Breastfeeding is the most affordable method of baby feeding and according to WHO data, more than 50% of all kids under the age of six months are exclusively breastfed. It’s proven after hundreds of researches that breast milk is an optimal and safe product for newborns.
But, you don’t have to be worried if for some reason breastfeeding doesn’t work for you, your little one will get all the necessary trace elements, and antibodies that protect it at the stage of development with the properly selected European baby formula. If you are stuck on this article, you are looking for the basic tips on how to get ready to breastfeed. Here are the basic rules that will ensure your successful lactation:
Breastfeeding from the First Hour of Birth
It is better to put a baby on the breast 20-30 minutes after birth, but not later than two hours. The point is that a kid needs to receive the first milk called colostrum because it’s more nutritious than regular milk.
Schedule
It’s recommended to feed a baby at intervals of no more than 2 hours from the beginning of the previous feeding. It is not necessary to wake up an infant, you can put it to the breast and it can eat sleepily. The regime will be developed gradually. It will be useful at first to record the time of feeding on paper, so you can plan your day, taking into account food-taking procedures.
Only Milk up to 6 Months
During the first half of the year, a newborn receives all the nutrients and water it needs only from breast milk. Therefore, it does not need to be additionally given with water or tea, even in the heat. Any extra fluid during the first six months of life will reduce the baby’s weight and reduce the mother’s milk production. Of course, there are cases when it’s not possible to feed a kid exclusively on breast milk, so parents are looking for alternative solutions. For example, if a kid is at risk of cow milk protein allergy, then it’s recommended to use a hypoallergenic formula such as HiPP HA.
Night Feeding
The peak production of the hormone prolactin, which directly affects lactation, is at night. Simply put: at night the mother’s body is given a signal of how much milk to produce for a child for the next day. That’s why night feedings are so important. A night break of no more than 4-4.5 hours is permissible, so enough milk will be produced.
Breastfeeding Position
Read about breastfeeding positions beforehand. After birth, try to feed in different ways and choose how you are most comfortable and you are relaxed. You can feed an infant lying down or sitting with a pillow on the lap.
