Breastfeeding is a natural and lovely way of feeding your newborn baby with all the necessary nutrients required for growth and development. It also creates a strong attachment between the mother and the baby as they are always together especially during the first few months of the baby’s life. But while breastfeeding is an incredible thing, it can sometimes be a problem. It only requires some pointers and some time to be able to get into a breastfeeding schedule that is beneficial to both you and your little one.

Here you will get a closer look at breastfeeding tips and techniques for newborns.

Breastfeeding Tips for New Mothers

Here are some breastfeeding tips for new mothers. 

Get Comfortable

As mentioned above it is important to position yourself correctly before you start feeding your child. Employ pillows for your back and arms as well as your baby to make sure that you are comfortable throughout. As you get to enjoy a comfortable position, your baby too has a vantage when it comes to getting a good latch.

Learn the Proper Latch

There is no doubt that appropriate latch is one of the critical requirements for the success of breastfeeding. Make sure that your baby has the areola and the nipple filled in his or her mouth to ensure that he or she is able to feed well on breast milk. This enables them to feed well and reduces the pain which you may feel at some point. If one is still in doubt concerning the latch, there is no harm in consulting the lactation consultant.

Breastfeed on Demand

Early babies are small and cannot hold a lot of food so they need feeding frequently—every 2-3 hours. Demand feeding is more effective in feeding your baby because it encourages the baby to nurse as often and for as long as he/she wants. Thus ensuring that he gets enough milk for proper growth and development, and establishing the amount of milk that you should produce.

Watch for Hunger Cues

Unlike most people may think, babies do not necessarily cry when they are hungry. Fussing, putting their hands in the mouth, smacking lips or tilting the head towards the breast are some of the signs that can be observed. These are some clues that can be answered calmly if there is a fast reaction to them, that is why feeding sessions may seem much easier.

Ensure a Good Milk Supply

To continue having a copious supply of milk you should continue taking your meals with fluids and make sure you take enough water. An aspect of breastfeeding must be done frequently and if a breast is offered to the child it should be fully empty to encourage the production of more breast milk.

Take Care of Your Nipples

Nipple soreness is a common problem among the breastfeeding mothers especially during the first weeks of their breastfeeding journey. In order to avoid sore nipples and for them to stop becoming sore, ensure that your baby is feeding correctly. You can also apply oral emollient –lanolin cream, or breast milk to ease the discomfort as well.

Experiment with Different Feeding Positions

When it comes to feeding the baby there is nothing like universal breastfeeding positions. There are various positions that include; cradle hold, football hold or side-lying position. You should try and determine which one is most comfortable for you and your baby.

Burp Your Baby

If your child is still not comfortable after feeding, burp him/her because swallowing air while feeding can cause breathing difficulties or gas in the baby’s tummy. You can do this gently stroking their back while burping them while they are still positioned on your chest or you can position the child upright on your laps.

Trust Your Body and Your Baby

It is universally understood that every breastfeeding experience is different; therefore, you must rely on your intuition and your baby’s signals that he/she needs nourishment. This may sound somewhat clichéd but it may take a couple of weeks before you and your partner get used to the routine.

Lactation and breastfeeding are unique to every mother and baby, therefore if a certain technique did not work for a particular mother-baby pair it means that it can work for another pair. The secret is that no matter how much pain you are experiencing, try not to get stressed, do not be hard on yourself and do not forget that you are doing the best for your baby.