A new baby is overwhelming to say the least. These tiny tots are so much work and they do not come with an instruction manual! However if you just attune yourselves to your babies, they will teach you and let you know all that you need to know. Newborns are non verbal... but they know how to communicate and as mothers it is absolutely imperative not to miss out on their cues and gestures and cries.
After exclusively feeding 3 babies I have learnt a few tips and tricks that worked for me. I am sharing them here in hopes that maybe a new exhausted, bewildered and on the edge new mom might find some solace or some hope or something that might actually work for her and make a difference!
One of the sure shot ways to establish to a healthy and sustainable breastfeeding relationship, is by way of "Nursing on demand". Nursing on demand requires a mom to be able to distinguish the hunger cues from other forms of communication (which might include discomfort due to gas, uncomfortable temperature, a need for cuddle, sleepiness, dirty diapers etc). Some of the hunger cues are
1. Watch the FISTS!
All babies share some cues; kind of like a universal baby language. When the baby is hungry they will start sucking on their fists.
Another sign is tightly clenched fists. As the baby nurses and gets filled up the fists will un-clench and relax.
Third signal is the position of the entire arm. At the start of the feeding session the baby's arm is generally propped up. The baby will hold on to the collar of the mother's shirt or simply rest the arm on their own chest, and as they get filled up, the entire arm will lower down. Kind of like the fuel indicator; only reversed.
2. Rooting
Infants have very poor eyesight. To compensate for the lack thereof they rely on their other senses; in particular the sense of smell (detecting their moms within 6 feet) and sense of touch (rooting for breasts if their cheeks are touched). Rooting is one of the cues of hunger. Do not wait for the baby to cry for it. Nurse them as soon as rooting response is detected.
3. Crying
Crying generally is the last resort for the babies. By this time they will be ravenous and hard to latch and pacify. Also crying as a hunger cue is more difficult to decipher as it can also be due to a lot of other factors, like feeling the need to cuddle, feeling too hot or too cold, feeling gassy, or any other discomfort in the body is also communicated through crying. Hence it is important to try and catch the baby hunger cue through the first two indicators.
MYTH; TIMING THE NURSING
Apart from following the hunger cues to time the nursing sessions through out the day, the other equally important aspect of feeding on demand is putting the baby in charge of the duration of the nursing session along with the decision to unlatch once done.
Once latched it is absolutely imperative that the baby is allowed to nurse for as long as they baby would want to nurse. An actively suckling baby should not be unlatched by force for any reason including switching sides. Let the baby nurse to their content. A common misconception perpetuated by well-meaning paediatricians and lactation consultants is timing the baby on each breast and limiting the nursing session to anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes each side. New born babies are not very efficient at extracting the milk from the breast and can take as long as 30 to 40 minutes on a breast; and it is absolutely normal and in fact recommended to ensure that the baby gets the creamier hind milk and also boosts the supply.
You can further read all about the common breastfeeding myths on La Leche League official website
Common breastfeeding myths
After exclusively feeding 3 babies I have learnt a few tips and tricks that worked for me. I am sharing them here in hopes that maybe a new exhausted, bewildered and on the edge new mom might find some solace or some hope or something that might actually work for her and make a difference!
One of the sure shot ways to establish to a healthy and sustainable breastfeeding relationship, is by way of "Nursing on demand". Nursing on demand requires a mom to be able to distinguish the hunger cues from other forms of communication (which might include discomfort due to gas, uncomfortable temperature, a need for cuddle, sleepiness, dirty diapers etc). Some of the hunger cues are
1. Watch the FISTS!
All babies share some cues; kind of like a universal baby language. When the baby is hungry they will start sucking on their fists.
Another sign is tightly clenched fists. As the baby nurses and gets filled up the fists will un-clench and relax.
Third signal is the position of the entire arm. At the start of the feeding session the baby's arm is generally propped up. The baby will hold on to the collar of the mother's shirt or simply rest the arm on their own chest, and as they get filled up, the entire arm will lower down. Kind of like the fuel indicator; only reversed.
2. Rooting
Infants have very poor eyesight. To compensate for the lack thereof they rely on their other senses; in particular the sense of smell (detecting their moms within 6 feet) and sense of touch (rooting for breasts if their cheeks are touched). Rooting is one of the cues of hunger. Do not wait for the baby to cry for it. Nurse them as soon as rooting response is detected.
3. Crying
Crying generally is the last resort for the babies. By this time they will be ravenous and hard to latch and pacify. Also crying as a hunger cue is more difficult to decipher as it can also be due to a lot of other factors, like feeling the need to cuddle, feeling too hot or too cold, feeling gassy, or any other discomfort in the body is also communicated through crying. Hence it is important to try and catch the baby hunger cue through the first two indicators.
MYTH; TIMING THE NURSING
Apart from following the hunger cues to time the nursing sessions through out the day, the other equally important aspect of feeding on demand is putting the baby in charge of the duration of the nursing session along with the decision to unlatch once done.
Once latched it is absolutely imperative that the baby is allowed to nurse for as long as they baby would want to nurse. An actively suckling baby should not be unlatched by force for any reason including switching sides. Let the baby nurse to their content. A common misconception perpetuated by well-meaning paediatricians and lactation consultants is timing the baby on each breast and limiting the nursing session to anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes each side. New born babies are not very efficient at extracting the milk from the breast and can take as long as 30 to 40 minutes on a breast; and it is absolutely normal and in fact recommended to ensure that the baby gets the creamier hind milk and also boosts the supply.
You can further read all about the common breastfeeding myths on La Leche League official website
Common breastfeeding myths
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