It’s helpful for a woman who wants to breast-feed to learn as much about it as possible before delivery, while she is not exhausted from caring for an infant around-the-clock. The following tips can help foster successful nursing:

• Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when the infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though the mother won’t be producing milk yet, her breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains antibodies to disease.
• Proper positioning: The baby’s mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for the mother. A nurse, midwife, or other knowledgeable person can help her find a comfortable nursing position.
• Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate the mother’s breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine. But because breast milk is more easily digested than formula, breast-fed babies often eat more frequently than bottle-fed babies.
• No supplements: Nursing babies don’t need sugar water or formula supplements. These may interfere with their appetite for nursing, and that can lead to a diminished milk supply. The more the baby nurses, the more milk the mother will produce.
• Delay artificial nipples: It’s best to wait a week or two before introducing a pacifier, so that the baby doesn’t get confused. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle could also confuse some babies in the early days. They, too, are learning how to breast-feed.
• Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until her nipples toughen, the mother should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking, which can lead to infection. If her nipples do crack, the mother can coat them with breast milk or other natural moisturizers to help them heal. Vitamin E oil and lanolin are commonly used, although some babies may have allergic reactions to them. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. If the mother’s very sore, the baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.
• Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever and painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.
• Expect engorgement: A new mother usually produces lots of milk, making her breasts big, hard and painful for a few days. To relieve this engorgement, she should feed the baby frequently and on demand until her body adjusts and produces only what the baby needs. In the meantime, the mother can take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply warm, wet compresses to her breasts, and take warm baths to relieve the pain.
• Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, the nursing mother needs a balanced diet that includes 500 extra calories a day and six to eight glasses of fluid. She should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

–R.D.W.

About the Article:
Provided by FDA.

by Florentin Sardan

It is well known that there is a tight connection between the mother and the child, sensations are transmitted between the two, and if you want your baby to feel comfortable, you must perfect a few aspects with regard to the proper clothes. What you like, he / she likes too; consequently, it is advisable to dress the baby just as you dress yourself. But be careful, when your baby does not move yet, he / she gets cold easier. For this reason, it would be best for you to be equipped as well as possible, even in summer, and always try to have an additional article of clothing with you in case the sun hides behind the clouds…

During the day:
If you cannot stand long sleeves, especially when it is hot, the baby cannot stand them either! But in case weather conditions are unstable it is better to have a supplementary protection waistcoat with you.

As a rule, the clothes which come in direct contact with the skin should be cotton made. In this case, avoid body articles with caps and use body undershirts which stop below the waist and allow air to circulate. Also, it is better not to dress the baby in dark clothes because they preserve heat. The child’s head should be always covered, especially when sun is powerful. If light is intense it is indicated for the baby to wear a pair of sunglasses of the best quality. The T-shirt is indispensable in order to protect the baby from air currents when the baby’s skin is perspired, but during summer you can seize the opportunity and leave the baby with the bottom and legs naked.

For sleeping:
When there are around 24 degrees outside, do not let the baby sleep in the “sleeping bag” anymore and dress him / her in pyjamas. When there is over 27 degrees, you can dress the baby in a body, he / she won’t catch a cold!

About the Author:
Copyright 2006 www.BabiesPlaza.com, All Rights Reserved. Find a great deal of articles about feeding, baby care, birthdays, gifts and baby shower tips by visiting Babies Plaza.

Disclaimer: Please remember that you should always put sunscreen on your baby when out in the sun.