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Your nursing experience will be more pleasant for both mother and infant if mom remains relaxed throughout the feeding. If you continually watch the clock or try to measure the amount of milk your baby is getting, you’ll either be too detached from your infant to truly enjoy the experience, or get stressed thinking your baby isn’t nursing long enough, or getting enough. Breastfeeding moms could do well to learn a few relaxation tips, and these are time-tested suggestions that you may find helpful.
Make sure your needs are met. Drink a glass of milk, juice, water or other liquid that relaxes and hydrates you before you begin a breastfeeding session. Or, have a healthy snack like some vegetables, fruit or a sandwich. Go to the bathroom before sitting or lying down to nurse. Take a shower or relaxing bath if you have the time, the warmth will also help get your milk flowing. Make sure you are in a comfortable shirt or gown or whatever clothing or lack thereof makes your comfortable.
Avoid unnecessary interruptions. Take care of any telephone calls that you need to make, and turn off the phone. Indulge in making yourself a “quiet please, breastfeeding” sign or similar declaration to hang on the door of the room you’ll be nursing in. Make sure there isn’t anything cooking in the oven that might need your attention. Allow your focus to be on just you and baby.
Create atmosphere. Put on relaxing music, or the television as a background hum or sit in a quiet space that’s relaxing to both you and your infant. Make the atmosphere where you will be breastfeeding relaxing, pleasant and comfortable. Prop yourself on pillows, sit in your favorite rocking chair or lay down in bed. Light a scented candle, turn down the lights or sit in front of the window that looks out on your garden.
Don’t forget to have everything you need at hand, like a glass of water in case you get thirsty and burp cloths for baby. Then take a deep breath, or several, position your infant and look deep into those trusting eyes and enjoy the experience of being a nursing mother, and nurturing the bond between you and your child through breastfeeding.
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