Breastfeeding

Well one of the biggest choices you need to make after your bundle of joy lies in your arms is how are you going to feed him/her.
I tend to call all babies him to differentiate between mom and baby and also because my kids are boys.
So what are the benefits of breastfeeding?

Promotes bonding between Mom and Baby due to skin to skin contact
Contains exactly the correct concentration of all fats,proteins and minerals
Promotes involution of the uterus ( helps the uterus to return to normal size)
Comes out at the right temperature-no need to get up and heat milk in the middle of the night.
Antibodies which are protective are passed from Mom to Baby.
Reduced risk of Baby developing allergies especially to cows milk protein.
It is economical when compared to formula feeding
Recent studies have shown Reduction in Diabetes and Obesity later in life for the child.
Reduction in rates of breast cancer for mom.
Best of all is it most times leads to loss of pregnancy weight for Mom!!!

Well thats all for now will go into more detail next post

Well Next.....
I believe that most important is to make the decision that you plan to breastfeed,ideally make this choice when you are still pregnant so you can read information to assist you.
Find out if you have flat/inverted nipples -very easy to do. If it's cold and your nipples stand out they are not flat!!
If they are you could practise "nipple rolling" which is how it sounds!! to encourage the tissue of the nipple to extend.
There are also various products available to assist you if you have this problem.
Believe me this is not a reason to abandon the idea of breastfeeding. Personal experience!!
Next:
Might be hard to do this : Toughen the nipples slightly-no I don't advise scrubbing or anything awaful!
Expose your nipple to a bit of fresh air everyday. ( Hubby will probably love that one!)
More to follow tommorrow....

A tip do not buy too many feeding bra's at first your size does change once your milk is established.

First start to successful breastfeeding is to ensure baby is offered the breast within 1 hour of the delivery. Babies suck reflex is the strongest in that first hour. Start with just skin to skin contact and allow baby to show you when he is ready to suck. This means baby needs to be naked against your skin. Your own body heat will keep him warm especially if he is placed lying between your breasts which are 1-2 dgrees warmer than the rest of your body.Just need a small blanket over the 2 of you.You can still do this even if you have a Ceasarian as baby can stay with you in the recovery room.

One of the biggest worries Moms have is the issue of sufficient milk. During the first 3 days your body produces a substance called colostrum. It is produced in small amount but has every nutrient that baby needsduring those first days.
Use baby-led or demand feeding. This means that baby decides when he is hungry!
Avoid giving baby any artificial feeds/formula as this will upset the demand feeding . Moms body works on a supply and demand principle. The more baby feeds the more milk the body will produce. By giving an extra formula feed the body does not receive the stimulation or "message" to make more milk.

More tommorrow