The Do’s and Don’ts of Breastfeeding

If you are a new mom, there are high chance that you will be overflowing with advice on breastfeeding from everyone, and at the end it will leave you even more. Here are some proven tips on breastfeeding that will surely be helpful for you.

Do's

• It is recommended to start breastfeeding your baby immediately right after he/she is born.
• Colostrum is the first form of breastmilk produced during the first 2-3 days post-delivery. Indeed the production might be scanty, it is highly nutritious, protective and also sufficient for the baby. Do not discard it.
• Breastfeed the baby after every two hours even if the flow appears to be slow or completely blocked, keep on trying.
• Make sure that mother and her baby are in the same bed. This is called ‘bedding -in’.
• Give your baby only breastmilk till he/she turns 6 months old. This is called exclusive breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding baby after taking a nice warm bath is recommended as it helps to improve the milk flow
• Ask for privacy/room/area where you breast feed your baby comfortably in public. Do note that if mother is uncomfortable, stressed out or disturbed by too much noise, the baby won't be feed properly.
• Be punctual about baby’s feeding time. Never ever delay. Even if baby is not crying for the feed, one should proceed as per the schedule. Making a proper feeding routine helps a lot in the long run. Crying indicates the last and final sign of hunger. Early indications may include one or more of these activities, for example, baby starts to push out his/her tongue; lick his/ her lips; bring his/her hand near the mouth and licks it; or opens the mouth in left and right directions.
• It is better to change the diaper before starting the feed. Studies have shown that newborn babies take the feed better and comfortable when wearing a clean and dry diaper.
• Place the areola, the dark area around the nipple, inside the baby's mouth along with the nipple. The baby's tongue movement on the areola creates a stimulus to expedite the milk flow. Remember if you place only the nipple, it will end up becoming and eventually bleed. Breastfeeding is not supposed to cause pain and discomfort except during the first initial period.
• Maintain hygiene. Wash your hands properly; wipe the breast region with a damp cloth before and after each breast-feeding session. A bit of carelessness from your part could be the reason behind your baby's health issues.
• Sterilization is not just essential for feeding mothers but also for ones who use breastfeeding accessories such as breast pump and breast shields. Make sure to properly sterilize after every use.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Before sitting down with newborn baby, make sure you to consume a glass of water, juice or any healthy hydrating fluid. It is seen that drinking a glass of water or juice right before breastfeeding helps increase milk flow.
• Express and freeze breastmilk if you need to go somewhere without your baby. Instead of leaving the baby with a nanny and formula milk, your baby can always use the breast milk in bottle.
• Take care of your diet. Make sure not to consume anything that causes gas or constipation in your baby’s stomach as what you eat may affect your baby’s digestion. Make sure you include all sorts of proteins and vitamins in your diet in the balanced amounts. Make a habit of drinking milk regularly. The breast milk might slightly have the taste of the food you consume. So, make sure you do not eat anything too spicy or having a very strong flavour. This is one of most important breastfeeding tips that many mothers tend to ignore. Like adults, babies can also sense flavor, and may not like it.
• Before discharge from the maternity home, learn the holding/latching positions so that you can breastfeed baby properly and also how to express breastmilk and store it.
• In case baby is born as premature, you may find breastfeeding more challenging. Premature ones may take some time to properly latch on. Patience and perservance are the key words here.

Don'ts

• Don’t give up on breastfeeding your newborn no matter how hard you find it. Give your baby and yourself time to understand each other and cooperate. After all, breastfeeding is a new process for both of you.
• Do not ignore your pain if you are experiencing sore nipples. Talk to your doctor and ask him/ her about the right ointment for your nipples, and meanwhile use a breast-shield.
• Don’t eat any painkillers or medicine unless your doctor prescribes it.
• Don't start breastfeeding when you are feeling angry or depressed. This is one of the most important tips that are ignored. Your mood plays an important role in this process. Even your baby can sense your low mood, and this can directly impact your milk flow.
• Say no to give glucose, jaggery, sugar, plain water or honey before the first breastfeed (No Prelacteal feeds).
• Do not give your baby gripe water, balkadu, glucose water or tonics for teething.
• Do not make a backup bottle. Never get too impressed with the convenience of any bottle-feeding mom. You are going for a better option so stick to it.
• Do not eat anything too spicy or that which has a very strong flavor as your breast milk may be affected. Caution: In case your doctor advises you not to breastfeed your newborn due to certain medical issues, use formula milk. If you are still in doubt and have queries, better talk to a doctor online - right away.

References:

1. B Srilakshmi 7th Edition Nutritional Requirements of Infants
2. https://iapindia.org/pdf/Ch-039-Breastfeeding.pdf
3. https://www.indianpediatrics.net/aug2016/703.pdf