Back to Basics

Having a baby is much beyond smiles and snuggles. It’s more about getting the fundamentals right and sticking to them.

- Tashneem Ali Chaudhury

FROM HOLDING your little bundle of joy in your arms and cuddling her to changing her diapers or calming her down in the middle of the night, you will experience it all: The good, bad and the ugly. We spoke to experts to help arm you with information on the 5 pillars of raising a baby and make your journey easier, simpler and happier. No chance for mistakes anymore!

FEEDING YOUR NEWBORN

“If you can breastfeed, the major part of your baby worries vanish,” says Ruth Patterson, Chief Lactation Consultant, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru. While it is accepted that mother’s milk is the best food for your child, breastfeeding can be painful for a mom. Starting from chapped, sore nipples and aching breasts to the niggling worries of latching and expressing milk, nursing may become a battle for you and your little munchkin. Follow these steps to ease the process and make it more effective.

ENSURE CORRECT POSTURE: Make sure your newborn holds a good portion of the areola in her mouth; her body well supported and facing you. Ensure that the baby’s head is tilted back and that the nipple is pointed towards the junction between the hard and soft palate.

SAY NO TO ARTIFICIAL MILK: Do not resort to artificial milk if he fails to suckle effectively. “This, I have seen, leads to lactation failure in many cases. Keep in mind that an average of 30 per cent babies may not be successful in effective suckling between 72 and 96 hours of their first feed,” says Patterson. But that’s okay. Don’t lose patience. “Express your milk every 3 hours till your child is able to suckle successfully,” she says.

TIME YOUR FEEDS: