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What are the Best Tips for Breastfeeding?

Tiffany Manley
Tiffany Manley

There are many sources of information for the best tips for breastfeeding, such as other mothers, books, websites, lactation specialists, and hospital childbirth instructors. Each group brings a unique perspective to the situation, and all are beneficial in some way. Some of the best tips for breastfeeding involve committing to breastfeeding, allowing time for everyone to become comfortable, using tube feeding when necessary and using relaxation techniques.

One of the best tips for breastfeeding involves making a commitment to breastfeeding. Sometimes breastfeeding can be difficult, and if a new mother has the commitment, it is easier for her to stick it out. She should make sure that this is what she wants and that she is not doing it for anyone else. Trusting her own judgment is one of the best things that a new mother can do.

Breastfeeding can prove challenging for mothers and babies.
Breastfeeding can prove challenging for mothers and babies.

Breastfeeding can be difficult in the beginning, especially for new mothers. It’s something that both mother and baby have to get used to, become familiar with and be comfortable with. No matter how many books a mother reads or how many people she consults with, there comes a time where she just needs to sit with the baby and become comfortable with the situation. Each baby is different, and each situation is different, so just going with the flow sometimes is the best course of action.

Many mothers struggle with a newborn’s inability to latch on properly. This leads to a concern that the baby is not getting the nutrition that he or she needs, but the mother does not want to bottle feed the baby. The baby can be tube fed in the interim. This does not interfere with their ability to still breastfeed and in some instances helps them latch on more quickly.

Another of the best tips for breastfeeding is for each mother to use relaxation techniques. Being tense can cause several problems, and the baby can sense the nervousness in the mother. Relaxation also encourages the let-down reflex. This allows the milk to flow and encourages the baby to drink.

Many more tips for breastfeeding exist. If a mother desires information or assistance, she might try speaking with other mothers, a lactation consultant, a nurse or some other qualified individual for personal assistance. Books contain useful information, but when a mother consults with someone who is present to help her and assess the situation, it might be easier for her to accomplish her goals for breastfeeding.

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    • Breastfeeding can prove challenging for mothers and babies.
      By: Svetlana Fedoseeva
      Breastfeeding can prove challenging for mothers and babies.