Breastfeeding is not as simple as it seems and as many mothers will know, there’s a lot to think about once you’ve decided to start breastfeeding. Consider the following breastfeeding tips to help you make breastfeeding as easy and rewarding as it was meant to be.
- Bring your baby to your breast, not your breast to your baby.
- Remember your baby’s feeding position: chin to breast and nose to nipple.
- Eat and drink plenty and regularly.
- Accept all offers of help in the early weeks so you can devote yourself to establishing breastfeeding.
- Avoid sore nipples by making sure your baby latches on properly.
- Top-up meals shouldn’t be necessary.
- Be confident in your ability to feed your baby. You can do it.
- Relax – after all, both you and baby are learning.
- Expressing and storing some breast milk can give you more flexibility and freedom.
- Enjoy this special warmth, closeness and bonding time with your baby – even if it does seem to take up all your time at first!
- Feeding on demand ensures a good supply of breast milk.
- It’s very rare not to have enough milk.
Always seek prompt medical attention if :
- Your baby seems unusually sleepy and /or refuses to breastfeed.
- Your baby seems unusually unsettled and is crying more than usual.
- You feel flu-like, hot, cold, aching or generally unwell.
- You have any redness, tenderness or lumpiness in your breasts.
You may also be interested in our breastfeeding myths page or our how to breastfeed page. For more specific breastfeeding information, go to our main breastfeeding advice page.