The first step for successful breastfeeding is "LATCHING"

Breast feeding positions for mother

Some important tips for breastfeeding mothers

1. Milk Supply:

   • First 0 –24 Hours: You may be able to express a few drops 💦 of milk. Usually, it will be sufficient for the baby. Only if baby cries after feeding also or if baby sugars are low you can go for formula milk temporarily with your paediatrician's advise.

   • Day 2 - Day 4: Milk should come in between the second and fourth days.

   • Day 5: Milk should be in. Breasts may be firm or leak milk.

   • Day 6 onwards: Breasts should feel softer after feedings

   • MILK REFLEX IS PSYCOLOGICAL. FEEL POSITIVE THAT MILK WILL COME THEN MILK WILL COME AUTOMATICALLY

2. Baby’s activity: 

   • First 0 – 8 Hours: Baby is usually wide awake in the first hour of life. 

   • First 8 – 24 Hours: Wake up your baby. Babies may not wake up on their own to feed.

   • Day 2: Baby should be more cooperative and less sleepy.

   • Day 3-5: Look for early feeding cues such as rooting, lip smacking, and hands to face.

   • Day 6 onwards: Baby should appear satisfied after feedings

   • BABY SHOULD SLEEP AT LEAST 2 HOURS AFTER FEED. IF WAKING UP FREQUENTLY FOR FEEDING THEN MILK IS NOT SUFFICIENT - INCREASE DURATION OF FEEDING OR CHECK MILK SUPPLY

3. Feeding routine: 

   • First 0 – 8 Hours: Baby may go into a deep sleep 2–4 h after birth. Put baby to breast within 30 min after birth in normal delivery and as soon as the mother is ready for cesarean delivery.

   • Day 1 - Day 4: Feed your baby every 1–4 h or as often as wanted—at least 8–12 times a day. Use a chart to write downtime for each feeding.

   • Day 5 onwards: Usually feed once in 2-3 hrs. May take one longer interval (up to 5 h between feeds) in a 24-h period.

4. Breastfeeding: 

   • First 0 – 8 Hours: Baby will wake up and be alert and responsive for several more hours after initial deep sleep.

   • First 8 – 24 Hours: As long as the mother is comfortable, a nurse at both breasts as long as baby is actively sucking.

   • Day 2: Try to nurse both sides each feeding, aiming at 10 min per side. Expect some nipple tenderness.

   • Day 3: Consider hand expressing or pumping a few drops of milk to soften the nipple if the breast is too firm for the baby to latch on.

   • Day 4-5: Nurse a minimum of 20-30 min per side every feeding for the first few weeks of life. Once milk supply is well established, allow baby to finish the first breast before offering the second.

   • Day 6 onwards: Mother’s nipple tenderness is improving or is gone

   • NIPPLE PAIN SUGGESTS POOR LATCHING - CORRECT LATCHING

   • BABY SHOULD GET BOTH FORE MILK AND HIND MILK

5. Baby’s urine output:

   • First 24 hours: Baby must have a minimum of one wet diaper in the first 24 hours. The maximum time you can wait for first urine is 48 hours. 

   • Day 2: Baby must have at least one wet diaper every 8–11 h.

   • Day 3: You should see an increase in wet diapers(up to four to six) per 24 hours.

   • Day 4: Baby’s urine should be light yellow.

   • Day 5 onwards: Baby should have six to eight wet diapers per day of colourless or light yellow urine.

6. Baby's stool:

   • First 24 hours: Baby should pass the first dark stool (meconium) within the first 24 hours

   • Day 2: Baby may have a second very dark(meconium) stool. 

   • Day 3: Baby’s stools should be in transition from black-green to yellow.

   • Day 4: Baby should have three or four yellow, seedy stools a day. May pass stool after every feeding. 

   • Day 5 onwards: The number of stools may decrease gradually after 4–6 weeks of life

   • BABIES MAY NOT PASS STOOL FOR 4-5 DAYS ALSO FROM 2ND MONTH

IF MOTHER HAS NIPPLE PROBLEMS LIKE INVERTED NIPPLE, FLAT NIPPLE TAKE LACTATION CONSULTANT HELP AND TRY TO RESOLVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

TRY TO AVOID BOTTLE FEEDING EVEN FOR FORMULA MILK - USE SPOON OR PALADAY FOR FEEDING

BOTTLE FEEDING CAUSES NIPPLE CONFUSION FOR BABY - WILL LEAD TO LESS BREASTFEEDING

MOTHER SHOULD TAKE HEALTHY DIET DURING LACTATION - MORE LIQUIDS, CEREALS, PULSES, EGGS, FRUITS & VEGETABLES

MOTHER MILK IS BOTH HEALTHY FOR BABY AND ECONOMICAL TOO !!!

AVOID FORMULA FEEDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - KEEP AS LAST OPTION ONLY IF BREAST MILK IS NOT AVAILABLE

FAMILY SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO GIVE MOTHER ENOUGH REST AND GOOD NUTRITION

😀HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHERHOOD JOURNEY😀