There’s a Real Learning Curve
Have you breastfed a child before? If you haven’t, then you likely haven’t had to deal with the child’s latch to your breast. A poor latch can lead to physical complications and a fussy young one not getting proper nutrition. The latch is very important, but it’s not the only challenge you’ll encounter as a new mother.
How is your personal health? Are you active, consuming a good amount of calories but being busy enough to work them off during the day? People with eating disorders may experience difficulties producing enough milk for a newborn.
Getting to the point where you consume enough calories to produce enough milk without putting yourself at risk in terms of health can be a challenge. It’s a challenge worth facing, as the results are better health for your newborn, and even for yourself. That said, if you’ve been struggling with something like anorexia, you really want to get help from the experts.
With these things in mind, following we’ll briefly explore several breastfeeding tips that can help you get the hang of this natural tenet of motherhood more quickly.
1. Change Your Diet
Oats, eggs, fenugreek, grains, nuts; all are good for helping your body produce more breastmilk. Here’s a link to ideal breastfeeding diets if you’re not sure how to get started here.
You’re going to lose 100 to 500 calories per feeding, depending on if you’ve got one or more children (read: twins), and what sort of appetite they have. Maybe you’re not giving your body the fuel it needs to produce enough breastmilk for your child or children. Look into that.
2. Consult With Lactation Specialists
Maybe you’ve got mastitis or a clogged milk duct keeping engorged breasts from producing. If that’s the issue, then check with experts for breast milk production best practices. Keep in mind, your very emotions can get in the way of your body. If you’re nervous or ill-at-ease, it may reduce your ability to produce, or inhibit it entirely.
3. Change Breasts and Use Breast Pumps to Fight Discomfort
Feed from both breasts when nipples get sore. Lanolin and petroleum jelly can soothe sore nipples. If the soreness is too much, use breast pumps to keep your body regularly producing proper quantities of milk, store that in the fridge, and feed the baby accordingly until your nipples recover. They’ll toughen in time, but it can be an uphill climb for some new mothers.
Finding Your “Stride” as a Mom Naturally Nourishing Your Child
Motherhood is different for every mother, and yet it’s the same. It’s as unique as an individual and as homogenous as humanity.
If you’re dealing with breastmilk production issues, rethink your diet, consult with specialists, alternate breasts, and use pumps to keep yourself productive despite discomfort. The challenge is worth it in the end, but finding your “stride” as a mother in terms of breastfeeding can definitely take time.
