Tips for Breastfeeding Successfully

will be the most trying for you as a new mother, however, if you can get past the first few weeks, everything should fall into place...somewhat anyways.

After enduring hours of labor and finally bringing a new life into the world, you feel so relieved. However, it is only beginning. You now have a hungry, crying baby on your hands expecting to be fed.

Have you read everything you can about breastfeeding, you should know what to do, however, this baby is crying and wiggling and things just don't seem to be coming together.

What do you do? Relax. If mommy is stressed, baby will be stressed too. Find a comfortable position, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you get the perfect latch.

Make sure:

• you find a comfortable position considering you're now recovering from birth
• the nipple is pointed to roof of the baby's mouth
• the baby's mouth is wide open when bringing it to breast
• baby's tummy is facing you and bum is tucked in
• to bring baby to breast and not the other way around

What can you do to ensure that you succeed in breastfeeding your baby?

• Feed often
• Don't supplement with formula
• Keep hydrated

Breast milk is easily digested by the baby so your baby may be eating every 2-3 hours while her tummy is growing. After the birth of your baby, it may take 2-3 days for your milk to come in. Those first few days will be the most difficult because your baby will be on your breast constantly trying to get that milk to come in.

Breast milk production is based on supply and demand, your body makes more once it is used up. To get your milk supply up, your baby has to feed.

As a new mother, I thought my baby was not getting enough milk and began to supplement with formula, it became easier to feed the baby formula and then my milk supply began to decrease. If you want to ensure a steady supply of milk, don't supplement.

Sometimes you can do the best you can and problems will arise.

Somethings that can go wrong:

• sore, cracked, bleeding nipples
• engorgement
• yeast infection
• mastitis

Having a baby on your breast for  long periods of time can cause soreness or bleeding, using a lanolin can help ease the soreness and help prevent cracking. If you need something stronger, see your doctor.

To help sore nipples, after a feeding express some milk onto your fingers and place it on and around your nipple and let it air dry. Keep your shirt open to expose your nipples to the air so that they can heal.

Once your milk comes in, your breast are completely full, you need to make sure to feed on demand so that your body adjusts your milk production to your baby's needs.

To help alleviate engorgement you can also express milk with a breast pump or by hand. A good breast pump will definitely help you breastfeed successfully. You can express milk so that your partner join in and help feed the baby as well. You can also used expressed milk for baby's food and cereal later on.

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Breastfeeding is more than just feeding your baby, you get to cuddle and soothe your baby. Baby enjoys being hugged and kissed during her feeding times as well.

Relax and enjoy your baby now because before you know it they will be all grown up.