How to Breastfeed Correctly

What better way to give your child the best start in life than by nurturing, nourishing and loving care?

For babies, breastmilk is a #HealthyDiet and provides them with the best start in life.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when breastfeeding your baby...

Positioning: 

• Find a proper and comfortable position for feeding, whether sitting or lying down, to avoid temporary low milk production.
• The child's ears, shoulders, and waist should form a straight line, fully supported by the mother's hands. The child's mouth should face the breast directly, and the nose should be in front of the nipple.
• Keep the child close to touch the mother's abdomen. 

Latching: 

• Gently guide the child to the breast for a natural reflex.
• Check for a good latch by ensuring the child's mouth is wide open, the lower lip is turned outward, and the chin is touching the breast or very close.
• The areola should be mostly inside the child's mouth, with more visible above than below. 

Effective sucking: 

• The child should suck gently and deeply, taking pauses and breaks during feeding, and occasionally swallowing.
• Stay relaxed during feeding to encourage bonding and increase milk production. 

Breastfeeding Tips for Mothers: 

• Allow each feeding session to last at least 30 minutes, as it takes about 15 minutes for the child to empty one breast. If the child is still hungry after the first breast, switch to the second one.
• Feed the child day and night as often as they want to maintain the health of both mother and child. Night feeding is crucial as it stimulates increased milk production.
• If the child is too weak to suckle, express milk and feed the baby as frequently as you would breastfeed. 

• Before feeding expressed milk, take it out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for half an hour. Do not boil or reheat breast milk.
• Avoid long intervals between feeds to prevent breasts from feeling too full, and if needed, manually express milk and use hot fomentation for relief.
• Continuing with breastfeeding will naturally increase milk supply as the mother's body responds to the child's needs.
• Breastfeed every time the child cries for mother's milk, fulfilling their nutritional requirements.