During the first few months of a baby’s life, her mother is everything to her – her source of comfort, security and nourishment. And breastfeeding provides an excellent avenue to form a strong bond between the two. Here are some tips to strengthen that tie:
Find a Comfortable Position
For a start, both mother and baby must be comfortable. Many women find holding the baby across the chest with the baby’s head, neck and shoulders in alignment the ideal position. A pillow under the arm also provides extra support and prevents the mother’s arm from tiring during feeding.
Breastfeeding while lying down is a good position as well, particularly for mothers who’ve had a cesarean section or a difficult birth. This position also makes nighttime feeding much easier and less tiring.
Interact with Baby
The proximity during breastfeeding allows the mother to know her baby more intimately. Talk, hum or sing softly to the baby. Call out her name gently. She may not understand the words but her mother’s voice is soothing to her. Gaze into her eyes and smile brightly at her too. Cuddle, stroke and touch her. These simple yet warm and loving gestures will make her feel secure and valued, boosting her self-esteem and confidence in the long run.
Find a Quiet Place
Peace is instrumental while breastfeeding. A quiet corner or room with dim lights is ideal. While soft music is okay, there should be no loud radio or TV, shouting matches or barking dogs. If there are other young children in the house, try to get them to tone down their noise. Also, give the baby at your breast the full attention.
Be Cool, Calm and Collected
Despite their tender age, babies can sense any anxiety within their mothers. Therefore, breastfeeding should only be carried out when the mother is calm and relaxed. A mother who is feeling irritable over something or who just had a big row with her spouse should delay breastfeeding until she’s calmed down considerably. Then she should give herself and her baby a few quiet moments of cuddling in private to help them both relax before she starts breastfeeding.
Enlist Help from Family
Supportive family members play a crucial role in ensuring smooth breastfeeding and bonding sessions. Ensure that they understand your need for a quiet environment when breastfeeding. Explain to them that minimal disruptions are desired – no shouting, no bickering, no loud banging, etc. This support will eventually make a mother more confident in her breastfeeding ability, which in turns allows her to be more affectionate towards her baby.
Take Care
Breastfeeding is a taxing endeavor. Women who wish to breastfeed and bond beautifully with their babies should have ample rest and good nutrition. Have a quick nap when the baby is sleeping and eat more foods rich in calcium, folic acid and zinc. You don’t have to be a supermum and take charge of everything at home on your own. Get the spouse and other family members to help as well. Sharing worries and concerns with them will also ease a mother’s burden.
The act of breastfeeding will bind a mother and her child in a very special way. The strong bond will have a lasting effect on them. And this is reason enough for mothers to breastfeed their babies.
Related Article:
References:
Fenwick, Elizabeth. The Complete Book of Mother and Baby Care. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year. New York: William Morrow, 1994
Rubin, Stacey H. The ABCs of Breastfeeding. New York: AMACOM, 2008
Wei Yin Wong - I started my working life as a reporter at an English daily called The Sun in Malaysia 16 years ago, writing health-related articles. ...
