7 Tips For Successful Breastfeeding

Any mother can breastfeed her child. It takes effort, determination, good nutrition, plenty of water and sufficient rest. These 7 tips address how you can tackle some of the problems you might face with breastfeeding. 1. Use a hot towel. If breasts are congested, soak a towel in hot water and wring it completely dry. Then place it directly over the breast and massage the breast in circular motions to coax breast to release the clogged up milk. 2. Massage. Before breastfeeding, massage each breast to ensure the milk flows easily when baby latches on. Massage in circular motions clockwise for a minute, anti clockwise for another minute. Then stroke the breast towards the nipple to coax milk to flow. 3. Take everything. Make sure the baby takes in the entire nipple including as much of the areola as can fit her mouth when she suckles. Otherwise, the milk may not flow out, baby gets frustrated and you get cracked, painful nipples. 4. Relaxn When you breastfeed, relax. You will have enough milk. The let-down reflex when the milk flows easily happens when you are relaxed and breasts produce to meet the demand. The more baby feeds, the more you will produce. Use a breast pump to express milk if you have to miss a feed, or to trick your body into producing more milk. 5. Restn Try to get enough sleep between feeds. Give your body a chance to recuperate, and to produce more milk. 6. Eat fish Fish contains omega 3 and other nutrients your body needs and which is great for babies. Traditionally, eating fish is believed to help mothers produce more milk. 7. Drink lots of water Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day if you are breastfeeding your baby. Breastmilk is made mainly of water and your body needs all that fluid to produce enough milk for baby. You have to drink enough for yourself and your baby.