09 Feb 😬Struggling with breastfeeding your newborn baby 😓Exhausted trying to express milk to ensure that you have good milk supply for baby

🤱Breastfeeding is beneficial for babies because breast milk provides the ideal balance of nutrients for infants. It is easily digestible and contains proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals in the exact proportions needed for a baby’s growth and development. Breast milk is also rich in antibodies to help protect infants from various infections, such as ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and diarrhoea.

However, breastfeeding can be challenging for many mothers, especially in the beginning. 🥴While it is a natural process, it doesn’t always come naturally to every mother and baby pair. Common challenges that new mothers may face include latch issues where baby is not latching well to feed and causing nipple damage and pain for mothers. Another common challenge is worries about milk supply, whether perceived or actual low supply, can be stressful for mothers. 😓On the other hand, some mothers may deal with oversupply, which comes with its own set of challenges like leakage and mastitis.

Here at My Favourite Physio, we see many newborn babies and often help new mothers with issues and concerns regarding breastfeeding. 3 Top Tips we advise new mothers are:
🤱1. While breastfeeding baby, express on the other side using an electric breast pump. This will not only be time saving, it will also encourage milk let down bilaterally.
🤱2. Start with breastfeeding baby on one side, and when baby falls asleep while feeding. Pause to wake baby up to burp and change their nappy, then place them back on your breast. If you feel that baby has emptied one breast, offer them the other side at every feed. This will encourage more milk production.
🤱3. Breastfeeding should feel comfortable for mum, and if there is pain it is likely that baby isn’t latching correctly. In that case, seek help with a lactation consultant or an Expert Paediatric Physiotherapist.

If your baby is struggling with breastfeeding, ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists today!