Feeding

Feeding your baby is more than just the physical act; you are nourishing your little one for a strong future life, and you have found yet another way to show your love. Infant feeding, especially in the first weeks of life can be a transcendent yet nerve wracking experience. Women who have had breast surgery in the past can be worried about breast feeding. Whether to augment or reduce breast size, or removal of a lump, the concern will be whether milk ducts and major nerves were damaged or cut during the course of the surgery. If possible, you should ask the surgeon who preformed the procedure. If the surgeon was careful to preserve major nerves, the surgery will probably not affect breast feeding your baby.

Another doctor may not be able to answer that question by just examining the scar. Try to speak to your original surgeon if you haven’t already. If you only had surgery on one breast, breastfeeding a baby not be affected, as many women can breastfeed a baby successfully with milk from only one breast.

It is not recommended to have a breastfed infant on a feeding schedule; rather, the baby should be fed whenever hungry. A baby that is receiving enough milk will average eight to twelve feedings per 24 hour period.

Infants can have the same breast feeding advantage even after the mother’s surgery. Do not assume that breast feeding your infant after surgery is impossible! Many women have succeeded in breast feeding a baby and are happy they did. One of the most valuable resources around is the La Leche League. They have been promoting and educating about breast feeding for many years. You can find them on the internet.

Feeding infants is not very complicated when they are on the breast. Soon, though, they will make the jump from infant to baby and the feeding becomes a bit more of a challenge. You will begin feeding your six month old baby solids such as fruits and vegetables.

Feeding baby solids can be one of your best memories of your child. Be sure to have a camera in your kitchen to capture the face painting your child will get up to!

Like any person, your baby will have his likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Fruits usually will be preferred, but it is important that your baby eats their veggies. Try hiding bits of the vegetable under the fruit. Reinforce baby’s cooperation with compliments and smiles.

All too soon your baby will be feeding himself and you will hope that your good lessons about good nutrition will stick. Start off the right way from the start!