When you
hold your baby for the first time in the delivery room, you should put his lips
to your breast. Although your mature
milk hasn't developed yet, your breasts are still producing a substance known
as colostrum that helps to protect your baby from infections.
If your
baby has trouble finding or staying on your nipple, you shouldn't panic. Breast feeding is an art that will require a
lot of patience and a lot of practice.
No one expects you to be an expert when you first start, so you
shouldn't hesitate to ask for advice or have a nurse show you what you need to
do.
Once you
start, keep in mind that nursing shouldn't be painful. When your baby latches on, pay attention to
how your breasts feel. If the latching
on hurts, break the suction then try again.
You
should nurse quite frequently, as the more you nurse the more quickly your
mature milk will come in and the more milk you'll produce. Breast feeding for 10 - 15 minutes per breast
8 - 10 times every 24 hours is an ideal target.
Crying is a sign of hunger, which means you should actually feed your
baby before he starts crying.
During
the first few days, you may have to wake your baby to begin breast feeding, and
he may end up falling asleep during feeding.
To ensure that your baby is eating often enough, you should wake him up
if it has been four hours since the last time he has been fed.
Getting
comfortable Feedings can take 40 minutes or longer, therefore you'll want a
cozy spot. You don't want to be sitting
somewhere where you will be bothered, as it can make the process very hard.
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