Some think its easy, some have a hard time, but we all know its a perfect way to feed your child and it has many health benefits for them. So the following are some tips and helps to make breastfeeding your baby easier and more successful.

Position the baby right – sounds easy but its one of the easiest mistakes to make, but the easiest to correct. The baby should face you entirely: head, chest, groin, knees. Grip the baby so the buttocks are in one hand and the head is in the bend of your elbow. Let your other hand slip under your breast, with all four fingers supporting your breast. But don’t put your fingers on the areola (the darker area around the nipple). Now tickle the baby’s lower lip with your nipple to get the mouth open wide. When the mouth opens wide, pull the baby’s body in quickly so that the mouth fixes on the areola. The nipple should be deep in the baby’s mouth or throat, this way there is no movement of the nipple when the baby sucks and this reduces soreness.

Respect your body – It’s usually unnecessary for a nursing mom to have pain. If there is discomfort take care of it right away. If the baby is sucking incorrectly, use your finger to break the suction and reposition him.

Interrupt baby until he gets it right – If the baby is confused by switching from the breast to a pacifier or a bottle, he may not latch onto the nipple far enough. Be sure the baby’s mouth is open wide before putting him to the breast; he should latch onto the nipple so that at least an inch of the areola is in his mouth. Leave the baby on a breast as long as he is sucking effectively, which means he is swallowing every suck or two. If you see him drifting, burp him, wake him up, and switch sides. Let him nurse on the second side as long as he wants. In general, feeding times vary from 20-30 minutes. Another train of thought is that about 10 minutes per breast effectively drains the breast milk and provides plenty to fill baby’s tummy. Your breast is not a pacifier!

Nurse from both breasts during each feeding – Nurse on one side until it appears that the baby is losing interest, then offer the other breast. Next time you feed, start with the side you ended on the time before

Nurse often – Most women are surprised by how often a baby wants to nurse, and most doctors instructions are more applicable to bottle feeding. Feed on demand and figure an average of 8-12 feedings a day. Some days baby will nurse more often than others

Dont toughen the nipples – Exercises or manipulation to toughen the nipples won’t help and can even do some damage. Place the baby correctly and you shouldn’t have too much soreness, after a few days all soreness should be gone.

Use a breast shell for inverted nipples – It’s best to start using these during the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. Gentle suction from the device will help pull the nipple out, but don’t use it for more than 15-20 minutes a day.

Don’t soap your nipples – use absolutely no soap on the nipples, it dries them out. The little bumps around the areola are gland which produce oil with an antiseptic in it. Nature provides!

Let your nipples air dry – Let them air dry before you cover them and don’t use breast pads that retain moisture, such as those with plastic in them.

Use your milk to help heal sore nipples – Truly 95 percent of the problem with nipple soreness comes from the way the baby sucks. Pain stops after you correct the problem, thought the damage may take a little more time to heal. To speed healing, air dry the nipples when you finish a feeding, express a little bit of milk, and rub it in. Milk left at the end of the feeding is very high in lubricants and contains an antibiotic substance. Again, nature provides!

Stay alert to plugged ducts – milk ducts can clog as a result of binding clothes, the mothers anatomy, fatigue, or prolonged periods without nursing. A plugged duct can also signal the start of an infection if not dealt with promptly. If you feel a hard, painful to touch spot anywhere on the breast, get rid of it by using warmth. Massage the breast, starting at the chest wall and working your way down with a circular motion. Most important, however, allow your baby to nurse on that side frequently. Baby’s sucking will help clear out that duct faster than anything else. Usually within 24 hours, it will clear.

Use Vitamin E for cracked nipples – If you notice a crack in the nipple, topical application of a small amount of vitamin E can help. When you finish nursing, pierce a capsule of vitamin E, squeeze out a drop and rub it into the nipple, use a minimal amount

Try hot compresses to help with overproduction – If the baby is not keeping up with what mother is producing and you are getting overly full, put some hot, wet compresses on the breast. It will open the ducts so the milk flows more freely. Nurse the baby more often and longer and drink enough fluid that you are urinating every hour. A hot shower will allow the milk to flow and provide temporary relief. Just know that as long your drinking enough and nursing enough you and your baby will find a rhythm and you will have just the right amount of milk.

Control leakage with a hand correctly applied – The milk production system is so sensitive to stimuli that a woman can begin to leak milk when she’s out shopping and she hears a baby cry. If that happens, take the heel of your hand and press the nipple into the chest. If you leak a lot, find some good reusable breast pads you can wash yourself, preferable 100 percent cotton.

CAUTION!!! – Dealing with Mastitis – If your breast feels inflamed, you’re running a fever, or you have flulike symptoms, call your doctor. You could have mastitis, a type of breast infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics, if your doctor prescribes them be sure to finish them even if symptoms disappear, this will prevent re-infection. Meanwhile you can speed healing on your own by, going to bed, drinking lots of clear fluids, and nursing more frequently. The milk isn’t infected! If you stop nursing while you have mastitis it could lead to a breast abscess.l