Below are few tips for new moms, based on my personal experience
and learning. But on critical situations don’t completely rely on this information;
kindly refer your doctor.
1)
During initial days it may take some time for
the baby and mother to get proper latching position, but please don’t give up
breast feeding. It is the best food for your new born baby. It contains lot of
antibodies required for the baby.
2)
Never think breast milk is insufficient for
baby. More feeding and good nutrition food will increase the breast milk
quantity.
3)
Less liquid intake will reduce breast milk secretion.
4)
For the first 3 months adequate sleep is
required for the baby to put on weight.
5)
Apart from hunger Infants may cry for inadequate
sleep, poor ventilation, pain or for many reasons. Read your child signs for
the reason.
6)
Practice the baby to sleep on a routine.
7)
Assume that infants have the same food as mom
during breast feeding period. This assumption will help to understand the root
cause of many stomach problem of the baby. For example if mom consumed lot of
potatoes then possibly her child may get stomach upset due to gas after
feeding. This can be applied to exclusively breast feed babies.
8)
Usually mom’s food intake takes at least 2 hours
to digest and produce breast milk. So the above root cause can be calculated
only after that feeding.
9)
Consuming protein rich food like egg, milk
products, sprouts etc. will increase the quality and thickness of breast milk.
10)
Mom should consume enough fiber and water to
prevent constipation for the baby.
11)
Mom should consume Calcium and Iron supplements during
the breast feeding period to prevent lack of nutrition.
12)
If the baby cries continuously in lie down position
and stops crying in the vertical position then it could be a probable sign of
stomach pain.
13)
Make sure to feed one breast completely before start
feeding the other one. Approximately this may take about 20 mins.
The reason is that, the breast milk flow
for the first few minutes is known as foremilk
and this contains the water contents required for the baby. After some time the
milk consistency will become thick. This thick milk is known as hind milk and
this contains all the fats and nutrients required to nourish the baby. If the
mom feeds only for 2 to 5 mins on one breast then the baby will get only the watery
milk and lack in the nutrition.
14)
Garlic flakes are great source of increasing
breast milk.
Few simple recipes:
Garlic
milk:
1.
Peel 10 to 15 garlic flakes and cook in pressure
cooker for about 5 whistles.
2.
Boil 1 cup of milk, add the cooked garlic flakes
and cook for 5 more mins.
3.
Add sugar as per taste and consume.
Garlic roast:
1.
Peel 5 to 6 garlic flakes and show it on open
flame with the help of a knife till it become golden brown.
2.
Add salt and pepper as per taste and have it as
snacks.
15)
Garlic is great remedy for gastric problems. Consuming
garlic during meal will prevent baby from gastric pains.
For more information about breast milk and how it is
produced please refer the following links:
