Today marks the start of the All-Ukrainian Week of Breastfeeding Support. Many moms can experience breastfeeding difficulties, especially in the first days and weeks after giving birth. How to minimize these troubles as much as possible, says Khrystyna Piegan, a breastfeeding consultant at the maternity department of the Third Medical Association of Lviv.
In particular, it is worth:
- try to properly attach the child to the breast (in this case, there should be no painful sensations, or they may be minimal);
- do not give the child a pacifier, it does not help to be calmer, is not a mandatory attribute for the child, but only deepens problems in the future (injury of the nipples, decrease in the amount of milk, decrease in the child’s weight gain, problems with the formation of the bite, etc.);
- do not unnecessarily resort to feeding the child with a mixture. Colostrum in the first 3 days may seem small, but it is very high in calories and nutritious;
- feed the child on demand and for as long as it needs. Do not follow any feeding schedules. But with breaks no more than 2.5-3 hours. This will help to establish the arrival of a sufficient amount of milk and, accordingly, will help the child to gain weight and develop well;
- do not top up the child with water, juices or teas up to 6 months.
In order for feeding to bring benefit and pleasure to mother and child, it is necessary for the mother to plan her affairs so that there is enough time for rest and sleep, it is not necessary to “go on a strict diet of a nursing mother”, but it is necessary to walk a lot in the fresh air, have a positive attitude and believe that everything will work out.