- Learn your baby\’s hunger signs. Signs your baby may be hungry include:
- Becoming more alert and active
- Putting hands or fists to the mouth
- Making sucking motions with the mouth
- Turning the head to look for the breast
- Crying can be a late sign of hunger, and it may be harder for the baby to latch if he or she is upset. Over time, you will be able to learn your baby\’s cues for when to start feeding.
- Follow your baby\’s lead. Some babies will feed from (or \”take\”) both breasts, one after the other, at each feeding. Other babies only take one breast at each feeding. Help your baby finish the first breast as long as he or she is still sucking and swallowing. Your baby will let go of your breast when he or she is finished. Offer the baby the other breast if he or she seems to want more.
- Keep your baby close to you. Skin-to-skin contact between you and baby will soothe his or her crying and also will help keep your baby\’s heart and breathing rates stable. A soft carrier, such as a wrap, can help you \”wear\” your baby.
- Avoid nipple confusion. Avoid using pacifiers and bottles in the first few weeks after birth unless your doctor has told you to use them because of a medical reason. If you need to use supplements, work with a lactation consultant. She can show you ways to give supplements that are supportive of breastfeeding. These include feeding your baby with a syringe, a tiny tube taped beside your nipple, or a small, flexible cup. Try to give your baby expressed milk first.
- Make sure your baby sleeps safely and close by. Have your baby sleep in a crib or bassinet in your bedroom so that you can breastfeed more easily at night. Research has found that when a baby shares a bedroom with his or her parents, the baby has a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (called SIDS).
You can get more information on Breastfeeding and related subjects on Women’s Health.gov
THIS IS A PUBLIC INFORMATION BY WOMEN’S HEALTH. FOR COPYRIGHT PLEASE CHECK HERE.
OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WOMENSHEALTH.GOV (OR GIRLSHEALTH.GOV).