Breastfeeding Tips

As a breastfeeding mother, it is quite natural for you to wonder how to feed your baby right.

You may also have other questions such as when you should offer her both your breasts for a feed. There are some simple breastfeeding tips to ensure this.

Breastfeeding tips to ensure baby is breastfeeding right

• She latches or places herself in the right position and starts suckling your breasts.
• You do not have any pains during feeding and are feeling quite comfortable.
• She does not exhibit the same sucking patterns. The suckling process is followed by a swallowing action.
• She starts feeding once again by herself without being initiated if she takes breaks between feeds. This is because your little one is a rester.

Most of the time your baby will detach herself from the breast when she has had enough. If required, putting a finger slowly into her mouth will detach her from your breast. Help her to burp and then offer her the other breast. If she is still hungry, she will continue her feed. While there is no direct way to measure how much breast milk your baby is getting, here are some basic indicators that should help you make a sound determination.

Breastfeeding tips to know how much to feed baby

Is my breastfeeding baby getting enough breast milk?

• You breast feed her at least eight to twelve times daily for the first two to three weeks. She eats every two to three hours during the day and every three to four hours at night.
• Your breasts feel empty and softer after feeds.
• She has a healthy complexion and her skin is not flabby.
• She gains weight after the first few days of her birth.
• She wets about six to eight diapers a day.
• She starts wetting more nappies from the fifth day. The urine is odourless and has almost no colour.
• You can see her swallowing movements while she sucks the milk.
• Her stools are dark as soon as she is born but begin to lighten after the fifth day.
• She removes herself from your breast once she is full and appears relaxed.

Signs of baby not getting sufficient breast feed?

• She does not retain her birth weight after the first few days.
• Your breasts feel heavy even after a breast feed.
• She seems tired and restless even after you breast feed her.
• She starts wetting lesser than 6 to 8 nappies from the fifth day and the urine is dark.
• She does not pass stools at least once a day.
• Her stools do not begin to lighten even after the fifth day.
• Her complexion remains pale and the skin is wrinkled after the first week.