"Breastfeeding is a skill that is new to both you and your baby. It is a natural process but takes time and patience and can leave new families stressed about providing the proper nutrients to their newborns. If you want to give breastfeeding a try, our best advice is to relax and be assured that with a little bit of patience, lactation support, some smart planning and a firm resolution you and your baby will get a hang of it eventually.
The first few hours after the birth offer the best opportunity for a new parent and the baby to learn how to feed. Keeping your baby close to you will promote a strong hormonal response and a feeling of closeness that can make breastfeeding a success.
We recommend these two positions for a comfortable breastfeeding experience:
Sitting in a reclined position with your baby lying in your arms
Lying on your side with your baby facing you
Getting ready to breastfeed
Starting with how to position the baby and making sure they are latching properly, the maternity care or a lactation support team can offer useful breastfeeding tips at the hospital. The goal is to start breastfeeding your baby within the first hour after birth. It may seem like you are producing very little at first but a few drops of colostrum are enough for a 1 or 2 day old baby because their stomach is only the size of a marble.
Invest in a nursing pillow and a high-quality electrical breast pump with dual attachments for feeding support so you can pump both breasts at the same time. A good nursing pillow can wrap around your body and helps with positioning and cradling your baby close to your breasts rather than leaning forward and putting stress on your back, neck muscles and shoulders.
Breastfeeding diet and nutrition
Breast milk is loaded with nourishing nutrients that will promote health and growth and provide protective compounds essential for your baby"s development. Breast milk is often referred to as liquid gold because it is nutrient dense for infants. Not surprising, it takes a lot of strength to produce this liquid gold that is why new mothers need to focus on making healthy choices to help fuel their milk production and support lactation."
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