I have not been on here in a long time, but this post has been brewing in me for awhile. I believe many women just don't have enough information to have successful breastfeeding.
Allow the baby to nurse as long as they desire. They should not be broken off unless there is an emergency of some sort, or pain, or deep frustration of course. Babies seem to be much like young kangaroos to me, they are meant to latch on and stay that way for long periods of time. A sling can help with this if you really just cannot stand sitting still or lying down for hours. I love it because I get plenty of rest.
Sleep with your baby if you can. Cosleeping is what nature intends for all mammals with fur. If you are too afraid you will hurt the baby even if you use the safe cosleeping methods, or your partner disagrees, then have the bassinet so close you can and do keep your hand on the baby as you both sleep. this will allow the child to still feel protected in sleep, and will allow you to feel its movements so that you can respond when they need to nurse without them fully waking. But cosleeping is what nature intends, neither of you has to wake and baby can nurse through the night as you both sleep.
Keep your breasts available. Remain bare on top if possible, no shirt at all. If it is cold, wear a shirt, but not a bra. Keeping them available allows the baby to smell the milk and they will feed often, as it should be.
Hold the baby constantly until it asks to get down, usually right around the time they begin sitting up on their own. Check the Continuum Concept website at http://continuum-concept.org for more information on the in arms phase.
Remain with your baby all the time. Operate as a unit for the first year or years of the child's life. Even trips to the grocery store by yourself will impact the symbiosis that exists. However, with the baggage we all have from being raised as we were I know sometimes going somewhere alone for 15 minutes feels like the right thing to do. If you do, make sure the baby is asleep and be back before they wake. Or when they are older, like past 7-8 months and have begun to enjoy your partner more (at birth they really only want you, as nature intends), take advantage of the time they are holding baby to step outside for a walk. But keep in mind that any time away from the baby will affect the magic that is mother and baby... (however as i said, many of us were not raised naturally or with attachment or being lovingly touched, so if you are overwhelmed try to step away when it will be least felt by baby of course). Being with your baby 24/7 promotes a breastfeeding relationship that will feed your baby well.
Avoid all prosthetic nipples, such as pacifiers, bottles. Not only are they perhaps dangerous ( not too long ago it was found the plastics commonly used in nipples and bottles and toys causes many things, including diabetes and infertility because of something called BPA), but they promote weaning. anything that is not your nipple but gives the same satisfaction, or at least a similar one, means that time is not spent on the breast building and maintaining supply.
I may add more to this post as I think of it. Like I said, I have not been around but something drove me to write this. So to you that is reading this, this is meant for you. It is what you needed to hear. Bless the coincidence.
With love,
carrie
2 daughters, 6yo and 9 mo
Allow the baby to nurse as long as they desire. They should not be broken off unless there is an emergency of some sort, or pain, or deep frustration of course. Babies seem to be much like young kangaroos to me, they are meant to latch on and stay that way for long periods of time. A sling can help with this if you really just cannot stand sitting still or lying down for hours. I love it because I get plenty of rest.
Sleep with your baby if you can. Cosleeping is what nature intends for all mammals with fur. If you are too afraid you will hurt the baby even if you use the safe cosleeping methods, or your partner disagrees, then have the bassinet so close you can and do keep your hand on the baby as you both sleep. this will allow the child to still feel protected in sleep, and will allow you to feel its movements so that you can respond when they need to nurse without them fully waking. But cosleeping is what nature intends, neither of you has to wake and baby can nurse through the night as you both sleep.
Keep your breasts available. Remain bare on top if possible, no shirt at all. If it is cold, wear a shirt, but not a bra. Keeping them available allows the baby to smell the milk and they will feed often, as it should be.
Hold the baby constantly until it asks to get down, usually right around the time they begin sitting up on their own. Check the Continuum Concept website at http://continuum-concept.org for more information on the in arms phase.
Remain with your baby all the time. Operate as a unit for the first year or years of the child's life. Even trips to the grocery store by yourself will impact the symbiosis that exists. However, with the baggage we all have from being raised as we were I know sometimes going somewhere alone for 15 minutes feels like the right thing to do. If you do, make sure the baby is asleep and be back before they wake. Or when they are older, like past 7-8 months and have begun to enjoy your partner more (at birth they really only want you, as nature intends), take advantage of the time they are holding baby to step outside for a walk. But keep in mind that any time away from the baby will affect the magic that is mother and baby... (however as i said, many of us were not raised naturally or with attachment or being lovingly touched, so if you are overwhelmed try to step away when it will be least felt by baby of course). Being with your baby 24/7 promotes a breastfeeding relationship that will feed your baby well.
Avoid all prosthetic nipples, such as pacifiers, bottles. Not only are they perhaps dangerous ( not too long ago it was found the plastics commonly used in nipples and bottles and toys causes many things, including diabetes and infertility because of something called BPA), but they promote weaning. anything that is not your nipple but gives the same satisfaction, or at least a similar one, means that time is not spent on the breast building and maintaining supply.
I may add more to this post as I think of it. Like I said, I have not been around but something drove me to write this. So to you that is reading this, this is meant for you. It is what you needed to hear. Bless the coincidence.
With love,
carrie
2 daughters, 6yo and 9 mo
