FIVE Simple Steps to Breastfeeding Success by RUBY TOLEDO CLC
When a baby is born she can actually latch herself onto her mothers breast with no help at all. It’s an amazing sight to watch, this tiny person instinctually rooting for her mothers milk - the perfect nutrition. Breastmilk is so perfect in fact, that it actually changes to meet your growing babies’ nutritional needs during specific times of development. It even changes during the course of a day.
The Following five simple steps will help to ensure a successful breastfeeding experience.
The first step of breastfeeding success is trying it! This is an open congratulations to all mothers who do, and to the fathers and families that support them!
The second step to breastfeeding success is skin-to-skin contact uninterrupted for at least 1-2 hours after birth. Skin to skin contact or holding your naked baby against your bare chest not only makes him feel safe and secure, it also has a natural calming effect. A baby held skin to skin during the first few months of life results in a healthy well-fed infant.
The third step to breastfeeding success is to feed often. Newborn babies will breastfeed many times throughout the day and night, sometimes every hour. The more often you feed your baby the better. The baby is building your milk supply for the future.
The fourth step of breastfeeding success is rooming in with your baby! Whether you give birth in a hospital, birthing center or at home your breastfeeding baby will benefit from rooming in with her mother, (being with her mother at all times). Keeping her close to you ensures that you will not miss an opportunity to breastfeed.
The fifth step to breastfeeding success is to know your baby's feeding cues. A baby that has to cry to signal that he is hungry was most likely showing signs of hunger or feeding cues beforehand. Common signs of hunger in newborns include tight clenched fists and REM or rapid eye movement. If your baby is sleeping and you see his eyelids rapidly moving up and down, offer him the breast, he is most likely hungry.
Breastfeeding for any amount of time is a success! The commitment to offer a child breastmilk is one of the greatest gifts a mother can offer her child. It is rewarding for everyone, plus it’s absolutely free!
Benefits of breastfeeding for society:
Reduced waste and environmental pollution
Reduced employee absenteeism for the care of sick infants
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:
Reduced risk of hip fractures in the post menopausal period
Reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer
Benefits of breastfeeding for the recipient child:
Reduced risk of death from diarrheal disease. (Over 400 infants die annually in the US from diarrheal disease – an estimated 63 –70% of these deaths have been attributed to not having been breastfed.)
Having been breastfed my reduce the risk of breastcancer rates in women over 40 by 25%
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