Breast feeding, breast feeding tips, breast feeding experience, breast feeding problems, lactation consultant , breast feeding diet, breastfeeding

"You probably know that breast feeding your baby is both an enjoyable and satisfying experience. Once the milk supply is well established and the nursing relationship is going well most mothers will not experience breast feeding problems.

There are however, some situations that may arise early in the breast feeding experience that new mothers should be aware of. Not every mother will experience any or all of these breast feeding problems, but being aware that they exist and how to avoid them is very important.

The following are some breast feeding tips that may help you in your nursing decision.
Make sure that you are sticking to a breast feeding diet. Just because you had your baby doesn't' mean you should stop eating healthy and taking care of yourself. What a nursing mother eats directly affects her baby. It is also a good idea to keep track of your breast feeding diet in the first few weeks. You may learn that certain foods you eat make your child fussy, like broccoli or chocolate. Keeping a log of your breast feeding diet can help you determine what foods your child is sensitive to.

Another common mistake is improper breast feeding positions. There are four main positions that are widely used and seem to be the easiest on mom and the baby. There is the "cradle", "football hold", "cross cradle", and "laying on your side" positions. These can be easily found and researched in breast feeding videos and with breast feeding pictures. If you can, try to check out a breast feeding video at your local library to familiarize yourself with some of these positions. You can also get helpful brochures from your lactation consultant with lots of breast feeding pictures that are very helpful.

The last breast feeding problem that some mothers experience is breast engorgement. This can be avoided mostly by breast feeding your baby frequently (8-12 times in 24 hrs). Expressing your breast milk if you miss any feedings. Avoiding supplements of water or formula for the first 3-4 weeks (unless medically indicated). And lastly, when weaning your baby, do it gradually. A lot of women do not feel comfortable breast feeding in public. We recommend that you visit specific sites that give women breast feeding tips about breast feeding in public. There are many rights that women aren't' aware of when breast feeding in public. These can differ from state to state, so be aware of your legal rights as a nursing mother. Try not to skip any af your scheduled nursing times even if that means breast feeding in public. This could save you from breast engorgement and very sore breasts. Skipping your nursing times is the biggest cause of breast engorgement.

If you need any further breast feeding tips on any of the items listed here, we recommend that you see a lactation consultant in your area. They are very helpful and have lots of information that can help in the beginning weeks of nursing."

Heather Chamberlain
Demavie.com
www.demavie.com