When you tackle the awesome art of breastfeeding for the first time, there seems to be a mountain of tasks that you must somehow master by the time you bring home the baby or so...

When you tackle the awesome art of breastfeeding for the first time, there seems to be a mountain of tasks that you must somehow master by the time you bring home the baby or so you think while pregnant and contemplating breastfeeding. It is true that there are many activities involved in breastfeeding but the basics are you need a mom, a baby, and breasts primed and ready to delivery the best nourishment a newborn could wish for.

Getting ready for the joy of breastfeeding:

Just like any task that you are preparing to do for the first time there is a learning curve to the art of breastfeeding. There are preparations you can do that will make you and baby more comfortable when the big birthday comes around and you are faced with that rosebud mouth in front of your nipple for the very first time. You can mentally prepare for that moment by reading about breastfeeding, taking a prenatal class that prepares pregnant women for breastfeeding, or you can locate a lactation specialist or La Leche League International group in your community and learn some very helpful tips about breastfeeding for the very first time.

Understand the dynamics of breastfeeding including the time involvement. The amount of time can vary but be prepared to invest at least a minimum of ten to fifteen minutes on each breast for each feeding or as much as 40 to 50 minutes total depending on your baby and what pattern is established.

Breastfeeding is something to be proud of and cherished because it is a special bonding time between you and your child. You are giving your baby something no one else on the face of this earth can give him or her – your own breast milk specially formulated for this particular baby.

Make sure your breasts are clean by washing them as you normally would when you daily shower or bathe. Use mild soap that is nondrying. Do not use scented lotions on your breasts or nipples. You can use lanolin if you develop sore or cracked nipples, which may happen at the beginning of breastfeeding while you are learning how to position the baby and the baby is first learning how to grasp your breast successfully.

Any woman can breastfeed even one with flat or inverted nipples. A lactation consultant, your obstetrician or midwife can offer advice on how to prepare your nipples for successful breastfeeding.

Part of successfully positioning the baby is positioning yourself first before you begin to breastfeed. In order to prevent backache make sure you are seated in a comfortable chair with a pillow for back support, a pillow under your arm or arm rests and put your feet up on a footstool. If you had a c-section delivery make sure you have a pillow over your scar area or use a nursing pillow which will bring your baby closer to you while nursing.

Storing breast milk safely:

Here are a few tips about storing breast milk safely when you pump.

You can safely freeze pumped milk in your freezer compartment of your refrigerator (all one door) for up to 2 weeks from pump date. If you have a separate door refrigerator and a separate door freezer you can store it for 3 or 4 months. You can store breast milk in a separate deep freeze which is at a constant temperature of -19 degrees C (0 degrees F) for 6 months or longer.

You can freeze and then thaw breast milk and if still not used you can then refrigerate the left over amount for up to 24 hours and use within that time frame. Do not re-freeze the breast milk that has been thawed. Discard any breast milk that has been used in a bottle and given to the baby and left over, do not refrigerate and re-use this milk just to be safe.

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