Simple Steps to Breastfeeding Success

I'm kinda emotional when i know babies never got a chance to breastfeed. I know it sounds ridiculous but then it's just part of me that is so hard to change. It's none of my business, really, but i can't help it. If you do it the right way, insyaallah.. it'll be a success.



1. Keep Your Mind Set on the Right Track
Way long before giving birth, set your mind set right. Make sure you practice wanting to breastfeed. Make an effort to be thrilled about breastfeeding your baby. It's squirmish of the idea of letting someone cling onto your nipple if it's your first born, but breastfeeding is very rewarding in the long run, trust me!



2. Be Ready with the Strict Contract
A lot of people have been boasting about the goodness of breastfeeding but very little people have exposed how challenging it is. Be prepared with long hours of feeding with your baby as breastmilk is just so easy to digest, babies tend to get hungry compared to when given formula milk. Back pain is just part of it plus the fact that you won't get that much sleep like before. All these are not a hindrance to successful breastfeeding. It should encourage you more if you are a real fighter.

Breastfeeding makes me realize how persistent i can be if i really want to do something. It is a symbol of my strength in raising my kids. Whenever I feel that i'm a terrible mom, this will calm me down; the fact that i signed a 2-yr contract with 3 of my 4 kids. My eldest was just an 8-month contract, due to no one but myself. But then, it was the reason why the rest are succesful.



3. Seek Support from Strong Believers
Don't just ask anyone. Go straight to the right people, forum, lactation counsellors or even websites. Strong believers of breastfeeding will support each other. I've known people who loaned their own breastpump to ensure the success of others. They will come and help new mommies to do it right. Having support will help you during the times when you get really down due to certain issues in breastfeeding.



4. Sometimes, it's better to Put on Deaf Ears
I learnt this mistake after the failure of my eldest son's breastfeeding. Remarks from people should be left unheard. Negative people should be shoved away kindly. It can't be denied that certain people are just so very negative when it comes to breastfeeding and they just can't shut their mouth up. Things like ' Breastmilk is not enough.. formula milk is better as it's thicker', 'he is still hungry' etc etc will leave us feeling doubt about breastfeeding.. thus affecting the milk production.



5. Wake the Baby up But Do it Lying down!
A lot of people believe that if the baby is sleeping, let him sleep, he will tell you when he is hungry. The truth is when the baby cries, he is already very very hungry to one extend that he can start crying hysterically. This definitely cause stress and can give a huge impact to your milk production. Time your clock.. be alert of the time. For newborn, feeding should be between 1 to 1.5 hours apart. Just squirt a bit of your milk into his mouth or simply touch his cheek with your nipple. If he keeps on stirring in his sleep, he is probably hungry.



6. Go Gadget Go!
If you must, get gadget that can help you brestfeed cosily, a nursing pillow, a neck rest, a hiding hooter / nursing cover, nursing dresses and a baby wrap just to cater all that you need. Take it as a motivation and a reward for yourself.


7. Enjoy it while You still can!
There's no point being grumpy. Watch tv, read a magazine, pamper your baby. Once they have started walking, or even crawling, you have less time to cuddle your baby.


8. Look at the Percentage.
Don't look at the number of hours you have to spend nursing your baby. Look at the percentage instead. A average person is expected to live at least until the age of 60, thus, 2 years of breastfeeding is just 3.3% of his life. Need I say more?


9. Take it as a Reward
You will definitely get rewards for you sacrifice. As you breastfeed, your vagina will start to contract and get to its original size. Breastfeeding will use up the fat you accumulate during pregnancy. I've been told by a very plump mother how her weight didn't budge even when she fully breastfed. My answer was simple "Imagine if you didn't breasfeed at all hehehe".

10.Think of the Money you can Save
Formula milk is really pricey and it's not even close to the goodness of what breastmilk can offer. Whatever ingredients claimed to be in the formula milk is an attempt to imitate what breastmilk has. Isn't it better to give the best formula specially formulated for us by our Creator.

Simple Steps to Breastfeeding Success