The Hand That Feeds...

One of your biggest jobs as a new mom is feeding your baby. In the first 30 days, this happens anywhere from eight to 12 times a day, lasting from 10 minutes to almost an hour for each feeding. Sometimes it will feel like your baby is hungry every five minutes!

It’s a big job, whether you’re breast- or bottle-feeding. Both mommy and baby have a lot to learn. Here are a few tips from certified lactation educator Cathy Cagle:

Get a teacher. If you’re breastfeeding and encounter some problems at the start, you’re not alone. Ask for a lactation specialist at the hospital (if they have one), call your local La Leche League representative  or ask an experienced mother for some one-on-one guidance.

Get comfortable. Make sure your feeding station is well supplied. Have snacks, drinks, nipple salve, reading material, music, the television remote and telephone close at hand.

Use a nursing pillow. One of the best inventions around is the nursing pillow. The pillow helps position your baby correctly. This is good for both breast- and bottle-feeding!

Bond with your baby. For your baby, eating is physically and emotionally nurturing. It’s not just the formula or breast milk that is important. Remember to really be with your baby while feeding him or her—look, hold, stroke and love your baby.