Breast milk is the best food you can give to your baby. No amount of formula can match up to the benefits offered by breast milk. Breast milk is high in nutrition, easy to digest, rich in antibodies which protect the baby from diseases and perfectly sterile. There is an emotional side to breastfeeding. It helps enhance mother-child bonding and the skin-to-skin contact that occurs during breastfeeding helps the baby feel secure and warm. However, breastfeeding is not as easy as it is made out to be. True, it is instinctive but it takes a lot of time and practice to get the hang of breastfeeding for both mother and child.

Here are a few tips for successful breastfeeding:

• Start breastfeeding a few hours after delivery. Some mothers do not breastfeed because their breasts don’t seem to produce milk during this time. They feel that baby will only be suckling and will be left feeling hungry. Well meaning relatives also advice the new mom to leave off breastfeeding till the milk comes in and make do with formula milk till then. This is not necessary because your breasts will be producing colostrum immediately after delivery. Colostrum is rich in nutrients and easy to digest. It also has a high content of antibodies which are meant to provide the baby with immunity.

• Make sure baby latches on correctly. Proper positioning is required for correct latching. Initially, both mother and baby will be unsure of the correct position but within a matter of days, your baby will be able to latch on correctly. Don’t let your baby suck only on the nipple. This is sure to cause nipple soreness. Your nipple and areola should be in your baby’s mouth to prevent soreness and ensure good flow of milk.

• Nurse as and when your baby requires you to do so. A newborn will need to be fed every two hours or so. Frequent nursing will ensure continuous supply of milk. In other words, the more you nurse, the more milk supply you will have.

• Let your baby feed for as long as it needs. Feed from both breasts. It takes about 15 minutes on average to empty one breast so after 15 minutes of nursing, switch to the other breast.

• Don’t supplement breast milk with formula or water. This will reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and reduce milk supply. The first milk that flows into baby’s mouth, called foremilk, contains enough water and carbohydrates for the baby. As the baby continues suckling, it receives fat and protein rich hind milk. So, there is no need to give your baby water in addition to breast milk.

• Nipple soreness may also be accompanied by painful cracks on the nipple. If your nipples develop cracks, air dries them after each feeding and use creams which contain Vitamin E and lanolin. Breast milk itself is a good treatment for cracked nipples.

• Initially, the mother’s body is likely to produce more breast milk than her baby needs. This can result in breast engorgement. It takes a while for your body to get used to your baby’s feeding pattern and demands. Till then, breastfeed on demand and use warm compress or warm baths or over the counter pain relievers to deal with the problem of breast engorgement.

• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is highly recommended. You can start your baby on solids after 6 months, but even then keep breastfeeding as much as possible. As you introduce more solids to your baby’s diet, the frequency of feeding reduces and your breast milk supply will decrease.

• Take good care of yourself. Eat a healthy well balanced diet. A breast feeding mother needs an additional 500 calories a day along with plenty of fluids. So eat just like you did when you were pregnant and drink lots of water and juice. Stay away from alcohol and strong medication. If you need to take medicines, do it in consultation with a doctor. Some OTC medications may not be safe or use while breastfeeding.

Mark Perry

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