Breastfeeding Tips: The Ultimate Guide For New Mums

We know that holding a mewling little one in your arms, after passing through the nine-month-long and challenging pregnancy journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, your infant is your reward for your pains, compromises, and sacrifices. Now that you’re a new mom, with the mewling little one in your arms, we know that your little one’s health is of the highest priority. And, breast milk is your little one’s best source of nutrition. Moreover, we know that, for some of you, breastfeeding can be both fulfilling and challenging. However, you needn’t worry! We are here to help you out with the best breastfeeding tips and guidelines.

Importance Of Breastfeeding Your Baby

Although for some of you, breastfeeding is an absolutely personal choice, however breastfeeding has endless benefits both for you and your newborn. Therefore, the breastfeeding benefits are: 

• Breastfeeding establishes an emotional connection with your baby immediately. In fact, it releases oxytocin and prolactin hormones, thus sharing your love and care for your baby.
  
• Breastfeeding helps you in burning the extra calories, you earned during your pregnancy.
  
• During your pregnancy the uterus grows to accommodate your little one till such time that you deliver your baby. However, breastfeeding after the delivery of your baby, triggers the release of oxytocin which aids in uterine contraction. This further helps the uterus to go back to its pre-pregnancy size and minimizes the amount of postpartum bleeding.
  
• As a new mom, you might develop postpartum depression, right after the birth of your child. As a lactating mother, you might have lesser chances of feeling depressed.
  
• Breastfeeding can reduce your chances of having  cancer and similar other kinds of diseases.
  
• Besides, your breast milk is highly nutritious for your little one. Your breast milk produces a thick and yellowish fluid known as colostrum. This helps in developing your mewling little one’s digestive tract.
  
• Your breast milk has essential antibodies in them, which can safeguard your little one from infection-causing viruses and bacteria, thus strengthening your baby’s immunity.
  
• Moreover, your little one gets protected against infection from the cold, gut, respiratory tract, Childhood Diabetes, etc.
  
• Breast milk makes your little one smart. Research has shown that your touch and eye contact, while you’re breastfeeding might help in long-term brain development in your baby and enhances his or her learning abilities in future.

Check Out Different Breastfeeding Positions 

You must have definitely read about a variety of breastfeeding positions such as the side-lying down position, cradle holding, laid-back feeding position, etc. With several trials and errors, you need to find out which position suits you the best. Also, remember that positioning yourself properly while you’re feeding your little one is an absolute must to increase the flow of your milk and make your baby feel completely secure and comfortable in your arms.

Follow The Natural Ways To Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

Before you find out the natural ways to boost your breast milk supply, you must be aware of the common breastfeeding problems that might affect the milk supply. 

The Breastfeeding Issues 

• Incorrect breastfeeding position may disrupt the flow of your milk and can make your baby feel uneasy.
  
• As a lactating mom, you can experience sored nipples, engorged breasts, infections on your breasts, blocked milk ducts, etc. while you’re feeding your baby.
  
• Trying to switch formula feeding from breastfeeding can give rise to  nipple confusion in your baby, thus adversely affecting your breast milk production.
  
•  The emotional and physical stress factors can also play a  role in affecting your breast milk supply.
  
• Breastfeeding is a skill that both you and your little one need to learn together, and both of you might take some time to learn the technique. So, in this scenario, your baby may not latch on to your breasts properly, thus affecting your milk supply greatly. 

Well! Every problem has a solution.  

If you have breastfeeding problems, there are also some natural ways to increase your breast milk supply. 

Diet To Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

While you’re breastfeeding you need anything in between 400 to 500 extra calories to increase your breast milk. If required take the help of your healthcare provider, while you’re planning your breastfeeding diet as in the initial days of postpartum and breastfeeding you may not feel like having something which is easy on your stomach. Therefore you can have:

Foods That Are Rich In Protein

Experts from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans need at least 65g of protein every day as a breastfeeding tip. Therefore, you can also enjoy a handful of:

• nuts and nut products
• Yoghurt
• Whole grain cereals
• Legumes and beans 
• Fish (According to CDC, just remember to not include those fish whose mercury levels are high)
• Lean meats and 
• Eggs

Foods That Are Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Since Omega – 3 fatty acids are shown to support the infant’s vision and brain development, so experts suggest you have flax and chia seeds in your postpartum platter.

Foods That Are High In Calcium

As far as the breastfeeding tips on having calcium are concerned, you need at least 1000 mg of calcium in your breastfeeding diet. Calcium-rich food include dairy products, seafood (shrimp), leafy greens, etc.

Foods That Are High In Vitamin D

As a breastfeeding tip for new mums, experts suggest you have at least 600 IU of Vitamin D per day. In fact, you can have milk or substitutes of milk and whole grain cereals fortified with vitamin D. 

Foods That Are High In Iron

Iron is your first line of defense when you’re breastfeeding, therefore you need at least 9 mg of iron every day, which you can get from lean meat, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Whole Grain Cereals

Include whole grain cereals like oats, oatmeal, rice, wheat, and cereals are important sources of fiber, minerals, Vitamin B, in your breastfeeding diet that might keep you full for a long period of time, aids digestion and milk production. 

Dark Green Leafy Veggies

Your breastfeeding diet will remain incomplete without the power-packed vegetables like Alfalfa, spinach, broccoli, etc. These veggies have calcium and phytoestrogens hormones in them, which are responsible for boosting milk supply.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are high in protein, fiber, calcium and Vitamin B complex, which act as a lactation booster. Soak them overnight, add them to your pasta or salads and garnish them with lemon juice.  

Fennel

You can have the bulb, stalk, and leaves of the fennel plant. You can also add them to the stews or soups. After all fennel is high in Vitamin C, and that is good lactation booster. 

Garlic

A healthy addition to most of your breastfeeding nutrition. In fact, a study shows that garlic-flavored milk is quite nutritious for you. However, if your child might show some sensitivity to garlic, while he or she is latching on to your breasts then you may limit your garlic intake.

In addition to these breastfeeding tips, experts from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest you include at least 290 mcg of iodine and 550mg of choline daily in the form of dairy products, eggs, and iodised table salt. However, keep the consumption of caffeinated and aerated drinks in limits.

Do Some Low – Impact Exercises

May be a little brisk walking in fresh air or adding yoga asanas like Surya namaskar, Chakrasana (backbend) to your schedule might help. However, you must not reduce your weight rapidly, as the toxins in your body fat may move into your bloodstream and into your breast, thus affecting it. 

Alternately, you can practice skin–to–skin contact, breastfeed quite often, feed from each breast, ensure that your little one latches properly and let your partner also help you while you’re breastfeeding. As you include your partner, let him change the diapers, clean the baby, and give you a massage in between and after your breastfeeding sessions. 

We hope that these breastfeeding tips and guidelines will be of good help for you. So, continue breastfeeding, and don’t forget to follow our blog to get some more information on pregnancy, postpartum, baby care and the benefits of cord blood banking.