Effective breastfeeding tips, challenges, and how it helps you lose weight

Breastfeeding is a wonderful opportunity for a new mother to bond with her baby, and provide the most natural and wholesome food for her child. The colostrum, which is the first milk that comes in, is loaded with antibodies and nutrients, giving your baby the best start in life. 

Breast milk is the healthiest milk you can provide to your baby that boosts her growth and development. Before knowing some effective breastfeeding tips, let’s first discuss in detail the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby. 

1. Breastfeeding leads to quick postpartum recovery: 

Baby sucking at the breast will cause contractions right after birth, leading to less bleeding for the mom. This helps her uterus head back to its shape before pregnancy much faster.

2. Breastfeeding can help you lose pregnancy fat: 

Breastfeeding will also burn calories, so you can effectively lose weight faster compared to a scenario where you bottle-fed your baby.

3. It gives the perfect balance of nutrients to your baby: 

Your body creates the perfect food for your child. A newborn receives special milk, called colostrum, right after birth. This colostrum is loaded with antibodies from your body to help protect the little one from diseases. Your milk changes with the baby, slowly altering the nutrient balance depending on what your child needs. The colostrum eventually disappears and your baby only receives proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals from you. 

4. It passes on antibodies: 

Breast milk continues to supply your baby with antibodies. These antibodies help protect from viruses and bacteria until your little angel can make antibodies of her own. 

5. It can prevent many conditions: 

Studies have shown that breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of certain medical conditions. These include childhood leukemia, diabetes, stomach and respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and obesity. Breast milk provides nutrients that help babies develop normally instead of contracting these conditions. Breastfeeding also helps mothers reduce their risk of postpartum depression, breast and ovarian cancer, and type 2 diabetes. 

6. It is a way for a child to bond with a mother: 

The skin to skin contact between you and your baby while breastfeeding helps the little one feel secure and you will experience a sense of pride and satiety. 

Grandma’s Tip: In the initial weeks, breastfeed your baby in a calm and cosy ambiance, where it’s just the two of you and pin-drop silence. This way your baby would get more used to your presence, through your scent, your essence, and you too will get the much needed peaceful time with the little one. After everything you have been through in the last nine months, you have earned yourself this special time with the tiny angel.

7. It is easier on the baby's digestive tract: 

Breast milk is usually easier to digest than baby formula. This will help prevent diarrhoea and other intestinal problems in your little one. 

Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not as easy as some may think. In fact, some find it almost impossible. Many mothers find it very painful, while others have a hard time getting their baby to latch on properly. 

Effective breastfeeding tips: 

Here are some tips on making breastfeeding a more pleasant experience. 

Don't get down on yourself if you think you can't do it

What many women don't realize is that breast milk doesn't come down right away after the birth of the baby in many cases. Sometimes it can take up to two days before breast milk starts flowing. 

Don't give up! Keep trying because eventually, the milk will start to flow. In addition, keep trying to get your baby to latch properly. Some babies latch on perfectly right away, while others need some time to adjust. Don't hesitate to get involved in lactating classes. Once you are home, there are many lactation consultants that can coach you over the phone, or will come to your house to help you get it right. 

Give your baby the colostrum 

Even if you feel that you cannot breastfeed, at least try to give your baby the colostrum. It is the yellowish liquid that is secreted at the end of pregnancy, and during the first few days after the baby is born. The colostrum is rich in antibodies and nutrients, which are beneficial to the baby's immune system. 

How to deal with breast and nipple tenderness

Many women who first start to breastfeed will find that their nipples get chapped and very sore. Some women may even bleed. In order to counter this effect, there are many breast creams in the market that you can pick up at most drug stores, which will help to soothe this soreness. It is applied directly onto the nipple and is safe for the baby to still feed off your breast with the cream on. 

Apart from nipple chaps, many women may find their breasts become engorged with milk, making them extremely tender to touch, and even to slight movements. To deal with this, take a warm shower and let the water splash onto your swollen breasts for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can get a cloth and soak it in warm water, and then place it directly on your breasts for a few minutes. This should help ease the pain. 

Feed on demand

Make sure you feed your baby on demand. Your baby knows when she is hungry, so feed her when she’s ready. Feeding every few hours will help the breast milk flow efficiently, and will help ease breast engorgement as well. You are genetically designed to provide your child with food, and your baby is designed to grow best when fed that way. 

Because breastfeeding such a natural process, it's been done for thousands of years. There are likely to be many more benefits of it that we are still not aware of. It is a wonderful experience. When it's time to stop breastfeeding, you may find it difficult to part with the activity. The special bond between mother and baby during this time in incomparable.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.