31 Jul 2016 | 5 min Read
Ruth Malik
Author | 11 Articles
Breastfeeding is integral for securing a healthy and happy future for your baby. Birthing practices that help establish breastfeeding aim to ensure that both mother and infant are comfortable, alert, awake and receptive to initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth, the longer it is delayed the more difficult it becomes and it can get even more complicated if babies are given formula as their first feed.
The following practices have a huge impact on a parent’s ability to breastfeed. The World Health Organisation supports these practices.
So take time to find health care providers for birth and neonatal care who can guide you well:
Routine hospital procedures all negatively impact breastfeeding. So all moms-to-be should take note of the following things before choosing the hospital and healthcare provider for their childbirth.
Giving birth in hospitals that don’t allow such practices or behaviour mentioned above could be extremely unsafe both for mother and baby.
Find women who breastfeed and learn and listen from them. Breastfeeding is not natural, it requires some learning, and without the right advice can be quite challenging.Join a mothers’ community or breastfeeding support groups which offer the right support by way of experiences or expertise.
Be sure that your birth support team including your family, friends and health care providers are educated and ready to support you to breastfeed.
Avoid people who are not confident or supportive of breastfeeding.
Learn about babywearing, it helps in nursing significantly.
Read about the womanly art of breastfeeding.
Some doctors will agree to the above procedures, however they may not be experienced and may find excuses not to follow them at the time of birth, speak with atleast three mothers who have birthed with this doctor.
The vast majority of women can breastfeed naturally, but a very small proportion do suffer from physical problems that prevents their ability to breastfeed. Unfortunately, because our health care professionals are not adequately qualified, women do not receive the right support and thus too many are told that they are unable to breastfeed. Find a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor who can give you the right support.
The World health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding (nothing else is given to the baby including water and vitamins), from birth to about 6 months of age. At 6 months, appropriate foods are introduced and Breastfeeding is continued until age 2 or beyond, or when the baby decides to self-wean.
Explore the entire collection of articles: Breastfeeding Tips
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