For the first few weeks of your baby’s life, you and your precious child will be going through a learning process together. Although breastfeeding is a natural thing, and does come easily to some women, others may need a little more time to adjust.
You want to choose a quiet place to feed your baby, and make sure you are in the comfiest position possible. Hold your newborn in the crook of your arm and gently trap his lower arm beneath your own. This will result in the tummy-to-tummy position you want to achieve. If need be, prop your cute baby (and your arms) up with a few pillows and get ready to offer him your breast.
Softly stroke your infant’s cheek (the one closest to your breast) and the side of his mouth in order to coax him into turning towards the stimulation and making sucking motions with his mouth. This is called the rooting reflex. Be sure not to stroke both sides of his cheek or mouth as this will only confuse the little angel. You should be prepared to insert your nipple into your baby’s mouth when he responds with the rooting reflex. Try not to act too quickly or hastily, as this may startle or overwhelm your newborn. Approach the task gently and lovingly.
Make sure your baby is able to breathe. You may need to press down on the top of your breast in order to allow sufficient airflow to his little nostrils. This is where your precious child will experience his first taste of colostrum.
What is colostrum?
For the first 5 or so days after birth, your breasts will be filled with a cloudy substance as opposed to milk. This substance, the fluid known as colostrum, is extremely rich in antibodies and protein. It is very important for your newborn, as it protects him from a variety of infections.
From then on, your body will produce the amount of milk needed for your baby.
More on: Breast Feeding Your Baby
If you have opted to bottle feed your baby, read more at:
Bottle Feeding Your Baby
Regardless of which method you have decided to use, for the first 4 to 6 months you will be feeding your baby breast milk or baby formula, exclusively. All the nourishment needed by your newborn will be supplied in the milk, and will be easy for his little stomach to digest. At this point in time, solid foods are off limits due to your infant’s weak digestive tract. Somewhere between 4 and 6 months it will have developed enough to slowly begin introducing exciting new foods.
Is your baby ready? Feeding Your Baby Solid Food
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