Breastfeeding tips and tricks

Pei Ching Chuah, from World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), said breastfeeding has a number of benefits to a mother and baby.
“Breast milk is so much more than a food. It is a live tissue with many immune factors that give a baby continuous, active protection against infections when the baby’s body cannot yet protect itself. For the first few days after birth, a mother provides the ideal immunisation for her baby with colostrum, milky fluid, which is rich in antibodies.
“The amount of colostrum is small, but it is exactly what a baby needs at this time. Breastfed children are much healthier. Breast milk contains just the right amount of energy, protein, vitamins, water and other nutrients for a baby for the first six months of life. When they are older, breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight,” she said.
Chuah added that breastfed newborn babies have fewer digestive problems, are rarely sick or hospitalised, less likely to suffer from wheezing and bronchitis.
Breastfed babies are also less likely to develop ear infections and suffer from allergies.
“Breastfeeding aids a baby’s intellectual development. In addition to the health benefits of breastfeeding, the emotional benefits of nursing include comfort and security. As long as mothers breastfeed, their breast milk will continue to provide their child with antibodies and other protective substances that make illnesses less acute and easier to handle,” said Chuah.
Still, breast-feeding can be challenging. Use these breast-feeding tips to get off to a good start.
Start by getting comfortable. Support yourself with pillows if needed. Then cradle your baby close to your breast. Support the baby’s head with one hand and support your breast with the other hand. Tickle your baby’s lower lip with your nipple to encourage your baby’s mouth to open wide. He or she will take in part of areola. Your nipple will be far back in the baby’s mouth, and the baby’s tongue will be cupped under your breast. Look and listen for a rhythmic sucking and swallowing pattern.
Let your baby nurse from the first breast thoroughly, until your breast feels soft, typically about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep in mind, however, that there is no set time. Then try burping the baby. After that, offer the second breast. If your baby’s still hungry, he or she will latch on. If not, simply start the next breast-feeding session with the second breast. If your baby consistently nurses on only one breast at a feeding during the first few weeks, pump the other breast to relieve pressure and protect your milk supply.
Some babies are happiest when they’re sucking on something. Enter pacifiers. Giving your baby a pacifier too soon might interfere with breast-feeding, since sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier.

In our previous article we asked parents how they deal with temper tantrums.
This is what they had to say:
Chris Allen: A good hiding tends to work.
Anita Dyssel: I do the same, roll around on the floor, kicking and screaming. My granddaughter hates it.
Fires Janse van Vuuren: Handelinge. Leer hulle van klein af dat jy nie altyd kry wat jy soek nie.
Avril Evans: Manners start at home, a child who has been taught acceptable behaviour at home generally will not take chances in the store and if they do, swiftly and firmly introduce your hand to their bottom.
Desiree Rowe: Find the closest corner and make him stand till he calms down. Takes seconds and no further problems.
Nadine Hayward: Give them the hiding of their life.
Derrick Lewis: When I was growing up and threw tantrums my parents tanned my arse it cured me. I’m not sorry.
Hilary Rusch Filbin: It reminds me. It was about 16 years ago. We went to Hyperama one Saturday morning. As we walked away from our car this lady climbed out her car with two little boys. The next minute she grabs both of them and whacks them both twice on their bums. Wait for it, she turns to them and says, “that’s in case you throw your tantrums again”. That was so funny. When we passed them in the shop they were both at their best behaviour. I’ll never forget that. So I guess that works.
Lyneane Lewis: A smack on the bottom
Janet Burns: Smacked arse.
Brenda Leece: Beat them to it. Throw the tantrum for them. I tried it the other day. It works.
Dimakatso Radebe: It’s hard raising a child like that and when you are at the shopping mall you just let them get away with it rather than dealing with the drama at the mall, but they must be dealt with accordingly.