Tips to Ease Your First Few Weeks of Breastfeeding

INTRODUCTION: 

For a new mother, the first few weeks can be challenging. With the following advice, we hope to ease your transition to parenthood and your breastfeeding adventure.moment your infant exhibits signs of hunger, feed them.

such as putting their hands to their mouths, smacking their lips, or rooting. Keep in mind that sobbing can be a sign of hunger. It could seem as though you are nursing your child nonstop. Setting up a cozy nursing area for your infant is helpful. The stomach of your infant needs to be filled frequently because it is still small. Infants need to be fed every two to three hours, even at night.

If your baby does not wake up to feed, you may have to wake them up 

if three hours have passed since their last meal. You must wake them up before you even start the nursing session if you want them to be effective at the breast

One technique to wake your infant awake is to change their diaper. Keeping the majority of infants naked while they feed may be necessary to keep them awake. This entails only a diaper and no further clothing. Make sure you are not wearing a shirt while breastfeeding because your baby should be skin to skin with you. Keep skin-to-skin contact with your infant while covering him or her with a blanket if they start to shiver or get cold when only wearing diapers.

Make sure your baby stays active at the breast

If they nod off during nursing, it will lengthen the feeding, they could slip off and hurt or injure your nipple, and they won’t be absorbing as much milk as they should.

You can keep them entertained by tickling their toes, massaging their arms, legs, back, forehead, or behind their chin. Your infant should receive enough nutrients from each breast after around 10 to 15 minutes of active sucking. Babies have a response known as rooting, whereby they move their heads in the direction of your finger if you stroke their face. In order to keep your baby active, you should attempt to avoid doing this because it will cause them to turn away from the breast and toward your finger.

Your breasts may feel very full during the first few weeks. The best way to stay comfortable is by feeding your baby often. 

Your breasts will become more comfy as a result of your baby removing the milk from them. You can use a breast pump or hand express just enough milk if your breasts are too full for your infant to latch onto.

After your baby has finished breastfeeding, if you still feel uncomfortable, you can use the pump or hand express once more to reach a comfortable level (usually 5-10 minutes max). A lengthy pumping session should be avoided as it can remove all of the milk from your breasts. Your body will know exactly how much milk to create if you only remove from your breasts the amount of milk that your baby swallows.

During the first week, many mothers may experience nipple tenderness

This may be the result of typical postpartum skin changes or a weak latch. Soreness can be treated by administering expressed breast milk or lanolin ointment to the nipple. Contact a lactation consultant for an evaluation, though, if nipple pain endures, arises between feedings, or lasts the entire feeding.

Take care of yourself 

Sleep when your baby does. Ask friends and family to help with diaper changes, laundry, and cooking meals. Household cleaning does not need to be done during this time. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and eating a balanced diet.

Be patient and flexible with your baby

Your infant will communicate their desires to you along with their timing. Though it could take a few weeks, you and your kid will eventually discover your pattern.