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How to prepare for breastfeeding and gifting good health to your baby

Breastfeeding your newborn is one of the most innately natural and satisfying things you will ever do. It is good for your baby – breastmilk meets all the nutritional needs of your little one, improves their immunity, and is easy to digest. It is good for you too – breastfeeding burns calories and lowers the risk of developing breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers among other benefits. Most importantly, breastfeeding will help you connect with your baby at a much deeper level.

As beautiful as the breastfeeding journey is, it is equally demanding and exhausting. Many first-time mothers struggle to get it right during the initial weeks. If you are an expecting mum getting ready to welcome your little bundle of joy into the world, read on to prepare yourself mentally as well as physically for the whirlwind ride that is breastfeeding!

• Empower yourself with information

The sooner you start planning for it, the better! There are plenty of resources and support groups online that help new and expecting mothers plan and prepare for breastfeeding. You can also read a couple of books meant to help women on their breastfeeding journey. Most prenatal classes also include exclusive sessions on breastfeeding.

Here are some great Singapore-based resources you can look up:

1. Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group
2. Singapore General Hospital Lactation Clinic
3. Mother & Child
4. New Mothers’ Support Group

If you have any specific concerns, you can also consult a lactation guide. They can answer your questions, examine your breasts for any issues and provide you with the necessary guidance for a successful breastfeeding stint.

• A nursing bra is a must

Nursing bras are specially designed for lactating mothers. They have detachable flaps that come off so that you can feed your little one on-demand without having to entirely remove the bra. Don’t wait until you start nursing to get yourself a nursing bra. Amidst the endless cycles of feeding, burping, and diaper changes, you will get hardly any time to go bra shopping.

As your body prepares itself for delivery, your breasts will get bigger. Post-delivery when they start producing milk, they will also get engorged. So don’t forget to size up when buying a nursing bra. 

• Assemble the apparatus

Apart from good nursing bras, a few other essentials can make your life much easier while you feed your newborn. These include:

1. A nursing pillow: This can come in especially handy in case of a caesarian birth as cradling your baby as he/she nurses can put pressure on the stitches.
2. Breast pump: Invest in a good breast pump so that you can express any excess milk that you produce. This milk can be frozen for storage and reheated before a feeding session. In addition to ensuring that you don’t waste any milk, it can also provide some much-needed relief from engorged breasts.
3. Breast pads: You can easily insert these into your bra to absorb leakage.
4. Nipple cream. To provide relief from sore and cracked nipples.

Additionally, you can also get a nipple shield to prevent any cuts and wounds as your baby starts teething.

• Give your body a head start

You can start preparing yourself for lactation physically right from the last trimester of your pregnancy. Get your breasts examined for inverted or flat nipples. Massage your breasts gently (avoiding the areolas and nipples) to help prevent engorgement and blocked milk ducts during the early weeks.

The third trimester is also the right time to introduce a few galactagogues into your daily diet. Galactagogues are food and herbs that are known to aid milk supply. While their efficacy is not scientifically proven, women all around the world swear by them. Fenugreek seeds, fennel, lemongrass, rolled oats, anise, and garlic, among others, are historically known to promote a better milk supply.

• Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster

Along with preparing for breastfeeding physically, it is equally important to prepare yourself mentally. The initial few weeks after delivery are emotionally charged. With the body experiencing a dip in the pregnancy hormones, exhaustion from childbirth, and sleepless nights, you are likely to feel easily irritable and emotional.

During such times you might find yourself on the verge of giving up. Whenever you feel such feelings, remind yourself as to why are you doing this in the first place. Seek help from your spouse, friends, and family. Speak with other women who have been through similar situations and find comfort in the fact that this is just a phase.

Conclusion:

Whether you choose to exclusively breastfeed your baby or go the formula milk way, it is a deeply personal choice. One that in no way makes you a good or bad mother.

If you do choose to breastfeed your child, be kind to yourself. Even when things don’t seem to be going well. Try to find help and support in other caregivers – your partner, parents, friends, and join online support groups with other like-minded mamas for the reassurance that you are not alone!

References & Resources

1. 10 Ways to Prepare for Breastfeeding While Pregnant

2. Feeding Your Baby: Breastfeeding

3. Breastfeeding Your Baby – Booklet

4. Preparing for Breastfeeding

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As a well-established and reputed cord blood bank in Singapore, Cryoviva offers a high-quality and world-class service to ensure you discover the benefits of umbilical cord stem cell storage and treatment. Contact us now or WhatsApp us on +65-8339 8482.