Master The Art Of Breastfeeding Confidence| 3 Useful Tips
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How to Master the Art of Breastfeeding with Confidence ….
For something that’s suppose to feel natural and maternal, breastfeeding can be unpredictably complicated. In fact, women have been conflicted about how to do it (and how others feel about it) for more than a century. Here are 3 tips on how to master the art of breastfeeding confidence.
TIP #1: Knowledge is Power
The more you know about breastmilk, the more empowered you’ll feel about your decision to nurse. Prior to 1890, breastfeeding was vital to infant survival because other forms of nourishment were not available. Since then, breast milk has remained a pillar of infant health and we now know breastfeed helps postpartum depression, infant sleep,strengthens immune systems, fights infectious diseases, and may help reduce likelihood of ovarian/breast cancer. Pretty cool stuff.
TIP #2 Breastfeeding is a Family Decision
Even though mom is the sole provider of breast milk, the decision to breastfeed impacts the entire family. Mothers need to communicate the demands and challenges of nursing so fathers, partners, and siblings can help and benefit from the bonds created by nursing. Whether it’s changing baby, helping at night, offering a beverage, snack, pillow or nursing accessory, loved ones can be part of the process.
Tip #3 Encourage Sibling Participation
New mothers are blessed with a variety of “super powers”, which can be intriguing to siblings. This presents a unique opportunity to share and involve siblings in infant care such as breastfeeding. Always encourage siblings to ask questions, sing to baby, hold baby’s hand, or even pretend to nurse their very own child (just like mommy).
Some share-worthy new mommy super powers:
- Heightened Sense of Smell: In one study, more than 90 percent of mothers were able to identify their baby by scent alone after spending only 10 minutes with them.
- Super human ability to Calm: A mother’s hug can stabilize an infants breathing and blood-oxygen levels
- Ability to create and sustain life: A mother’s ability to produce food for her child’s first year of life is truly amazing. Not only does her breast milk expose baby to a variety of flavors and strengthen her child’s resilience to allergies/illness, but the suckling motion helps the children’s palate develop in preparation for speech.
By incorporating these breastfeeding tips into your nursing journey, you’re bound to become a more comfortable and confident breastfeeder….but remember all good things take time. Remember, you and you’re baby are learning new skills, so give yourself some grace and time to make mistakes! xoxo
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Written by Melissa LaHann, Founder and CEO of Happy Fig, LLC
Like many moms before her, Melissa cradled her hungry, crying baby as she clumsily adjusted her bra and sat uncomfortably holding up her shirt. Before she knew it, her baby was squirming, her shirt was falling, and the nursing session was interrupted. She needed a better solution, so she created LatchPal, the first nursing clip of its kind.
LatchPal is a breastfeeding shirt clip that holds up a mother’s shirt during breastfeeding. It eliminates shirt re-positioning and feeding disruptions, and helps a mom nurse hands-free in comfort to maximize milk flow. LatchPal was designed with moms in mind. The multi-use solution
