Motherhood is an experience that is ethereal and indescribable.
The holding your little one in your arms is the ultimate joy. The ability to nurture and nourish is one of the mainstays of motherhood and what better way to do it than breastfeeding. The mother-child bond gets stronger while the child suckles, nestled close to the mother’s heart.
Breastfeeding comes naturally and instinctively to a mother. But there are a few things that need to be established at the very beginning to save fumbles and pain. A newborn biting during breastfeeding is quite painful as the breasts are tender and might get cracked and painful.
Here Are a Few Breastfeeding Tips That You Need to Know About Nursing Your Baby
#1 Proper Placement of the Nipple in Baby’s mouth
The first trick is to ensure that the baby latches on to the breast properly. The nipple should be about an inch inside the baby’s mouth so that suckling is not painful for the mother. You will be surprised at the strength that a newborn can exert while feeding.
#2 Calm and Peaceful Environment for Breastfeeding
Once you get that right, do ensure that you have a quiet and peaceful environment to feed your baby. This calms the baby and she is able to feed well. A precious time for both the mother and child. The mother can speak quietly to her baby or sing to her. The baby is used to the mother’s voice from the prenatal time and feels soothed by it.
The time also creates a bond as the duo is in a skin to skin contact with each other and studies show that skin contact helps babies feed and sleep better.
Most mothers ask – “How can I stop my baby biting?”
The baby can get bored during feeding time or distracted as she grows older. It is not a good idea to be on the phone or doing other stuff while breastfeeding.
#1 Give Your Child Your Undivided Attention
Make feed times the best time of the day. Do remember that bored babies bite to get your attention. Pay undivided attention towards nursing your baby.
#2 Baby might be Teething
Babies often bite while feeding when they teethe. Their gums are itchy and inflamed and the biting gives some friction to their gums. It is a good idea to apply soothing gel or honey as advised by the doctor on the gums before feeding. You might also consider using a cold gel filled teether to soothe the gums just before feeds. This will help the baby stop biting and will also ensure that she has a full stomach.
#3 Try to Tell the Baby That Biting Is Wrong
There are a few cues that you can give your child while breastfeeding that it is not okay to bite. You can pat the cheek and say no. You can stop till the baby stops biting. It is never too early to discipline a child. Use a quiet but firm voice to say that you do not like the biting. Children respond well to boundaries. You will soon find that she is back to feeding without biting.
Conclusion
There are many health benefits of breastfeeding. This is a popular fact, but there are also many psychological and emotional benefits of breastfeeding. The baby gets nourishment and immunity benefits from breastfeeding. The mother secretes hormones that contract her uterus and keeps her healthy.
These are medical facts, what we don’t often consider is the joy that cannot be measured when you nurture your baby and are fully in sync with all her needs. You grow as a mother and as a person. Breastfeeding is a beautiful experience that defines you as a mother.
Share your experiences of breastfeeding your little one in the comments section below for other mothers to learn and take tips from that.
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