Just Because It’s Natural Doesn’t Mean It’s Straightforward
Breastfeeding: it should be straightforward and simple, right? As soon as you give birth, the newborn should snuggle right up against you and be easily nourished. The thing is, that’s not always how things go. Sometimes babies have latching issues, sometimes you’re fighting mastitis, sometimes your breasts won’t produce milk, and the list of issues goes on.
If you’re going to do the job in a healthy, easy, straightforward way, you’ll want to give yourself the tools you need to succeed. Information is a tool, so is a breast pump. Here we’ll briefly go over three things that are very important to help you most effectively breastfeed.
1. Breast Pumps: You’re Going To Want One
No, you don’t technically “need” a breast pump, but you’re going to want one, and there are a lot of reasons why. For example, if you’re not expressing in a rhythm that matches your baby’s hunger, you’ll need pumps to assure you keep producing milk even when your child isn’t hungry; then you can just refrigerate it for a few days. Frozen breast milk lasts months.
Also, if your baby doesn’t latch properly, and the issue can’t be fixed, that can cause you to have sore paps. The soreness can be so profound it makes it hard or impossible for you to effectively nurse. Breast pumps allow you to keep your body’s production up despite the discomfort. Here one more thing you should note is that burping your newborn after breastfeeding is very important.
2. Understand Risks Like Mastitis
So just what is mastitis? Essentially it’s an inflammation of breast tissue. Your whole breast may become inflamed, you’ll feel very tired, and it could contribute to weaning that happens prematurely. Sometimes the inflammation is the result of infection, other times it isn’t. There can be swelling. You might get a fever as your body fights off infection.
What causes this irritating condition? Bacteria and blocked milk ducts are the primary culprits. Generally mastitis will clear up as your body’s immune system fights the condition, but there are situations where you would be well-suited to get professional assistance.
3. Breastfeeding Is Healthier
There is a debate, but there shouldn’t be: according to not only established science, but the vast witness of history, breastfeeding is more healthy for mothers and children. So why do some mothers insist on breastmilk? Well, there’s a social reason. In the seventies and eighties, it became trendy to rely on formula over breast milk.
The end result of this wasn’t good for women or their children, because the babies who didn’t naturally nurse weren’t as strong as they could be. Babies who are put on formula rather than the milk of their mother tend to have weaker immune systems, digestion issues, and even cognitive problems.
Meanwhile, mothers are less likely to fully and quickly recover from the pregnancy. Granted, it’s all a matter of degree. As in: formula is still useful in a pinch, and it’s better than nothing if you’re having trouble expressing and can’t acquire natural breastmilk anywhere. However, given the choice, it’s definitely advisable to breastfeed.
Less Complication In Organic Newborn Nourishment
Breastfeeding is healthier, mastitis is a real issue common in nursing mothers that benefits from professional assistance, and there are a lot of reasons you’ll probably want a breast pump as you lactate. Just keep in mind that there are real challenges that could develop, and if they catch you unaware, said challenges become even more difficult.
As a final piece of advice, seek consultation or guidance from friends, family, or groups who specialize in lactation advice.
