How to Breast Feed Your Newborn Baby

Breastfeeding is a matter of preference and is increasing in popularity now that women have more time to spend with their newborn baby and the rest of their family due to the state of the economy. Breastfeeding, even if it’s only for a short time, is beneficial to your newborn baby in order to provide him with much needed antibodies that he would not receive being bottle fed with formula. Breast really is best. Breastfeeding is the ultimate convenience food, on tap and just the right temperature when your baby gets hungry. Bonding through closeness, warmth and eye-contact is more successful when breastfeeding your baby and as long as you are consistent, your milk will not “dry up.” Go on, offer your baby your own wholesome nutritious breast milk; the perfect food; and the ultimate in, “Got Milk?”

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Warm Towel
• Spit-up cloth

1. Wash your breasts with plain warm water paying special attention to the nipples.

2. Place a warm towel across your breasts to enable the milk ducts to let down your breast milk.

3. Hold your baby in a cradled position with her head in the crook of your left arm.

4. Introduce your left nipple to her mouth allowing her to suck and "latch on" to the entire nipple including most of the areola.

5. Tickle your baby under her chin to encourage her to nurse. Your first milk, or colostrum, gives your baby necessary antibodies to combat germs she will encounter during the first years of life.

6. Persevere with your breastfeeding routine especially during the first three days while your breast milk is coming in. Many women are discouraged from continuing to breast feed as they wrongly believe they have an insufficient milk supply to satisfy their baby's appetite.

7. Enjoy bonding with your baby with this special closeness that only a mother and her newborn baby know. Switch breasts after your baby has been nursing for ten minutes. At this time burp her. Breastfed babies should not suffer with as much gas as bottle-fed babies.

Tips & Warnings

• Nurse your baby while you are sitting in a rocking chair.
• Drink a glass of water before breastfeeding to help your milk flow.
• Never breastfeed your baby while lying in bed and drifting off to sleep as suffocation may occur.
• Do not consume alcohol or drugs while breastfeeding.

Resources

• Breastfeeding Your Baby