Breastfeeding provides huge benefits for both you and your baby. Studies show that nursing mothers have a lower incidence of breast cancer, uterine and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also helps you to loose extra weight and keep your hormones balances. Babies also benefit from breast-feeding in many ways. One tiny drop of your milk has millions of white blood cells, antibodies, flora, and other essential nutrients. Breast milk is also always sterile so there is no need to worry about possible contamination caused by using formula. Here are some tips to help you get off to a good start breast-feeding. 1). Read- During your pregnancy read everything you can get your hands on about breast-feeding. A great book is called The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. Sears. 2). Seek support- One of the main reasons why women decide not to breast-feed or quit early on is because they have no support. Ask your spouse family and friends to encourage and support you. Join a support group during your pregnancy. This is a great opportunity to talk to other mothers and get advice first hand. The women at La Leche League are very encouraging and supportive. Check them out out: http://www.llli.org/ 3). Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth. It is very important to breast-feed your baby right away after he or she is born or some time within the first …show more content…
Breastfeeding is beneficial for the infant, mother and the entire family. For mother, breastfeeding develops a feeling of closeness with the baby and as well as develops a sense of security in the child.You really feel the warmth and bonding when you breastfeed. Initially it takes time for the infant to latch on, but when once the proper latching is established, the entire process smooths out for the baby as well as for the mother. Ensure that when the baby is sucking, he/she takes your nipple, along with the areola, into his mouth. The sensations that you would feel will cause a reflex called let-down. This will signal your breast to release milk. You may feel a little tingling or surging sensation when your milk lets down. This is quite uncomfortable at first, but if he/she latches on properly, you should not feel pain. If you do, he's probably not latched on properly. After the baby's birth,your baby will receive colostrum, a fluid yellowish in color which contains antibodies and protective cells which provides nourishment and strengthens the immune system of the baby.Generally after 2-3 days the milk supply is established. The initial milk that comes out is called fore-milk, which quenches the thirst of the baby and then comes out the high fat milk