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Congratulations on being a new mom. It is a truly wonderful experience. At this time, you are probably facing a myriad of decisions, one of them being whether you want to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a step in the right direction for a number of reasons. For off, it strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Secondly, the process passes antibodies to your baby that helps the baby fight disease and infection. A third reason that breastfeeding is good for you is that it can save you money. No need to warm up a bottle because the food is already there. Natural feeding is an amazing process, but you have to be prepared for the hiccups. The following are some resources and some tips that you can take so that you can get through this period easily.
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1. Join Some Support Groups
are a wonderful way to get advice and strategies from people who are in the same boat you are in. You can conduct a search on the web for a group of nursing moms. There is a group for just about everything under the sun, so you will surely find some mothers who are just starting out in the breastfeeding realm. They can share their horror stories and their joy with you. More importantly, they can give you tips on how to make the process of breastfeeding go smoothly.
2. Stock up on Accessories
You can make your transition into the process a whole lot easier if you have all of the accessories you need. Examples of some of the things you will need are nursing pads, blankets and bras. Manufacturers make easy-access bras for nursing mothers so they don’t have to take half of their clothes off just to feed the baby. Nursing pads are items that you will put inside of your bra for those times when you leak. It happens to everyone, but it doesn’t have to stain your clothing.
Blankets make you and the baby comfortable, and that can enhance the bonding process for you. Additionally, you may want to purchase nipple balm and some supplements that can increase the milk production for your baby. Nipple balm helps keep the nipples moist so they don’t crack and cause you pain. Cracked nipples is a common problem among breastfeeding women.
3. Prepare Your Feeding Area
Preparing your feeding area with comfortable furniture and calming fixtures can help you and your baby to relax and focus on each other. What you will want to do is get a soft rocking chair, lots of blankets and perhaps a dim light that will promote tranquility. Your baby will love you for it. Another thing you may want to do to enhance the serenity in your breastfeeding area is put a music box or a radio there so you can play sounds that you will both enjoy. Sounds like ocean water and bird chirps are perfect for the mood that you are trying to set for your little one.
4. Take Some Courses
You can prepare yourself for the journey with your new baby by signing up for online breastfeeding classes. There are some things you need to know before you allow the baby to come near your breasts. One of the things you can learn through instruction is how to prevent the dreaded breast bite. Babies do bite, and the bites hurt unless you use the right tactic to prevent them.
By following these few simple tips you can really help make breastfeeding a better experience for you. It don’t have to be super uncomfortable. It’s important to take the time to do your research and try out a bunch of different things. That way you can find the best and most comfortable strategy for you.