1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet while breastfeeding to ensure you get plenty of iron, protein and calcium.
2. Try to feed frequently, as this will help you to maintain your milk supply.
3. At each feed, offer both breasts, but wait until your baby seems finished with one before changing over. Signs may be your baby coming of the breast or seeming unsettled. Your breast will feel quite soft when it is emptier. Offering one breast first ensures that your baby gets the nourishing milk that is delivered later in the feed.
4. If your breasts start to feel uncomfortably full try to encourage your baby to feed with gentle techniques like unwrapping them and placing them on your bare chest where they will smell your milk. Stroking their cheek with your nipple may also rouse their interest in feeding. If you are unable to feed your baby then it is important that you don't stay overly full. Hand express enough for comfort if you will be able to feed shortly, or a good full express if you will be away for some time. This regular emptying will ensure a good milk supply and your baby can still have your milk in your absence.
5. You can keep expressed milk in a sealed container in the back of the fridge (not the door) for up to 3-5 days. Alternatively, expressed breast milk can be kept safely in the freezer for up to 6 months. For more storage and information click here.
6. If your breasts are leaking, try using breast pads to absorb leaking milk. Change pads frequently to avoid the nipple becoming too soggy and prone to infection. Use waterproof breast pads only infrequently. An unwanted let-down can be stopped by crossing your arms and using your hands to place pressure directly on the nipple.
7. If your nipples are sore, dry and/or cracked, the positioning and latch of the baby may need correcting. If it doesn't feel right, if its painful, then the latch is not correct. Ask for help from a lactation consultant.
8. Find a comfortable position to feed in whilst lying down, as this will give you a change to have a break. It is important you take all the time you need and are not rushed. Breastfeeding is a gift for your baby that keeps on giving, so enjoy the time together and seek help if you are having difficulties. There is plenty of support out there for new Mums.
9. As for your partner's support - ask for them to bring you some water and a snack whenever you are feeding.
10. Get a good chair or breastfeeding pillow and create a feeding area, with some magazines or books so you can relax while you feed.
Before your baby comes into the world, you may have had a mental picture of yourself cradling your suckling newborn to your breast as you blissfully survey the world from a comfortable arm chair, knowing that all is as it should be in the world.
The reality can be a rude shock when your newborn is fussing and hungry but can't attach properly and you can't figure out how to get comfortable in your nursing chair.
While breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, it's also something that needs a little practice by you and your baby. For most women, this will take a little perseverance, but with the support of your family, you can learn to enjoy this unique bond with your baby that can be so fulfilling.
Article provided by Essential Baby - http://www.ebdirectory.com.au/members/user_register_account.php
Article provided by Kidspot - http://www.kidspot.com.au/article+216+41+Breast-milk-supply.htm
If your baby shows two or more of the following signs, then you have enough milk to feed your baby:
More frequent feeding will make more milk. To build your supply, try the following:
Rest up. It's easy for your milk supply to dwindle when you're overtired and not taking enough care of yourself. It's also important to drink plenty of water to make milk.
You will find in the early months that your baby will have days when more breastfeeds are needed. When your baby has a growth spurt you may feel as though you are feeding constantly. This is as it should be - by feeding more, your body is adjusting to producing more milk to meet your baby's growing needs. After a couple of days, your feeding routine will settle down again.
Article provided by Kidspot - http://www.kidspot.com.au/article/212+41+Attachment-and-breastfeeding.htm
The key to successful breastfeeding is attachment - get this right and the rest should follow. Attachment, or latching on, to the breast is something that is best learnt by being shown, but considering that may first-time mothers have barely handled a newborn before the moment when they are handed their own, this passing-on of information tends to only happen at the very moment when we need it most.
As their mouth closes over the breast, they should take in a large portion of the areola.
If you're concerned that you can't maintain correct attachment because of engorgement, try expressing a little milk from around the areola before you begin to soften the area of attachment.
Article provided by Essential Baby - http://www.ebdirectory.com.au/members/user_register_account.php
Breast care is important while breastfeeding, and can prevent sore and cracked nipples. the only breast care necessary is to be gentle when bathing and drying - don't try to toughen them or rub them briskly. A good deep effective latch on the breast with the baby positioned well at the breast is the way to prevent sore and cracked nipples. To try and avoid sore and cracked nipples, help your baby to latch on correctly, then remember to take care when removing your baby from the breast.
Exposure to the air is good for sore nipples. If your nipples begin to crack, take particular care, as this can lead to infection, however, nipples heal very fast when the problem has been addressed. Usually when the baby's latch has been corrected you can continue to feed with a significant reduction in pain because the baby is now feeding more deeply and not on the nipple.
A blocked milk duct can be caused by engorgement (when your breasts are too swollen with milk), incorrect use of a breast pump, breast secretions that have dried on the nipple and blocked its opening, or wearing a bra that is ill-fitting (too tight or restrictive). Symptoms are tenderness, lumpiness (specific lump area) and possible redness). You can try to unblock the duct by massaging the affected breast while feeding to ease the milk down. Keep breastfeeding or expressing as frequently as possible and massage your breast towards the nipple - not up away from it. Sometimes using the back of a hairbrush or comb helps too. Seek help if you can't clear it in 24-36 hours, or earlier if you develop the flu-type symptoms of mastitis.
Mastitis occurs when the breast becomes inflamed. The symptoms are similar to blocked ducts, but will also be accompanied by swelling and other flu-like symptoms such as headaches, elevated temperature, and chills. Mastitis can be treated with antibiotics and usually clears up within a few days. If you experience any symptoms, seek help straight away. It is very common, can be treated and should not affect your ability to continue breastfeeding. Seeking help as soon as possible is the best solution.
If you are taking any medication, check with your doctor about its impact on breastfeeding. Not all medication is incompatible with breastfeeding, however, you may need to swap medication or receive a different dosage. You should also try to avoid cigarettes and alcohol while breastfeeding. If you need to seek help with reducing your intake as your baby can still benefit from being breastfed.
If you experience problems with breastfeeding it doesn't mean you have "failed". Before giving up, seek help from the following support organisations, and if you are still unable to breast feed, try not to be too hard on yourself.
For more information contact:
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
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