Newborns are mysteries that make you experience self-doubt more than once every day. They can keep you guessing long into the night. Whenever you try to do the best for your baby, it is natural to think more than once about common baby care issues. Breastfeeding is one of them.
In spite of reading dozens of baby care books and surrounded by precious wisdom of elders, there will be something unique to your baby. And only you will be able to understand that the best. Once you are on a roller coaster ride with your little munchkin, some expert advice might help you. Here are some common baby care issues of breastfeeding that you must know for the first six months of your newborn.
10Baby Care –Breastfeeding Issues
- First Feed
The first feed is very important for your baby which is also known as ‘colostrum’. Ensure to feed your baby within the first few hours of delivery. It acts as a super powerful vaccination agent that protects your child from major gut infections.
- Latching
Help your child to get a latching technique right by taking in the entire circular disk of your areola. Your baby is sucking right if you can see her lower jaw and temples move rhythmically.
- Foremilk and Hind Milk
The milk is thinner at the beginning as it is diluted by interstitial fluids. It is foremilk which helps to satisfy the thirst of a baby. Hind milk is followed by foremilk which is a fatty band creamier that helps your baby to put on weight.
- Empty Breasts
It is important to empty each breast fully before putting him on another breast. Baby should get foremilk and hind milk both to get nutrition. When the breast has emptied out, you will feel a significant lightness in your breast.
- Increase Capacity
The more you will nurse, the more you will produce milk. Frequently feeding in the first two weeks helps your milk glands to increase the capacity in the long term.
- Too little or too much
Look for the hunger signs and feed accordingly – sucking on his fingers or your shoulder when you carry him or sticking his tongue out.
Newborns will want a feed up to 12 times a day. Most of these are cluster feeds during the night. By the time your baby is six weeks old, he might settle into 7 to 9 feeds. As a baby grows he might go without feed for as long as four hours at a stretch.
- Calcium Intake
Your baby will draw all the calcium from your milk so make your calcium reserve by taking at least three servings of dairy daily.
- Breastfeeding Super foods
To stimulate and increase lactation you can include fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, black sesame seeds, and dark raisins.
- Formula Milk
Formula milk could be a savior in case you are unable to breastfeed. It might be due to insufficient lactation or some health condition. In this case, make sure you make the formula milk on your own instead of relying on the nurse. They might overfeed crying babies to soothe them quickly. A baby’s stomach capacity is just 5 ml.
- Spitting
Babies might spit out due to overfeeding, usually through a burp. This is normal but if it is with a great force and exceeds two tablespoonfuls, consults the neonatologist.
Happy Parenting!
