Breastfeeding Basics

Are you considering breast feeding your newborn baby? If so, you probably have quite a few questions about the pros and cons of breastfeeding as well as the techniques used to breastfeed a newborn baby. Well, in this guide we will talk about breastfeeding, what it means to a mother and how it affects a newborn baby, and we will also give you some tips on making breastfeeding a little easier.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a newborn baby be breastfed for the first year of its life; however only about 65% of women choose to breastfeed their babies and only 30% of women continue to do so after the first six months of the newborn baby’s life.

Babies that are breastfed experience less allergies throughout their lives then babies that weren’t breastfed and have a long-term protection against diabetes and Crohn’s disease. Babies that are breast fed also develop a stronger resistance to colds and ear infections.

Mothers that breastfeed their babies also get certain benefits such as: stronger bones, a reduced risk of getting osteoporosis, a reduced risk of getting ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and they are able to lose weight faster.

If you do decide on breastfeeding your newborn baby then there are a few things you are going to have to keep in mind so that you stay healthy and the milk your baby is receiving is nutritional. While breastfeeding a mother should consume between 2200 and 2700 calories a day to make sure the milk she is producing is nutritious enough for baby, to do this you may have to adjust your daily intake of healthy, well balanced foods such as fruit, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy products.

If you are going to breastfeed your newborn baby then you should begin as soon as possible after giving birth and breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of your baby’s life. Your newborn baby will let you know when they are hungry and you should allow them to nurse whenever they are showing the signs of being hungry, they will also let you know when they are done feeding. Breastfeeding may be hard to get used to in the beginning but it will get easier as time goes by. A great way to make your breastfeeding sessions go easier is to practice latching on and baby positioning. When you are breastfeeding you should also keep some water or fruit juice with you as you will get thirsty.

Above everything else, you need to keep in mind that breastfeeding is a special bond building event for mother and baby, take your time and enjoy you time spent with your child.