Pregnancy Diary

It’s important for a woman who wants to breast-feed to learn as much about it as possible before delivery. The following tips can help foster successful nursing:

Eat right, get rest: the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid to produce plenty of good milk. rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue is important,too.

Get an early start:it should begin within an hour after delivery if possible

Nurse on demand: nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies.

Proper positioning: The baby’s mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible.
No supplements: sugar water or formula supplements are not needed, they will interfere with their appetite The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce.

Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking.

Delay artificial nipples: It’s best to wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier, so that the baby doesn’t get confused.

Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever and painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.