Breastfeeding TipsOne of the first breastfeeding tips to remember is that crying is often the last indicator of a hungry baby, usually, they will chew their fists or complain or seem generally restless. Mum's milk will instantly start to flow as a natural response to baby's cry , known as the 'let down reflex', similarly the 'rooting instinct' will cause a baby to turn towards a touch on the cheek and open his mouth. This instinct is important in helping baby to latch on securely, making sure he has a good mouthful of nipple and areola. If you experience a problem at this initial stage RELAX! Stress or anxiety can cause difficulties.Another of our breastfeeding tips is simply that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to feeding times or patterns, but always start a feed on the breast he ended his last feed, and as a rough guide, work on 10 to 20 minutes each side. As this means that a feed can go on for 30 to 40 minutes it is very important that you make yourself comfortable. You may choose to feed on a purpose made nursing chair or to use a 'V' shaped feeding pillow on your lap to support your baby, these have the advantage of relieving arm strain. It is also possible to be mobile whilst feeding with the aid of a sling or baby carrier and feeding whilst lying down on your side is also a good, restful alternative especially for night feeds. whilst many breastfeeding tips might suggest mum should restrict her diet, you may be pleased to know that there is no reason to change your diet whilst breastfeeding as there is no evidence to suggest that any food will adversely affect your baby although he may show some sensitivity to a particular ingredient. It is however advisable to avoid smoking and alcoholic drinks altogether, if possible, as chemicals from these will be absorbed by your breastmilk.
Exclusive BreastfeedingInternational guidelines recommend that for the first six months all infants should be breastfed exclusively. This means that baby receives nothing else at all, not even water, except breast milk, although this can be expressed. After the initial 6 months breastfeeding should continue but with the slow introduction of other appropriate food. Again, whilst all breastfeeding tips are useful it must be stressed that each baby is individual in his requirements but, as a guide,you will find that your newborn will require feeding often and will take between 30 to 90 ml per feed. After four weeks this amount will increase to around 120 ml per feed but the feeding will be less often. Be guided by your baby, he will know when he is hungry and when he has had enough but remember, sometimes, he may just want a cuddle! Feeding baby on demand however is an excellent method of ensuring good milk production even though this may mean he feeds many more times than the recommended minimum. Otherwise, feeding once every 2 to 3 hours helps milk supply.
Many new mums are concerned that baby is not getting enough as it is very difficult to gauge exactly how much milk he is taking per feed, one way of estimating a newborn's intake is to count wet and soiled nappies(diapers), e.g., 8 wet cloth or 5 to 6 wet disposable and 2 to 5 soiled per 24 hours is a good sign of an adequate intake,although after 2 to 3 months this method is less accurate.
Most mums can also get very concerned about baby's growth rate during the breastfeeding period, one of our most useful breastfeeding tips is - don't - however, as a general guide it would be fair to say that, on average, he will double his weight in 5 to 6 months and, by one year, he will weigh around 21/2 times his birth weight. A breastfed baby will be leaner than one fed on a bottle but only for the first 12 months or so. Again, some babies will gain more than others on a week by week basis, but on average at 0-4 months it would be fair to assume he will gain around 170 grams per week, at 4-6 months around 130 grams per week and 6-12 months 95 grams per week.
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