Motherhood comes with a truckload of responsibilities. Another life depends on you completely. One of the major responsibilities of a mother is to make sure that her baby is well fed.
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As an infant, the baby heavily depends on her mother's breast milk. While you are breastfeeding, it is important that you take care of your breasts. This is how you can do that:
It is imperative that a mother who is lactating wears a proper bra. Whether you are wearing a nursing bra or a regular bra, make sure that it fits you right. Wear a bra which is supportive but not too tight. Try to wear cotton bras.
When a mother is breastfeeding, she often feels soreness in her breasts due to engorgement. Although it reduces with time, if you feel the pain is a bit much for you, you can try the old school remedies. Put cabbage leaves in your bra. These will help with the soreness of the breasts.
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Hygiene is a must for every new mom and her baby. You have to be extra careful about the hygiene of your breasts when you are lactating. Clean them regularly with lukewarm water, not just in the bath, but otherwise too. Do not use soap on your breasts as it will ripe them of the natural moisture.
To feed the baby regularly is important and so is to feed her correctly. Making sure that the baby latches on to you correctly needs practice but with time, you will get it. Feed the baby properly and when the baby is full, don't just pull your nipples out of her mouth. Put a finger on her lips and break the suction between the baby's mouth and your breasts.
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Even if you are feeding regularly and pumping too, you can still feel the milk leaking from your breasts. To manage such a situation, use cotton breast pads and squares. All you need to make sure is to change them regularly. The moment you feel that the pad is wet, change it.
You should moisturise your nipples right when you are breastfeeding. Stay away from anything that comes in a fancy bottle. As soon as you are done with feeding the baby, massage your nipples and areola with your breast milk and let it dry.
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Feeling soreness in the breasts is normal when you are breastfeeding, but if you think that it is causing you a lot of pain, you should consult a doctor right away. Do not use any product on yourself without a doctor's consultation as it can cause problems in the long run.
Every woman must give herself a breast examination every month. Since you will be lactating, you might feel some lumps which should go away with massage, feeding or pumping. If the lumps do not dissolve within a week, consult a doctor.
Every pregnancy is different and so is the breastfeeding experience but there are some common issues which every mother faces. With just a few precautions, you can take care of your baby and your breasts.
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PS: The cover image used in this article is for representational purpose only.
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