Answers to Some Breastfeeding FAQs

One of the most exciting moments for any married couple is that day when the stork finally arrives. There's no feeling quite like looking in the eyes of your newborn and appreciating the miracle of creation. His first cry would seem like music to your ears. You would even get a camera ready just to capture that moment when your baby is ushered into this world.

As a mother, there are tons of chores and responsibilities you will need to perform to properly raise your child, and these responsibilities start right at that moment your little one comes out of your womb. To make sure your baby is well taken care of, you need to know how to nurse and feed him properly. Here are answers to some FAQs in terms of nursing basics if you're a first-time mom:

When do you start breastfeeding? - Experts say that the minute your baby is delivered, start breastfeeding him. After delivery, your body will produce a special type of milk called colostrum. Even though you produce only small amounts of it, it will help in protecting your little one from infection. Don't worry if you're only producing small amounts of it: it's perfectly normal. Besides, your newborn's tummy would still be small at this time, so he won't need huge amounts of milk right away.

How often should you nurse? - Although, there's really no ideal number as to how often you should breastfeed, you can target within the range of 8-12 times for every 24-hour period. Whenever there's a chance, breastfeed your baby. The more frequent you do so, the more amounts of milk you will produce. Every time you see your newborn showing signs of hunger like increased alertness, that's your cue to nurse him.

What if you can't be around all the time to breastfeed your baby? - If you're a working mom and you can't be available to nurse your baby whenever he gets hungry, the solution is to pump your breast milk and store in a feeding bottle. This way, you can still work and have the assurance that your baby still drinks your breast milk even when you're not around. You may need to use a breast pump to stimulate your milk production.

Is there a specific diet you need to have while breastfeeding? - There's no special diet for breastfeeding moms. A normal diet is good enough for it. But you have to make sure that your diet is well balanced. You may feel a bit more hungry than usual while you breastfeed, so make sure you eat healthy snacks between meals so you can sustain your energy.

Your goal is to provide your baby with as much of your breast milk as you can, especially during the first six months after his birth. This is to ensure that your little darling gets the right amount of nutrients and is protected from certain health risks.

Indeed, as many milk advertisements rightly put it, there's no substitute for breast milk. If you have a newborn, breastfeed him as often as you can. If you can't be around to do that all the time, you can pump your breast milk and store it in feeding bottles like those from Avent. For more about Avent bottles and other feeding items, go to http://www.getprice.com.au/.

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