Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your child. It is the only way to provide your baby with the required amount of nutrients. Formulas are poor substitutes for mother's milk. All would-be moms know the benefits of breastfeeding, thanks to the dedicated propaganda extolling the merits of feeding mother's milk to the newborn baby. However, when it comes down to the practicality of it, the new moms give up the effort for a variety of reasons. The most important reason is usually the new mom's inability to get the hang of it. Even the doctors and nurses don't give proper instructions to get the breastfeeding process started. This creates a frustrating situation for both mom and baby.
The first thing to remember is to sit in a comfortable position, preferably with your legs crossed in a manner that makes your lap comfortable for the baby. Then hold the baby in your arms to get the baby to latch on to the breast properly. You will need to guide the baby to help him latch on, especially if you have a lower supply of milk. If the baby is having trouble latching on properly, the baby will not be satisfied. This will make the whole process longer causing frustration to both mother and child.
The best way to overcome these hurdles is to follow your own intuition. As a mother, you will be able to understand the problem better than any body else. So, find your own solutions. Be patient; very soon everything will fall in place. But, don't give up on it just because you didn't get it right in the first attempt. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you make your baby latch on to the breast properly.
As far as nutrition goes, it is understandable that being a busy mom can make it difficult to remember to eat properly. You may have trouble preparing meals on a regular basis and putting together something that is both delicious and healthy. The best advice is to keep every meal simple but healthy. Proper nutrition is so important for breastfeeding, simply because what you eat comes through the breast milk and feeds your baby. You need to have healthy things in your body so that you produce healthy breast milk. Vegetables and fruit are always a good idea, but as long as you eat a well rounded meal you should be fine.
There is no substitute for breastfeeding. Breast milk provides the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop. In addition, it bonds mother and child and even helps the newborn baby to fend off diseases and build a healthy and strong immune system.
It is heartening to see that mothers and doctors emphasize the benefits of breastfeeding, though some years back the trend had reversed. Better late than never. Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your newborn baby after giving birth. It is nature's way of providing your child with much needed nutrients. In addition, it allows mother and child to bond as the baby gets emotional nourishment from the warmth of the breast.
Author Keith Tennent is a
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