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How Confinement Nannies Can Assist You During Breastfeeding
The postpartum is a special time for new mothers. After waiting for nine months, your little bundle of joy is finally here with you. Your joy is palpable for everyone to see. However, there are a lot of things that come with a newborn. Breastfeeding is one of them. Ideally, breast milk is the perfect food for your infant, and you should breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
It’s no secret that breastfeeding is a tough job. An infant can breastfeed 8 to 12 times a day. Furthermore, the mother has to feed well to produce enough quality milk for the child. For most mothers, managing the nutrition needs of their newborns on top of their daily tasks and other existing health complications can be very taxing without assistance from a confinement nanny in Singapore.
Luckily, moms don’t have to shoulder all the burden of breastfeeding a child single-handedly. But before we dig deeper into how nannies can assist you, there are so many benefits associated with breastfeeding on the part of the mother and baby. Read on for more breastfeeding tips and perhaps some idea of how to breastfeed your baby.
Better Defense Mechanism Against Infections
The benefits of breastfeeding for baby are stated below. Children who are breastfed complain of fewer infections compared to those who are fed formula milk. When a mother breastfeeds, her antibodies and germ-fighting cells are passed on to her baby, in turn, strengthening the baby’s immune system. As a result, the child is less likely to contract infections such as:
- Diarrhoea
- Ear infections
- Meningitis
- Respiratory infections
- Allergies
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Good Nutritional Value
Breast milk is typically referred to as the perfect food for an infant’s digestive system. Some of the components found in breast milk include:
- Lactose
- Protein
- Fat
These nutrients are easily digested by the baby. Moreover, breast milk contains natural vitamins and minerals that are important for a newborn. The only exclusion is vitamin D. That’s why breastfed babies should start getting Vitamin D supplements within the first two months and onwards until the infant consumes sufficient milk or vitamin D-fortified formula.
A Blend of Tastes
Breastfeeding mothers typically need at least 300 additional calories each day, which can be extracted from a selection of confinement food menu in Singapore. As a result, breastfed babies are introduced to more than one taste courtesy of their mother’s breast milk, which contains a host of flavours based on the Chinese confinement food their mothers have been eating. Babies can taste the foods of their immediate society and readily accept solid foods.
No Cost
Unlike the cost of formula, breast milk is free of charge. Unless you decide to pump breast milk and feed it to your newborn, you don’t need any bottles, or nipples among other supplies that could be expensive. Given that breastfed kids are less likely to contract infections and fall sick, this means fewer trips to the hospital, so less money is paid for treatment and prescribed medicine.
Convenience
There are no last-minute rushes to the store to buy formula milk. Breast milk is constantly fresh and available regardless of your location. Moreover, when you breastfeed, you don’t have to wash or warm up any bottles or nipples in the middle of the night.
Skin to Skin Contact
Touch is crucial for the survival of any mammalian. Skin-to-skin contact allows mothers and newborns to apply all of their senses to nurture this new and important relationship. Through skin-to-skin contact, the mother can learn about his or her baby’s behaviour, including signs of fullness, hunger, discomfort, joy, and so on. Overall, this boosts communication between the mother and child as well as helps infants inculcate a sense of trust and security.
Beneficial for Mothers as Well
Mothers develop a sense of confidence when they are able to nourish their babies successfully. Breastfeeding also sheds calories and contracts the uterus, so nursing mothers can return to their normal body shape and weight in a short period. Moreover, breastfeeding is believed to reduce the maternal risk of conditions such as:
- Breast cancer
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
Breastfeeding might be easy from the start for some moms while for others, it might take some time to get accustomed to. Patience is needed if moms and babies want to get to grips with the routine of breastfeeding. At first, many mothers might feel unease with breastfeeding. However, with proper support, education, and practice, any nursing mom can prevail over this.
Now you have gotten the bigger picture of the benefits, here are five ways confinement nannies can help new moms through their respective nursing journeys.
Baby Care
New mothers would undoubtedly put the welfare of their newborns as the top priority. The postnatal period is a crucial phase, and your baby needs special care because they are exposed to a host of infections such as influenza or jaundice. Besides, there are several important caregiving practices that new moms should learn about, like feeding, burping or bathing the newborn. A confinement nanny can teach you how to take care of your infant. Drawing from their vast experience, they are more than willing to show you the ropes and tricks in the nursing book.
Breastfeeding
Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding doesn’t come naturally to every mom. Some women encounter challenges in breast milk production for their infants. Most of these problems can be traced back to different postnatal complications, including blockage of the milk duct or inverted nipples and previous breast surgery, which can all badly affect the supply of breast milk.
For new mothers who might be seeking expert help in breastfeeding, confinement nannies can share valuable lactation tips from their previous experiences and have your newborn latch onto your breast automatically.
Emotional Support
As previously stated, breastfeeding is tough. New moms may shed tears and speak harshly as they experience a roller-coaster of hormonal adjustments. A nanny can keep you going by constantly lauding your strength and commitment and telling you what a wonderful mom you are. Such kind and supportive words can do wonders in helping you persist through breastfeeding.
Balanced Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet is important for new moms, especially during the postnatal period. What you eat will not only accelerate your recovery from labour but also nourish your baby by improving the quality and supply of your breast milk. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to a strict routine of nutritious dishes for the benefit of both you and your newborn.
A confinement nanny can come in handy to whip up Singapore confinement food menu that is both delicious and rich in nutrients. These foods often include freshwater fishes which contain omega-3 fatty acids to protect you against postnatal depression. Tofu and eggs are also excellent food choices because they are rich in iron which maintains your energy at the right levels, besides promoting your infant’s brain development.
Take over household chores
Doing household chores can be strenuous, especially if you’re still recovering from the pain of childbirth. Of course, your partner can help you with some of the household chores. However, managing a newborn combined with household chores and everyday obligations can be daunting for both you and your partner during the postnatal period.
If you need more assistance, why not hire a confinement nanny to handle your household chores and allow you more time to sleep and bond with your newborn. Besides being able to clean, manage and watch over the rest of your older children while you recuperate, their vast past experiences will guarantee you a comfortable postpartum experience.
With the above-mentioned pointers, you are now better informed as regards how a confinement nanny can help your breastfeeding journey. Part of the reason why new moms fall into depression is that they have to meet the needs of their newborn, older children coupled with housework and real-life existence. With a nanny on hand, this doesn’t need to happen.