Breast Feeding Your Baby - Don't be Afraid

Breast Feeding Your Baby - Don't be Afraid

 By Laura Beard

There is a lot of sigma today about breast feeding your baby. You have heard the horror stories about babies losing weight, becoming fussy and the fear of sore or cracked nipples. These fears should not stop you from nursing your infant and giving he/she the most important gift a mother can give, a healthy start. This is what I have learned:

Do not listen to the negative hype.
These individuals are misinformed and do not understand the great benefits you are providing for your baby. Negative comments can impact your attempts to be successful at nursing and hinder the bond between mother and child. There is nothing in the world more rewarding then the bond that is created by a nursing mother and her infant. Family members may feel jealous or left out in the care giving role of your new family member. There are numerous ways family members can become involved in caring for the new baby; bath time, diaper changes, taking the baby out for a stroll. Talk to your loved ones, find out their feelings and brain storm ways each person can help take an active role in caring for the baby. Keep the communication lines open between family and friends, this will easy their fears as well as yours.

Build positive relationships.
If you have friends and/or family members who think it is great that you decided to nurse your baby, invite them over frequently for emotional support. There is nothing better then to have someone to cheer you on or talk you through the difficult times. If friends or family members are not available to help, contact a breast feeding organization to help you. You can call, your local hospital and ask if they have a breast feeding support group, La Leche League International or International Lactation Consultant Association, to help keep your efforts flowing in a positive direction.

Keep a positive attitude.
A positive attitude is a must if your going to succeed with breast feeding. There is many breast feeding sites on the internet that can provide support and answer your questions about nursing your infant. Join a forum, look up blogs, get involved with other mothers who have been successful and are willing to help you.

Relax, location and safety.
Relaxing while nursing is a must if your going to succeed. If you are just starting out as a novice nurser find a quite place to nurse your baby. If there is to much activity in the living room, go to another room where it is quite or turn off the television, it is a distraction. Play some relaxing music, light a candle, dim the lights, but do not fall asleep. This is the time for you to bond with the little one. Make sure you are comfortable. Do you have a chair in the nursery or maybe your bedroom? Have a pillow handy to lay in your lap and use to prop up your arms. Your newborn may only weight 8 pounds but he/she will get heavy after awhile. You may also want to have a wrist watch or clock handy to keep track of the time your infant is nursing on each breast. Spend an equal amount of time nursing on each breast, ten minutes a breast, to eliminate one breast producing more milk then the other or having one nipple over worked and sore. I would not recommend lying down on a bed when you are first learning to nurse. It is to easy to fall asleep and roll over on your baby, use the chair method it is safer.

Proper equipment.
It does not take much equipment to be successful in nursing your baby. There are a few things you will need, such as, good quality nursing bras, nursing pads and possibly a breast pump. You will need several nursing bras over the course of a week, especially when you are first starting to nurse. There will be times when your breast will leak and soak your bra. There is no need to spend a fortune on nursing bras. Check with other mothers who no longer nurse their children, maybe they would be willing to donate their undergarments to you. You can also check on-line auction sites and name brand maternity outlet stores to get good prices on your bras. Make sure you have plenty of nursing pads. Do not buy pads with plastic liners. They do not breath and keep your breasts damp. Change your pads regularly to prevent your nipples from becoming sore. Damp nipples equal sore or cracked nipples. If you are able, air out your breasts. Sit in front of a window (make sure no one can see you) and let nature bathe your breasts in warm sun light and fresh air. You may also want to consider a breast pump. This tool is a life saver for engorged breast or if you are unavailable to nurse. There may come a time that your breasts are producing more milk then your baby needs. Using a breast pump can alleviate the pain and pressure of your breast. It also can allow you to store your milk if your unavailable for nursing time (moms need a socialize too).

Laura Beard is a mother of five and the web publisher of http://www.thefertilemyrtle.com a breast feeding and nursing bra resource site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Beard
http://EzineArticles.com/?Breast-Feeding-Your-Baby---Dont-be-Afraid&id=827994