This is a sponsored guest post.

Let’s face it; when it comes to the healthy life of your newborn baby, breast milk is the best option. It’s ideal for your infant’s nutrition since it carries all the necessary nutrients they need for up to six months. This gives them a chance to grow healthy and to promote the development of their immune system.

Despite all the positive information about the importance of breastfeeding, CDC reports that about 84% of new mothers in the U.S breastfeed immediately after birth and only 58% of them are still breastfeeding after six months.

According to WHO, newborns should exclusively be fed on breastmilk for six months, after which they should meet their advancing nutritional needs while continuing to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding Tips for New Mothers

Anticipate your baby’s need to breastfeed

Instead of always waiting for your child to cry, you could instead anticipate their needs by watching out for the following:

• When a baby opens and closes their mouth
• Repeatedly raise their head
• Try sucking on anything nearby
• When they stick out their tongues
• Let your baby determine when and how long they nurse

During this time, your baby knows what is best for their needs. Therefore, let them choose when to nurse. Avoid setting predetermined feeding intervals or denying them food because you feel they have spent too much time nursing. Also, don’t wake them up to feed; let them enjoy their sleep until they are awake.

Relax during nursing

During nursing, the mother will spend a lot of time holding the baby. Doing this in an uncomfortable position is hectic in the long run. Trying to stay in an awkward position for a long time will also lead to back and neck pain issues. Also, avoid sudden movements during nursing since it could disrupt the baby’s feeding. For quality nursing;

• Sit down in a reclined posture with your newborn lying in your arms
• Lie down on your side, making sure your baby is facing you.

Getting the baby to latch can be difficult

Mothers have different experiences; for others, latching is magnetic, while for some, it takes practice. However, once your baby learns, latching becomes natural. For a smooth experience, it is essential to get comfortable during nursing lining up the baby. To latch, guide the baby to place correctly. It’s critical to get the difference between sucking and suckling, ensure there is a sucking- swallowing-breathing pattern. According to expert breastfeeding support in Maryland if you experience any trouble suckling, ask for help.

Don’t panic, Leaks are normal

During nursing, your clothes could get wet; it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Nursing pads come in handy to prevent getting all messy. If leaks are apparent when you sleep, put towels underneath as you sleep to avoid changing sheets. Also, get used to wearing darker prints.

Eat well

Remember, a well-fed mother is a well-fed newborn. Eating will reflect on your child; however, you mustn’t overfeed to the point you are the same size as you were pregnant. Ensure you take up enough fluids since your body is working to make milk. Drink up to eight glasses of water a day. Watch your food, ensure you are on a balanced diet, incorporating brain-building healthy fats such as salmon or sardines. Also, don’t forget prenatal vitamins; take them until you are done breastfeeding.