How to breastfeed: from position to timing, here are the most useful tips.

The position of the mother and the baby, the necessary time, the right moment of feeding: breastfeeding is one of the most natural gestures of a mother, and also an absolute pleasure not to be wasted, given the enormous benefits of the breast milk compared to artificial ones. And it's also a simple gesture, which must be done following some precautions to make it more effective and pleasant.

Index of topics

HOW TO BREASTFEED

women, with very rare exceptions, can breastfeed. And all the Infants can enjoy the enormous benefits of this natural and very healthy way to feed themselves: the risks of being overweight are reduced and obesity, boosts the immune system and even improves the child's behavior. Not to mention early infants, for whom breast milk is essential as a nutrient and also for their immune system. Breast milk, all pediatricians recommend it, without adding water or other liquids.

Yet while 90 percent of women breastfeed their newborns in the first few days of life, only 77 percent continue to do so upon discharge from the hospital. A waste.

ALSO READ: Breast milk: how to get plenty of good quality milk

BREASTFEEDING: TIPS

Get started now. The best thing is to put the baby to the breast already after the deliveryEarly feedings, in fact, speed up the milk flow, and the newborn will also get used to breast milk very quickly. Like the mother, she will quickly become familiar with the new habit.
Place the baby in the right position. The baby should be completely in front of you: head, chest, tummy, knees. Hold the baby so that his bottom is in one hand and his head is in the crook of your elbow. Keep your other hand under his breast, with all your fingers supporting the breast. But don't put your fingers on the areola (the darker area surrounding the nipple). Touch the nipple to the baby's lower lip, so that he opens his mouth. Once it's fully open, quickly bring the baby's body closer to you so that his mouth attaches to the areola. The nipple should be well inside the baby's mouth. This way, the nipple doesn't move when the baby sucks.
Interrupt the baby until he sucks well. If the baby is confused because he switches from the breast to the pacifier or to the bottle, may not latch on deeply enough. Make sure your baby's mouth is wide open before bringing him to the breast; his mouth should close around the nipple so that he can bite down on at least an inch of the areola. Leave the baby at the breast until you feel him truly suckling, which means he swallows every suck or two. If you see him dozing, burp him, wake him up, and put him on the other side. Let him suck on the other breast for as long as he wants. Feeding time typically ranges from 20 to 30 minutes.
Breastfeed him often and on demand. For women, it is often a shock to discover how often a child wants to milkMany doctors give instructions that are best suited to bottle feeding. In the first few weeks, you'll likely breastfeed your baby eight to 12 times a day. Human milk is designed for frequent feedings, and this strengthens the bond between mother and child. This is why breastfeeding should be offered to the baby whenever he or she requests it.

TO KNOW MORE: "Friends of Breastfeeding"—shops and apps to help mothers in Ravenna.

Don't let your nipples harden. Exercises and manipulations to harden the nipples are useless and can even be counterproductive. If the baby is positioned correctly, cracks will not form anyway. For inverted nipples, use a nipple puller, starting from the sixth or seventh month of life. pregnancyGentle suction with this device helps to bring the nipple back out. But don't use it for more than 15-20 minutes a day.
Don't wash your nipples with soap. Never use soap on your nipples, because it dries them out. See those little bumps around the areola? They're sebaceous glands, and they produce an oil that contains an antiseptic substance, so you shouldn't use soap. soap.
Let your nipples air dry. Make sure the nipples are thoroughly air-dried before covering them. And don't use a breast shield with a plastic layer, as it will keep them moist.
Use your milk to heal sore nipples. Ninety-five percent of sore nipples are caused by incorrect sucking. The pain goes away as soon as the problem is addressed, but the sore may take a little longer to heal. To speed healing, let your nipples air dry thoroughly after each feeding, then express a little milk and massage it into the nipple. milk at the end of the feeding it is very rich in lubricants and also contains an antibiotic substance.
Watch out for blocked ducts. Milk ducts can become blocked due to tight clothing, the mother's anatomy, fatigue, or a prolonged period without breastfeeding. A blocked duct can also lead to an infection if the problem isn't addressed quickly. If you feel a hard, painful area in your breast, relieve it with heat. Massage your breast, starting at the top and gradually working your way down in a circular motion. It's important, however, that your child Suck frequently on that side: in fact, the baby's feeding helps clear the duct faster than anything else. Usually, everything is fine within 24 hours. The blockage can be resolved before you even notice it.

BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS

We've seen the baby's different positions when breastfeeding. Now let's look at the mother's, sitting or lying down. In the first case, the back must be straight, well supported, perhaps with the help of some kind of support. pillow, feet firmly planted on the ground. Lying on one side, however, is preferable if the mother is tired and in the first few days after giving birth.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE BREASTFEEDING WELL?

The baby himself tells us that he's breastfeeding well, with some unmistakable gestures:

Her mouth is always open, wide open, and filled with breasts
The baby sucks for a long time and continuously
The baby's chin touches the breast
The lower lip is turned outwards and the tongue rests on the breast
The baby squeezes not only the nipple between his gums, but a good part of the areola, the dark part around the nipple.
During feeding the baby relaxes and loosens his fists

HOW TO TEACH A BABY TO BREASTFEED

There is no particular method to teach a baby to breastfeed: the gesture is so natural that he learns to do it immediately. Instead, offer the baby exclusively the breast, and avoid pacifiers and teats. They are useless trinkets, and can even cause sucking problems, thus becoming completely counterproductive.

HOW LONG SHOULD A FEEDING LAST?

There is no standard length of time for breastfeeding: it should definitely not go beyond thirty minutes. And furthermore the child tells you when he is full and you can stopThere's no reason to force it. Remember, instead, that the final part of the feed is also the one that provides the baby with the fattiest part of the milk. child Satisfaction may be expressed through certain gestures: pushing the milk away with his hand, closing his mouth or turning his head when food is offered to him, waving his hands or making some noises with his mouth.

HOW TO CHECK IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH BREAST MILK

Breast milk control, unique in quality and quantity, and its appropriateness, must be done very empirically. And without obsession. Just check the child's behavior and weight trends: if the mood is good, he sleeps regularly, and his weight increases between 150 and 200 grams per week, then it means that breastfeeding is proceeding perfectly.

FOODS TO GET BREAST MILK

Unfortunately, there are no foods that promote the production of natural milk. The only certain thing is that the mother, throughout the entire breastfeeding period, must drink at least a couple of liters of water a day. It is always the...water The essential nutrient and the raw material from which breast milk is formed. As for prohibited foods, there is no precise list here either. The mother can return to a normal diet, avoiding only raw fish to avoid the risk of infection. Alcohol and dairy products are absolutely prohibited throughout the entire breastfeeding period. smoke. In fact: let's say that breastfeeding is an excellent time to seriously start quitting smoking.

RIGHTS OF BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS

Breastfeeding is such an important and vital practice for both the baby and the mother that a specific law (number 161) passed in 2001 regulates maternity and paternity leave, breaks, and permits for biological, adopted, and foster children.

In particular, the following are recognized:

Maternity leave means the mandatory absence from work of the working mother.
Parental leave which involves optional leave of absence for the worker.
Leave for the child's illness, with optional leave for the working mother or father due to the child's illness.

A breastfeeding woman is still entitled to two hours of rest per day if her working hours are more than six hours; one hour if they work less than six hours. This right is doubled in the case of multiple births or when the woman has two or more foster or adopted children.

NATURAL RECIPES WHILE BREASTFEEDING:

Want to see a selection of our news?

Sign up to our newsletter clicking here;
We are also up Google News , activate the star to add us to your favorite sources;
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram e Pinterest.