Tips For Breast-Feeding Success
Breast milk is recommended for all infants from birth to 12 months. Feeding time should be pleasurable for both infant and mother. Here are some tips to insure success.
- Start nursing within an hour after delivery if possible.
- Wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier or bottle to reduce the risk of confusing the baby.
- Get immediate medical attention if there is any sign of breast infection.
- Newborns need to nurse often, at least every two hours, and not on any strict schedule so nursing on demand is best until the baby settles into a more predictable routine.
- The nursing mother needs about 500 extra calories a day so a balanced diet is very important.
- Consult a nurse, midwife, or lactation consultant for help with proper positioning of the baby, nipple soreness, breast engorgement or any other problem you may encounter.
Doing your “homework” about breastfeeding and having a plan is a very important tip for breastfeeding success! I wish I had done more so that the beginning might not have been so rough for us – but a year later I am still nursing my twins!
i enjoy that you say it is recommended. i am a nursing mother. some mothers choose not to nurse. some mothers can’t. some mothers stop before their babies are a year. i think we need to support each others choices and respect the choices! i love that you do not pressure or belittle people in this post!!