Breastfeeding is very beneficial for you and your baby. It provides your baby with a near-perfect mix of nutrients, and it strengthens the bond between you and your baby.

You are probably feeling excited to begin breastfeeding and cannot wait to initiate that special bond between you and your baby. Breastfeeding, however, presents a few challenges that every mother has to face. The following are some tips that will help during breastfeeding.

Take Care of Your Skin

Breastfeeding can cause cracked nipples and dried and irritated skin around the nipples. This can sometimes become extremely painful to the point that you can continue nursing your baby. Consult your doctor for nipple cream that helps prevent or treat this issue.

Get Comfortable

Breastfeeding sessions can last anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and you will need to nurse your baby 8 or more times per day, especially in the first few months; therefore, sitting in an uncomfortable position while breastfeeding can take a toll on your body. Learn more about the different breastfeeding positions and try a few of them to find one that works for you and your baby. Additionally, you can check breastfeeding pillows or other paraphernalia designed to make nursing more comfortable. 

Be Patient

Breastfeeding can be frustrating in the beginning. It may be painful, you may feel your baby is not getting enough milk, or your baby may not be able to suck well enough. Although babies can nurse mere minutes after birth, it does not mean they are experts at it. You and your baby still need to learn a lot, so take your time and be patient, and everything will work out fine.

Prevent Engorgement

When your milk comes in after you start breastfeeding, the milk is produced according to your baby's demand. This means that the more your baby nurses the more milk will be available and vice versa, but this adjustment takes times. Missing a few feedings will cause your breasts to become engorged, swollen and painful, which makes nursing more difficult. Invest in a breast pump so you can extract the milk when you cannot nurse your baby to prevent engorgement and to make sure your supply remains adequate to your baby's needs.

Pump and Freeze

Breastfeeding can be inconvenient at certain times, and it usually means the mother cannot spend an extended time away from her baby. This can be overcome by using a pump to extract breast milk and storing it in the freezer to be used at a time when it is more convenient to heat the milk and give it to the baby in a bottle. This allows your baby to get the benefits of breast milk when you cannot breastfeed.

Breastfeeding creates a special bond between you and your baby, so no matter what challenges you are faced with try to enjoy this time you spend with your baby.