10 Top breastfeeding tips
- Plan to do NOTHING but look after your baby in the first 6 weeks, you need rest and nurturing.
- Take all offers of help from friends, family and neighbours; cooking meals, cleaning house, pick ups and drops offs of other kids, giving you rest time etc. You need to feel supported and cared for.
- If you have any doubts about breastfeeding, talk to someone. Feeling confident about breastfeeding is important for you to reach your goals. Ring the ABA help line, see your child health nurse or a lactation consultant
- You and your baby are learning, it takes time. It gets really easy when your baby is about 6 weeks old.
- Know that newborns like to breastfeed lots and be near their parents, use a sling.
- Babies have all the skills to breastfeed when they are born, let your baby show you. Cradle your baby to the breast, supporting him/her in your arms and let the attachment happen. Avoid the breastfeeding tug of war or pushing on the back of his/her head. Sometimes help with breastfeeding holds can make all the difference.
- Some babies sometimes have one breast at a feed, sometimes two- they are all individual.
- If you receive information that starts with “you MUST ALWAYS DO…….”, ignore the information no 2 situations are the same, stay flexible.
- Remember your milk is made specifically for your baby- its the perfect food, provides immune and anti-inflammatory properties and breastfed babies have higher IQs.
- Learn the breastfeed lying down.
