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5 Breastfeeding Tips And How To Pump Breastmilk | Hea Boosters

Breastfeeding is wonderful and offers many advantages for moms and their babies alike but it isn't something anyone is born knowing how to do. It's almost like learning a new language a vocabulary that's peppered with terms like latching, weaning, pumping, and expressing and it takes time, practice and patience to get it right.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed and conflicted over whether to breastfeed all the time, when to start introducing your child to a bottle and feel lost about how and when you should pump breastmilk too.



While there are no universal patterns or solutions for any of these since breastfeeding experiences vary from one mother to another, we've collated a few things that helped us navigate this space in the hope that they might help you too.

5 tips for breastfeeding moms:

1. Practice latching:

The most important part of breastfeeding is latching your baby correctly on your nipple. Incorrect latching usually results in sore breasts and nipples and won't allow your baby to feed properly either. Babies need to learn how to latch when they are breastfeeding and the more you guide them and practice, the faster and easier it will be for them to do so allow yourself time and patience to master the perfect latch.



One of the crucial things is to get comfortable while breastfeeding. Support your neck and back. Make sure that your stomach is aligned with your baby’s stomach. Also, guide your baby to your nipple so that they know where to exactly latch on.

2. Anticipate hunger cues:

Do not wait for your baby to start crying, rather look at a few telltale signs like sucking whatever is near them, sticking their tongue out, turning or raising their head repeatedly. If you see your baby do these things then it's probably a sign that they're and need to breastfeed. Breastfeeding frequently and anticipating your baby's needs also helps you build a strong bond with your little one.

3. Avoid waking up a sleeping baby:

It's always a good idea to let your baby determine how often to nurse. Don’t set a time interval between feedings and avoid waking a sleeping baby to feed them simply because three hours have passed. Let your sleeping baby lay peacefully and feed them when they wake. Breastfeeding duration can vary drastically too. Don’t worry if nursing time only lasts ten minutes, and don’t panic if it stretches on for forty-five. Some babies are fast eaters, while some like to take their time.

4. Taking care of your skin:

The skin on your breasts is very delicate, and continuous feeding can make it very sensitive. Due to regular nursing, your nipples may also become sore, cracked and dry which can make it very difficult for you to continue nursing your baby. Therefore, it is important to take care of your nipples if you want to continue breastfeeding. Patting your breasts dry after a shower, applying coconut oil to heal the cracked skin and letting your breasts air out between periodic feeding goes a long way to help here.

5. Don't worry about producing enough milk:

Not producing enough milk and wondering if your baby is eating enough is one of the most common worries that breastfeeding moms have. While this is normal, try not to worry too much. Stress is one of the factors that contribute to the lower production of milk. Trust that your body will produce as much milk as your baby requires. If you still are genuinely worried about your breastmilk consider supplementing your diet with foods or supplements that increase your milk production There are several herbs that can help you increase your breastmilk.

There are many nuances and hacks to breastfeeding your little one, but there's also the question of how, when and whether to pump breastmilk. Whether you are heading back to work or your baby wants to be fed at night time, pumping your breastmilk can be beneficial for both you and your baby too and helps take some of the pressure off you in terms of being the sole caregiver for your baby as well

Here are a few steps at the start of each pumping session that can help ensure that your pumping experience is a comfortable and rewarding one.

1. Relax:

Whether you breastfeed or pump breastmilk, staying relaxed and stress-free is useful in both situations.

2. Start with gentle massage:

Start with a soft and gentle breast massage or warm compress so that your breasts can get ready for letdown. Holding your baby close to you can also help in a quick letdown. Most electric pumps will begin with a letdown phase — shorter, faster bursts of suction that mimic the initial suckling your baby would do in order to stimulate letdown. It will take a few days for you to get habituated to this.

3. Decide on the level of suction:

Don’t start with the highest level of suction in the beginning. Start at low suction and increase it when the milk starts flowing.

Just like breastfeeding, when you pump breastmilk it will take some time for you to get the hang of it. However, if you are trying to increase your breastmilk supply then pump in between nursing sessions when you’re with your baby. For working moms, try to pump breastmilk on a similar feeding schedule as your baby's, so that once you are back home you keep your milk supply going strong and aligned with the baby’s demand.

Remember not to let anyone pressure you into following a specific path when it comes to caring and providing for your child. It is totally up as to whether to you to breastfeed your baby or pump your breastmilk. Remember that there are several brands in the market for pumps, do your research and invest in what suits the best for your baby and you.

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