The First Baby Feeding
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07 September 2010 22:30:02 GMT |
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The First Baby Feeding
If you had a normal delivery, and you and your baby are alert and awake, you should nurse your baby as soon as he’s born. If you had complications with your delivery, or your newborn needs immediate medical assistance, you need to wait a few hours. If the first feeding takes place within the first day or so, you should have no physical discomfort while nursing. If nursing has to be delayed beyond that time, the nursing staff will assist you with pumping and hand expression. If you do nurse immediately after delivery, you will find it most comfortable to lie on your side, with the baby facing you, opposite the breast. If you prefer to sit up and feed, then use pillows to help support your arms and cradle the baby at breast level, making sure that his entire body is facing you. If you had a C-section, the most comfortable position could be a side hold, where you sit up and the baby lies at your side facing you. Curl your arm underneath him and support his head at your breast. This position keeps the baby’s weight off your abdomen, but the baby must squarely face the breast for the proper latch. If you stroke your newborn’s lower lip or cheek with the nipple, he will instinctively open his mouth wide, latch on and begin to suck. He has been practicing this for sometime now by sucking his hand, fingers and sometimes even his feet when he was in your uterus. It will take a little encouragement for him to nurse, but you may need to help him properly grasp the areola. You could hold the breast with your thumb over the areola, fingers and palms underneath it. Then gently compress the breast and direct it into the baby’s mouth. No matter what technique you try, you need to keep your fingers clear of the areola so the little one can grasp it. Allow the baby to nurse on one side for as long as he wishes and then put him on the other side until he stops. The more confident and relaxed you feel, the quicker your milk will let down. Once you are at home, try some of these tips:
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