Break milk is amazing🤱! It's like the ultimate super food tailor-made for your baby. It's packed with all the essential nutrients your newborn needs to thrive and even armed with special antibodies that help boost their immune system💪. Breastfeeding is not as tricky as it may seem. Sure, it can feel a bit challenging at first but don’t worry, you've got this!
Breast Milk comes in three stages, each with its own superpowers!
🍼Colostrum
This is the first stage of breast milk, and it's like a golden elixir for your baby. Colostrum is thick, yellowish (sometimes clear), and packed with all the good stuff your little one needs to boost their immune system and aid digestion.
🍼Transitional Milk
After colostrum, we move on to transitional milk. It's like a tasty blend of milk and orange juice (but way better!). This stage provides more calories, fat, and lactose to support your baby's growing appetite.
🍼Mature Milk
This is the superhero stage of breast milk. It arrives a little later, around 10 days to two weeks after giving birth. Mature milk is thin, white, and filled with all the essential nutrients, fats, and antibodies your baby needs to thrive.
Let’s talk about the breastfeeding position!
Get ready to explore different breastfeeding positions beyond the basic cradle hold!
🤱Cradle hold
Baby's head in your elbow, supporting their body. Hold your breast and point the nipple towards her nose.
🤱Crossover hold
If you're nursing from the right breast, use your left hand to hold the head. Cup your breast with your free hand, just like the cradle hold. Happy nursing!
🤱Football hold
Tuck your baby's legs under your arm on the same side as the breast you're nursing from. Use that arm, supported by a pillow, to lift your baby up comfortably. With your other hand, gently cup your breast!
🤱Side-lying position
Lie on your side with a pillow under your head. Baby faces you, align their head with your nipple. Cup breast with free hand if needed.
🤱Laid-back position ("biological nurturing")
Lean back on a couch or bed with pillows supporting you. Place baby tummy to tummy on your chest, and let them seek out your nipple naturally. Ideal for newborns and babies with reflux or sensitivity.
How often should I give breastmilk?
Breastfeeding frequency can vary depending on your baby's age, feeding cues, and your milk supply. For newborns👶, it's common to breastfeed around 8 to 12 times a day, which means feeding every 2 to 3 hours. Newborns have small tummies and need frequent feedings to get enough nutrition and stimulate milk production. As your baby grows, they may have slightly longer stretches between feedings, but it's important to continue feeding on demand. Watch for hunger cues like rooting or sucking on your hands, and feed your baby whenever they show signs of hunger🧸.