- NO MATTER HOW EASY BREASTFEEDING SEEMS, IT IS NOT!
Breastfeeding requires a lot of patience, knowledge and persistence. Just as you learn to breastfeed, the baby learns to accept the breast properly. The first weeks are exhausting, painful, emotional for all mothers… But with time it gets easier, so don’t give up! - EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY WOMAN HAS DIFFERENT BREASTS!
Therefore, do not compare yourself to other mothers and identify with the breastfeeding problems they encountered. - BREAST SIZE DOES NOT DETERMINE THE QUANTITY OF MILK PRODUCTION!
Just as a large fluid intake does not. Each of us has mammary glands in our breasts, regardless of the conditions mentioned above. What is essential for the production of milk is the hormone oxytocin, which enables milk to be released. Also, the more often you breastfeed, the more milk will be produced. The principle of supply and demand. - SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT IS VERY IMPORTANT!
Don’t worry, you won’t spoil your child. Cuddling is very important for the production of oxytocin and bonding with the baby. Your breasts contain everything a child needs: warmth, safety, food, comfort and the very familiar white noise – the sound and beating of your heart. - YOU DON’T HAVE TOO LITTLE MILK AND YOUR CHILD IS NOT HUNGRY!
In most women, milk does not start until the second or third day after giving birth. In the first days, the child still has reserves of fat and energy, so it can “last” for several days without breastfeeding at all. The most important thing is that during this period, the baby only needs a few drops/sips per feeding to be satisfied and receive all the nutrients from the milk. Therefore, there is no reason to worry! The baby’s stomach is gradually expanding, and from day to day it will stimulate your breasts to produce milk, a little more each day, depending on the baby’s needs. Also, babies digest breast milk much faster than formula. Don’t be surprised if the baby asks to breastfeed more often than you expected. - BREASTFEEDING ON DEMAND!
Continuing from the previous slide – precisely because breast milk is digested faster than formula (within an hour to an hour and a half), the standard rule of feeding every 3 hours for 20 minutes does not apply to breastfed children. This rule applies exclusively to formula feeding. When breastfeeding, it is advisable to breastfeed at the baby’s request, i.e. to follow the signs that the baby gives us. This means that every time he asks for food, security, comfort, etc., we offer the breast to the child and breastfeed him until he drops it or falls asleep. Therefore, there is no need to stick to a schedule because the child only knows best when he is hungry and how long he has to suckle until he is full. - STAY HYDRATED!
It is important to replace the fluid. In addition, every time you start to breastfeed, you will get a huge rush of thirst, so it is wise to always have a bottle of water at hand. - AFTER DELIVERY, EMPHASIZE TO THE STAFF IN THE MATERNITY CENTER THAT YOU PLAN TO EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEED!
They usually give the baby formula or glucose so that the mother rests and the baby regains its birth weight as soon as possible, but in doing so they deprive the child of invaluable nutritious colostrum, which provides him with numerous benefits (especially night feedings). And the less you breastfeed in the first days, the less milk will be produced in your breasts. In addition, it is more difficult for the baby to learn the correct grip when breastfeeding, if he receives formula in a bottle from which it is much easier for him to suck. One after the other leads to the fact that the child will be nervous while breastfeeding, the nurses in the maternity hospital will assure you that it is because you do not have milk and will persuade you to give him formula “so that he is not hungry”. And voilà – you have fallen into a vicious circle that leads to the cessation of breastfeeding. - WATCH YOUR DIET!
This does not mean that you have to throw out the foods you have consumed so far, on the contrary, a varied diet is recommended. But watch out for the amount of foods that normally cause flatulence or are allergens. In case you notice some changes in the baby, it will be easier to connect the cause. - ASK FOR HELP AND ADVICE!
But not from mom, aunt, neighbor. Consult with an expert (breastfeeding consultant), who will provide you with practical help and scientifically proven facts and recommendations.
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