Breastfeeding
The ‘best’ there is and nothing compares to mother milk/breast milk. But.. Is it for you? What do you need to know beforehand?
As a mother, I breastfed my 3 children for 8 months, 10 months and 2.5 years with my youngest. Whilst I was breastfeeding my youngest child Levi who is now 2.5 years old, I donated my milk to another baby in Den Haag for 10 months too
Breastfeeding is very natural and the ‘best’ like WHO educates us about it.. but it is not easy.
As a new parent, I want you to start knowing this.. No baby is born knowing what to do and no mother has the skills to breastfeed instilled in them. That’s the real fact. So let us encourage, educate and explain how one could achieve breastfeeding if they choose this to be the means of feeding their baby
The first few days, your baby will not have energy to really suck. Many babies suckle on the nippels and that is the beginning of stimulation for you. Be sure that the baby has been placed on ypur breasts even if not to latch within the first hour, the golden hour. Not every person gets a golden hour though, so if you know ahead of time you will be induced or down for a planned section, you could try to pump a few days before your induction or planned section to encourage the same stimulation
Once at home and you decide that breastfeeding is for you, there are a few things to consider and be sure to repeat. It will be very repetitive to start with but with time you will find a rhythm with each other and it will become more natural to you both
Be consistent with p;acing your baby on your breast
Ask for help for the things that are not priority
Appreciate the still moment you will have to feed your baby, don’t rush things, enjoy
Share the responsibilities with your partner. Let them change and burp the baby before and after you feed
Remember biology at school!! The technique is IN-OUT. You drink something warm (preferably before and whilst feeding) as your baby drinks from you. The energy lost during feeds is real. Don’t waist time find out!
Make water your beast friend in your breastfeeding journey
Eat well. It does not mean eat for two. Eat the right amounts of everything that is good for you.
Be observant if you notice anything with your baby’s skin reaction, cramps etc. Was it after a feed? What did you eat up to a day before you noticed the reaction etc
My crotchetted breast model for the families I willl support as a Kraamverzorgende :-)
I love to explain things visually as an educator so I create things I can use to share information especially when your won head is foggy those first few days after childbirth.
Be sure to look out for the booklets I am making which will be available to purchase on my website and also on Amazon soon :-)
My first book as an Author in Ancestral RITES during the Postpartum period is also coming out in October and I cannot wait for you to read it! :-) Pre-orders will be announced here on my website :-)
