Breastfeeding

Always offer your breast when the baby cries
That’s usually what she wants.
Don’t think “I just fed her.”
Forget about time, follow the baby’s rhythm
If her mother’s breast is always close,
your baby will be calm and easy to look after.
Dad is important too, but he can’t breastfeed.

Some helpful breastfeeding hints: 
Lie on your side and hold your baby tummy-to-tummy
Position her upper lip level with your nipple.
When she tips back her head, her nose
will be free to breathe while she is eating.
Wait until she opens wide, and draw her to your breast.
Listen to hear that she is swallowing,
and not just sucking.

If your baby is upset,
sing or speak softly to calm her down before feeding.
When a baby cries, her tongue is up against the roof of her mouth
Her tongue has to lie at the bottom of her mouth
before she can latch onto your breast.

Learn to express by hand
Freeze milk for emergencies.
If your baby is frantic and you start to panic,
your milk might not flow.
Calm your baby down with some breast milk
on a spoon or from a small cup before feeding.

Or if you have to leave your baby for a few hours,
Dad or someone else can feed her
with your milk from a small cup or spoon.
Later on, when breastfeeding is established,
the baby can take a bottle somethimes.

When it comes to breastfeeding,
you can only do your best.
If it doesn’t work or you don’t like it, don’t worry.

But skin to skin contact is vital,
because it makes your baby feel safe.
Feeding your baby with a bottle is usually faster than breastfeeding,
so you might want to give her a dummy.
Babies need to suck. It makes them feel comforted and safe.