Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Prepare
• Method 2 of 3: Feed
• Method 3 of 3: Staying healthy during the breastfeeding period
• Tips
• Warnings
• What you need

Since the invention of ready-to-eat baby food, bottles and sterilization devices, breastfeeding has quickly disappeared from our society. Midwives and paediatricians still advocate breastfeeding during the first year of life, because it contains all the necessary nutrients for your baby and is tailored precisely to your baby's digestive system. Mother's milk also contains all kinds of antibodies that the mother has built up; in addition, breastfeeding can help the mother to regain her old weight more quickly. If you want to start breastfeeding, follow these steps.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Prepare

1. Set up a feeding place. Preferably feed in an easy chair, recliner or sofa; where you can sit quietly. Keep a large bottle of water or a snack nearby in case you suddenly get hungry as a new mom. Your feeding place is preferably close to the bed or crib, so that you can feed your child as quickly as possible.
   • It all depends on what the circumstances are and how you feel about them yourself: some women are happy to feed in public, and others prefer to retreat for a while.
2. Choose clothes suitable for breastfeeding. A nursing bra or T-shirt sometimes makes it easier to feed in public if you feel good about it. But in general, any kind of comfortably wearable, soft blouse that you can button open will work just fine to give your baby access to your breasts. The more skin contact your baby has with you, the more excited he'll be, so there's really no reason to have tons of layers on.
3. Gather knowledge before birth. Ask a lactation consultant, maternity nurse or health clinic as early as possible; this can be done in advance or immediately after your baby is born; maybe you can even join a breastfeeding class. This way you are relaxed and prepared for the day your baby is born - and you can bet that he will be hungry right away!
4. Don't give a pacifier right away. A pacifier will undoubtedly work well to soothe your baby, but it will probably make it more difficult for you to breastfeed. To teach your baby to feed on your breast instead of sucking on a pacifier, do not give him a pacifier for the first 3 to 4 weeks. By then he will be used to breastfeeding. There are also reasons to give a pacifier immediately; find more information yourself to find out what suits you and your baby best.

Method 2 of 3: Feed

1. Feed your newborn often. Newborn babies normally need to be fed every two to three hours, and sleep for 5 consecutive hours every 24 hours. Begin by waking the baby every few hours during the day for feeding so that he gets used to the long sleep period being at night. It differs per baby how long the feeding takes at a time. Let your child decide for himself whether it is done with the first breast. It is good to know that your breasts have natural antibacterial properties, so you do not have to wash your hands and breasts every time before feeding. Your breasts have Montgomery glands (the tiny bumps in the areola) that keep the nipple free of bacteria.
   • If you have just given birth, it is best to deliver your baby within two hours of birth. You want him to get used to breastfeeding as soon as possible.
2. Watch your posture. When feeding, the best place for your baby is: in your arms, against your body, belly-to-belly. It is best to sit upright, leaning back a little, so that you have a comfortable and relaxed posture. When you crouch or lean forward, the posture is uncomfortable for you and maybe even painful, and it becomes more difficult for your baby to "engage". Prefer not to put your baby on a pillow, but a pillow on your lap to support your arm is a good idea.
   • Place a pillow behind your back to make it easier to hold your baby.
3. Support baby's head and body. There are several ways to support your baby while feeding: the madonna position, upright position, or rugby position. Whatever you choose, make sure your child lies straight; forms a straight line, as it were, from ear and shoulder to hip. Hold the baby close to you so that his chest is against yours and he is looking straight ahead or slightly upwards.
   • If you hold your baby close to you, you don't have to lean forward too much.
4. Hold your nipple against his mouth. You can do this when your baby opens his mouth wide, the nipple is then in fact directly on his tongue. If he doesn't open his mouth on its own, you can encourage him by gently touching his mouth. Hold him close by applying pressure to his back, not his head. When he bites, it should not feel like squeezing, but like pulling.
   • With one hand you support his back, the other hand is on your chest.
5. Let your baby decide how long to drink. Some babies are more efficient than others, some just like to be on the breast for longer. Some babies don't need the second breast, it depends on how much milk the mother has. Just remember to start with the other breast next time. Pay attention to rhythmic, regular sucking and swallowing noises, so you know that your baby is lying properly.
   • When your baby is drinking from you, it should feel like a gentle pull, not like pinching or biting.
   • If your baby is drunk on one side, do not pull him out forcibly. If you open the mouth a little with your finger, it will let go of itself.
6. Burp. This is not always necessary. It depends on how much air the baby got through his nose while he was drinking. If your baby is overstretched, squeaky, or uncomfortable with it, he may need to burp. Try one of these ways:
   • Hold your baby upright against your shoulder with his little face pointing back over your shoulder, and use one hand to support his head and neck. Rub his back quite vigorously with a flat hand so that the swallowed air comes up.
   • Hold him on your lap and let him lean forward with your palm under his chest and your fingers under his neck and chin. Massage his tummy with one hand and pat his back gently with the other.
   • Place your baby on your lap with its head slightly higher than its tummy. Pat his back gently until the burp comes.
   • Building a sleep and feeding rhythm. A newborn baby doesn't do much more than eat and sleep. You can tell whether your baby is getting enough nutrition from the wet and dirty diapers: 8 - 10 a day. While all of this takes a lot of time and you don't have a great deal of opportunity to play with your baby, it does give you a chance to catch up on some of the overdue rest that you really need.

Method 3 of 3: Staying healthy during the breastfeeding period

1. Eat healthy. An unhealthy diet can be bad for the health of the mother. Most of the nutrients are converted into breast milk and the mother herself basically gets the leftovers. Many mothers simply continue with the nutritional supplements and vitamins they used during pregnancy. You can also take multivitamins to stay healthy. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and grains, and opt for foods with a high nutritional value over fatty fast food products.
   • Even if you want to get rid of the extra weight as quickly as possible, this is NOT the time to go extreme dieting. You wouldn't want your baby to get too little nutrients!
2. Drink enough. If you want to stay healthy and produce enough milk to keep your baby healthy too, you need to make sure you are getting enough fluids. Drink a glass of water at least eight times a day, and get into the habit of adding fruit juice, milk, or other healthy drinks to your diet.
3. No alcohol if you start feeding within two hours. American pediatricians have found that the average woman can safely drink one or two glasses of beer or wine a day during breastfeeding (not DURING nursing, of course). However, they do recommend that you wait at least two hours after consuming alcohol before breastfeeding your baby again.
   • Another thing you can do is express in advance if you know you are going to drink and cannot breastfeed for a while.
4. Do not smoke. Not only can smoking reduce the amount of breastfeeding, it also changes the taste of your breast milk, making it less delicious for your baby. And that is the last thing you want. If you are breastfeeding, the cigarettes have to go out!
5. Be careful with medications. Although you can breastfeed quietly with a number of medications, you should consult your doctor carefully to make sure that the medications you are taking or will be using can be combined with breastfeeding.

Tips

• Gently massaging your breast to squeeze out a few drops of milk can stimulate your baby if he is a little sleepy.
• Never force your child off your chest when he is drinking; you get sore or inflamed nipples. Rather, gently put a (clean) finger in the corner of his mouth to release the vacuum.
• Crying is usually the last sign that baby is hungry. Don't wait for him to cry before feeding you. Most babies start to meow, cry, moisten their lips or become restless as a sign that they are ready for their next meal. Breastfed babies often show a search reflex when they get hungry.
• Breast milk is produced as needed and on demand. The more baby drinks, the more milk will be produced.
• Keep calm and have faith. Women have been breastfeeding since the beginning of time.
• You can thaw frozen breast milk by running warm water down the bottle or putting it in the fridge the day before. DO NOT DEFROST MOTHER'S MILK IN THE MICROWAVE as this will lose the unique benefits of breast milk.
• If you experience sore nipples, you can try to position the baby differently. Pay close attention to how it latches on: the aim is for the nipple to go in as far as possible. If baby loosens after feeding, the nipple should look nice and round, just like when it went in.
• Do not start solid foods until the baby is about six months old, even if your mother or mother-in-law claims that your baby should have something else. Your pediatrician or the clinic will give you good and the most modern advice about what your child needs.
• Gently touching baby's cheek with your finger or your nipple induces the search reflex and causes baby to turn and bite towards your nipple.
• Do not use a vitamin ointment (which you should wash off before feeding) on ​​your sore nipples. There are various products with lanolin on the market that have been specially developed for breastfeeding, that are not harmful to the baby and that you can therefore simply leave it on during feeding.
• Trust your instincts and give your baby the best of yourself.
• You can store expressed milk in an airtight container or bottle in the freezer for up to 3 months; in the refrigerator for a maximum of 8 days.
• Pumping can also help increase milk production. If you only need the breast pump for a short time to increase production, you can try renting a breast pump from a hospital or cross association. You can also buy one yourself. Pump machines come in all kinds of qualities. It is therefore smart to consult a lactation consultant or other nursing mothers before making a purchase.
• Changing the diaper can help wake your baby up enough to drink properly.
• If you like, you can use a nursing cloth or cloth diaper when feeding with friends. Start small, with only family or close friends, to get used to it; later you can feed in public areas when your baby gets hungry. As you and your baby become more adept at feeding, you will learn how to do decent feeding while wearing your regular clothes and less need for a nursing cloth.
• It is best to shake thawed milk first.

Warnings

• Breastfed babies have about 8 to 10 wet diapers per day.
• Breastfed babies have soft yellowish stools four or more times a day.
• Be careful with alcoholic drinks if you are breastfeeding.
• If you need to take any medication while breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or lactation consultant first to make sure it's not harmful to your breast milk. Some medications reduce milk production, and others reach your baby through breast milk.
• Contact your doctor, midwife or health clinic if:
  • your baby remains restless after feeding
  • your baby is not urinating or defecating enough
  • your breasts are inflamed, cracked or bleeding nipples; your baby may not be latching on properly or it may be a sign of more serious problems such as breast infection.
  • your baby does not gain weight
  • your baby's skin or nails look yellowish

What you need

• cloth diapers or towels for the farmers
• well-fitting nursing bra (you only buy it after birth because you have no idea in advance what size you will need)
• patience and persistence
• a lactation consultant whom you trust and whom you would prefer to have spoken to before the birth; and who is willing to come to you in the hospital or at your home if there are any problems. If you don't know anyone, you can ask at the hospital, your midwife or the health clinic for an address near you.