Breastfed Babies: Tips and Guides on Proper Breastfeeding for the
Newbie Mom
Mothers who have just delivered a baby into the world are encompassed
with overwhelming emotions, which are a concoction of joy, pride,
fulfillment, nervousness and excitement. While being a new mother
carries a great sense of happiness along with it, it is also accompanied
by a myriad of new duties and responsibilities that can be quite
challenging. Among these responsibilities is deciding on which method
must be used in feeding the baby. Babies either can be breastfed or
bottle-fed. In order to come up with a good decision, mothers must be
educated on the various benefits of choosing either of the two methods.
Breastfed babies are known to have a better quality of physical, mental
and emotional health as compared to bottle-fed infants. Should the new
mother opt for breastfeeding, she must then learn the proper method of
breastfeeding her infant. The first thing that mother must do before
breastfe eding is to make sure that her breast is clean. Although skin
can never be sterilized, the mother can gently clean her breasts with
the use of lukewarm water and a mild washcloth. Ensuring that the
breasts and nipples are clean ensures the mother that possible infection
and disease of the infant can be prevented. Cleaning the breasts before
breastfeeding helps the newborn to achieve an increase in appetite,
allowing good sucking and latching. The new mother must also decide on
which position she is going to feed the baby. Mothers can choose among a
wide variety of breastfeeding positions that will provide the most
comfort for the mom and the infant and allow for the best interaction
between the mother and the child. Whatever the position the mother
decides to use, she must obtain proper support for both the baby and
herself, in order to prevent strain and fatigue. The mother can make use
of pillows and other supportive devices specifically designed for
breastfeeding. Proper latching prevents the mother’s breast from being
sore. This also ensures that the baby obtains sufficient access to the
nipple and that he receives adequate amount of milk. To accomplish good
latching, the mother must cup her breast with her hand and offer it to
the infant. The infant’s instant reaction is to open his mouth and take
in a good portion of the mother’s nipple. To know whether the baby is
sucking properly, the mother must observe whether the baby’s tongue is
curled around her nipple and whether the baby is swallowing. Once the
baby is already full, the mother can gently remove his mouth from her
breast by simply inserting a finger on the side of the baby’s mouth and
detaching it from her breast.
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