Tips for breast feeding

Whether or not you are planning to breast feed your baby is an important decision for you, your baby and your partner and one not to be taken lightly. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, but also is not for every mother. As a mother who has breast fed both of her children (and am still currently feeding the youngest) I have put together a few tips that I found made the experience easier and less traumatic for us both.

• Get as much help as you can get. From your midwife, breastfeeding courses, la leche, websites, videos, books etc. The amount of information is huge and well worth it.
• Drink lots of water - you will need roughly double the normal amount advised, around 16 glasses a day, to keep yourself hydrated.
• Eat well - there really are not many foods to avoid when breastfeeding, but making sure you have a good diet is essential to your milk production and your health.
• A breastfeeding woman needs roughly an extra 800 calories per day, so it's OK to have that chocolate!
• Get everything handy before you start a feed: TV remote, book, drink, nack, telephone etc. It may be the only chance you get to sit down for any length of time so enjoy it!
• Bring your baby to your breast, not the other way round. And don't ever force your nipple to your baby - you will scare them and put them off feeding.
• Don't take Aspirin or anything that contains Aspirin when breastfeeding. It can damage your baby's health. And always make sure you advise your doctor or pharmacist that you are breast feeding whenever you are getting medicines. Some can be dangerous for your baby.
• If feeding makes your breasts sore try cabbage leaves. Round cabbage with cup shaped leaves when applied to the breast are very soothing - this does actually work!
• Make sure you offer your baby the whole of the nipple and areola - your baby should open it's mouth wide to take it, like yawning. After all it's called breastfeeding, not nipple feeding.

Breast feeding can be a great joy, or a great burden. It is up to you to help make it a good experience for you and your baby.