• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Breastfeeding Tips for Newborns

October 22, 2010 by ds_46006 Leave a Comment

As a new mom, you’re faced with a difficult choice–whether to bottle-feed or breastfeed your newborn. Breastfeeding boasts benefits such as helping you bond with your newborn and strengthening her immune system. Proper breastfeeding can be frustrating, and may leave you wanting to reevaluate your decision, however, time-tested tips can make breastfeeding your newborn less challenging.

Breasftfeed Immediately

Begin feeding your newborn as soon after his birth as possible. The earlier you start, the quicker and easier it is for the two of you to get into a feeding routine.

Breastfeeding Technique

Cradle your newborn, placing his body close to yours. WebMD suggests lightly touching your baby’s lip with your nipple to encourage him to open his mouth and latch on to your nipple. As your baby readies to eat, move his mouth closer to your breast, placing your nipple just above his tongue. Pay attention to whether your newborn has both of his lips around your nipple, as this will help him get milk and reduce the chances of you feeling pain during feedings. Your newborn should have his mouth opened wide and his lips curled out to ensure proper feeding.

Feeding Times

Your newborn may keep you on your toes with her eating schedule. Parenting, an online resources for families, cites that newborns should eat at least eight to 12 times a day, and should be woken up to eat, if necessary. During the day, your little one may eat every two to four hours, while at night, she may wake up to eat every four hours.

Pain-Free Feeding

The first couple of times you breastfeed, you may experience mild pain as you and baby get used to the process. After the first few sessions, you shouldn’t notice any pain while your baby is eating. If you do experience pain, it may be because the baby isn’t properly latched onto your nipple. Readjust the baby and try again.

Feeding the Baby Enough

Be sure your newborn gets enough food during each feeding. After a feeding, check your baby’s attitude to see if he’s calm and relaxed or fussy. If he’s calm, he’s likely satisfied his appetite. Keep track of how often you change your newborn’s diapers. Baby Center, an online parenting resource, cites that a newborn should have six to eight wet diapers a day and at least three bowel movements a day during the first month.

Ask for Help

If you notice that your baby isn’t latching on, or you have a concern about breastfeeding, contact your lactation consultant with your questions. No question is too small; it’s better to be safe and get feedback from a professional to ensure that feedings are going as they should.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_46006

Miranda Brookins is a marketing professional who has over seven years of experience in copywriting, direct-response marketing, web marketing, publications management and business communications. She has a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Towson University, and is currently working on a master's degree in publications design at University of Baltimore. She has written for eHow, Modern Mom and other private clients.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Great news! Nursing moms are getting a new tax break from … [Read More...] about Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

What Can I Substitute for Butter When Making Frosting?

How Does IVF Work

How Does IVF Work?

Signs You're Having a Miscarriage

Signs You’re Having a Miscarriage

pregnant while not ovulating

Can I Get Pregnant While Not Ovulating?

Child Seat Belt Laws for a Pickup Truck

Child Seat Belt Laws for a Pickup Truck

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Quick Ways to Cook a Round Steak

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.