And it’s good for you too, Mom!
Moms who breastfeed have:
Quicker weight loss after giving birth (breastfeeding burns 500 calories a day!)
Less risk of post-partum depression and a more positive mood (thanks to naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin)
Lower risk of breast & ovarian cancer
Less endometriosis, diabetes, high blood pressure & heart disease
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Keep in mind just a few of the reasons why breastfeeding’s good for your baby:
Breastfed babies have:
Stronger immune systems
Less diarrhea, constipation & reflux
Lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Fewer allergies, eczema and asthma during childhood
And when the going gets tough...
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Lactation consultants, breastfeeding champions (ask at your pediatrician’s office), support groups and even fellow breastfeeding moms at your office or in your neighborhood can all provide answers — and much needed moral support!
No one said you had to do this alone.
Hang in there! Once you (and your baby) get in the rhythm of breastfeeding, you’ll actually look forward to your special, quiet time to connect. Stick with it, and you’ll get there!
The first 3 weeks of breastfeeding are the hardest. With time, things will get easier.
Be ready for growth spurts. Your baby will be hungrier (she may want to nurse pretty much around the clock!), fussier and not sleep as well during these periods of rapid growth.
Growth spurts are common, especially at 1, 2 and 6 months!
Keep an eye on those diapers! You can tell if your baby’s getting enough milk if he has yellow, seedy stools by the time he’s 5 days old. He should be back to his birth weight by around 2 weeks of age.
Your baby should be weighed naked on the same scale every time to track his weight correctly.
Empty your breasts often. Breastfeeding follows the simple rule of supply and demand. The more often your baby empties your breast, the more milk you’ll make. So nurse your baby every time she shows hunger cues
(8-12x a day).
Don’t wait for crying — that’s a sign your baby’s already overly hungry!
Latch deeply every time. To get milk, your baby needs to compress your milk ducts, NOT your nipple. Listen for swallows!
Nipple pain = bad latch. Get help from a breastfeeding expert fast!
tap HERE to start
tap HERE to start
Tips you can use to stick with it!
Breastfeeding
the First Weeks of
Survive
How to
