Dear moms and moms-to-be, is breastfeeding uncomfortable for you? Are you frustrated? Please read...
When I was pregnant, breastfeeding was one of the least things I bothered to think about. I assumed it to be so natural a process, that I would just feed my baby as soon as he/she would be born. Was I in for a nasty shock!!!
I had a C-Section, following which, I was unable to breastfeed immediately. But my baby was brought in within 2 hrs. and I was allowed to snuggle with him. They took him away and again after 2 hrs. this was repeated. Now the real deal started after I was brought to my room, and baby was given to me.
I was advised to feed formula not for more than two days. All this time, I was advised to breastfeed him, as it would stimulate the milk. But the baby could not latch. Whenever, baby tried to suckle, he would cry with frustration, and I would feel very helpless. Everyone blamed me for not massaging out the nipples while pregnant. Every beautiful movement I imagine was starting to crumble.
Baby hated the formula, he refused to drink it, he would try to latch and not be able to do it, baby would cry and bring down the entire hospital to our room(boy, was he loud!), and finally the night before my discharge, I broke down... When the nurses rushed into our room at midnight because baby was screaming at the top of his lungs, I was helplessly crying too.
When I got discharged and reached home, the first feed itself I got right, and I did something I thought was incapable of doing, I burped him! So how did it work? It was not magic, it was just that I pulled myself together, shut off interference from others, and took charge of caring for MY BABY.
So this is what you could try:
1) Start massaging your nipples outward when you are pregnant. Start it today!
2) When breastfeeding, avoid having anyone else in the same room, or get yourself a comfortable corner. This is your and baby's bonding time. Not even baby's dad allowed until you are a professional at this!
3) Get comfortable with lots of pillows - at your back, under the baby, sit straight,and don't bend forward to baby, but pull baby close to your bosom. Adjust with pillows under your arms so that your hands don't ache!
4) Turn baby's entire body facing your body. Pull forward the nipple and part of the areola(the dark part of the breast) with your forefinger and middle finger, and let baby latch on it. If nipple alone is given, your nipples will crack and cause lot of pain. Make sure sucking noises do not happen(chock chock, you know :-P), baby swallowing sound is fine.
5) During the initial months, baby will seem to feed every 5 mins. Baby may also cry. It does not mean baby is not getting enough milk. Count the number of pees, should be minimum 6-7. They also cry for comfort! Suckling brings them relaxation, assurance and warmth. They were in such a safe environment for 9 months and now they are out in the open, aren't they. They must feel so insecure at times!
6) Give lots of skin-to-skin contact. Let baby feel the warmth of your chest without the barrier of clothes.
A few months on, you will find that breastfeeding is the most calming thing for baby and you. Follow these simple tips. Also read up the articles in Baby Chakra on breast feeding. There is some really great stuff there. Happy breastfeeding mommies!!!
#breastfeeding #breastfeedingbasics
When I was pregnant, breastfeeding was one of the least things I bothered to think about. I assumed it to be so natural a process, that I would just feed my baby as soon as he/she would be born. Was I in for a nasty shock!!!
I had a C-Section, following which, I was unable to breastfeed immediately. But my baby was brought in within 2 hrs. and I was allowed to snuggle with him. They took him away and again after 2 hrs. this was repeated. Now the real deal started after I was brought to my room, and baby was given to me.
I was advised to feed formula not for more than two days. All this time, I was advised to breastfeed him, as it would stimulate the milk. But the baby could not latch. Whenever, baby tried to suckle, he would cry with frustration, and I would feel very helpless. Everyone blamed me for not massaging out the nipples while pregnant. Every beautiful movement I imagine was starting to crumble.
Baby hated the formula, he refused to drink it, he would try to latch and not be able to do it, baby would cry and bring down the entire hospital to our room(boy, was he loud!), and finally the night before my discharge, I broke down... When the nurses rushed into our room at midnight because baby was screaming at the top of his lungs, I was helplessly crying too.
When I got discharged and reached home, the first feed itself I got right, and I did something I thought was incapable of doing, I burped him! So how did it work? It was not magic, it was just that I pulled myself together, shut off interference from others, and took charge of caring for MY BABY.
So this is what you could try:
1) Start massaging your nipples outward when you are pregnant. Start it today!
2) When breastfeeding, avoid having anyone else in the same room, or get yourself a comfortable corner. This is your and baby's bonding time. Not even baby's dad allowed until you are a professional at this!
3) Get comfortable with lots of pillows - at your back, under the baby, sit straight,and don't bend forward to baby, but pull baby close to your bosom. Adjust with pillows under your arms so that your hands don't ache!
4) Turn baby's entire body facing your body. Pull forward the nipple and part of the areola(the dark part of the breast) with your forefinger and middle finger, and let baby latch on it. If nipple alone is given, your nipples will crack and cause lot of pain. Make sure sucking noises do not happen(chock chock, you know :-P), baby swallowing sound is fine.
5) During the initial months, baby will seem to feed every 5 mins. Baby may also cry. It does not mean baby is not getting enough milk. Count the number of pees, should be minimum 6-7. They also cry for comfort! Suckling brings them relaxation, assurance and warmth. They were in such a safe environment for 9 months and now they are out in the open, aren't they. They must feel so insecure at times!
6) Give lots of skin-to-skin contact. Let baby feel the warmth of your chest without the barrier of clothes.
A few months on, you will find that breastfeeding is the most calming thing for baby and you. Follow these simple tips. Also read up the articles in Baby Chakra on breast feeding. There is some really great stuff there. Happy breastfeeding mommies!!!
#breastfeeding #breastfeedingbasics
u r right sweetiii. thnx a lot.<br>
i will suggest my all known to join this group so they will get benefited of all posts which we missed out.😊
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hugs to you <font color ="#3b5998"><b> @616d92c2b34e550013ec2522 </b></font><font color ="#3b5998"><b></b></font><font color ="#3b5998"><b></b></font>.. you tried so hard! but life is like that, we have so many plans, but sometimes things don't work out that way. i too had no idea about such a community during my pregnancy, else things would have been so much easier... but past is past, so we can concentrate on our present and do the best we can. atleast now we have babychakra as a resource... 😊
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sheeba just read ur post n really appreciat u. i also gone through da same prob for 3 months no one has helped me i ran to drs like anything ,i cried depressed hear many bad words frm elders even frm drs dat i dont want to feed her but i continue feed her in pain only which result severe prob in breast and sugested stop feeding.<br>
i only want to say perhaps i was aware of this community and this app early i could hv baan get solutions in da easiest way wid moral support.<br>
i missed dat but happy dat m da part of this groupwhere mommies like SHEEBA is always there to help other moms .<br>
keep it up dear.👍👏 u r da best.<br>
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thank you <font color ="#3b5998"><b> @63724313573f5c0015bc2a1f </b></font><font color ="#3b5998"><b></b></font><font color ="#3b5998"><b></b></font> 😊
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Sheeba Vijesh
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08 Apr 2017