journey as your nipples become accustomed to their new job. It is so important to ensure you have good positioning when breastfeeding as this is a key cause of nipple soreness.
9. Stay Relaxed and Comfortable
Relaxation and comfort are important for successful breastfeeding. Use pillows or cushions to support your arms and back and make sure you’re in a comfortable chair.
10. Seek Help and Support
If you encounter difficulties or have questions, seek support from your midwife or health visitor. There are also breastfeeding support groups around the country where you can connect with other breastfeeding mothers for encouragement and advice.
Remember that breastfeeding is a learned skill for both you and your baby. It's okay to ask for help and take your time to figure out what works best for both of you. Each baby is different, so be patient, and don't be discouraged if it takes time to establish a comfortable routine. The key is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for both you and your baby during this special bonding experience.