the breastfeeding
while breastfeeding, your baby feels the beating of mum’s heart and the smell of mum’s skin, which gives her love and tenderness crucial for the development of peace and security. breastfeeding is not only fulfilling the need for hunger and thirst but it also creates the organic and instinctive bond between the mother and her baby. skin-to-skin contact and this gift of nature make mother and baby emotionally connected and begin to build a relationship that will last forever.
is my baby getting enough milk?
every mother who started to breastfeed her baby asks herself the same question. while I was in the hospital, I didn’t care too much, because the lactation consultant nurse helps you breastfeed your baby, but as soon as you get home worries to begin to build up. in the beginning, you produce only small quantities of milk, but the more you offer your baby, and the more she suckles, you will have more milk – it sounds magical, and it is the real magic between the mother and her baby, and it really works.
how to breastfeed without the addition of baby formula?
my baby Anastasija was constantly crying that I didn’t know whether she was hungry, thirsty, or has cramps. I trusted the principle of supply and demand, and every time she cried, I put her in the breastfeeding position. at first, it was every hour or two, but when my milk supply was established, it was every three hours. this sounds acceptable, because every three hours baby formula is given, but as the baby’s appetite constantly grows, you have to repeat the process of breastfeeding every one or two hours until you get a new sufficient milk supply. while experiencing the whole procedure, it looks like you are tilting at windmills, but believe me, you are going to win. it is hard and demanding, but it is precious for your little angel’s health.
does breastfeeding hurt?
every new mum usually experiences some discomfort, whether it is a blocked milk duct, cracked nipple or painful and swollen breast. it’s all perfectly normal, and try not to give up. during the first week, I was feeling terrible pain because colostrum started to produce, but as Anastasija was suckling more and more, the pain was relieved and turned to discomfort, which ended with satisfaction. the most important thing is patience, because, in the end, nature does it all.
how to stop breastfeeding?
when you want to stop breastfeeding, try to do it gradually. after six months, the baby begins to eat solid foods and to lessen suckling. Anastasija was enjoying my milk as much as she wanted until her first birthday, after which I started the process of weaning. for about a month, we reduced the number of suckling to one in the morning when we wake up and one in the evening before bedtime. for another month we stopped the morning suckling, and another month has passed before we ended the evening suckling. breastfeeding lasted for 15 months and now she no longer drinks milk to fall asleep but she listens to a bedtime story. in this way, we managed to wean without any problems and to go calmly through this beautiful mutual phase.
every mum makes the decision whether to breastfeed her baby, and how long this relationship will last, but if you go for it – don’t give up. breast milk is the most natural way to feed your baby and the most powerful weapon for her immunity. every beginning of breastfeeding is difficult, but the reward is priceless. breastfeeding is organic and clean, and the best thing that creates an unbreakable bond between the mother and her baby.
