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Spending Quality Time
Friday, July 13, 2012
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As a new mother, you will spend a lot of time breastfeeding your baby in the first year and beyond. Why not make this a fun interactive time for both of you? At first it will be all about the food, making sure that your baby is feeding often enough and is gaining weight. Once you know that breastfeeding is going well you can sit back, relax and have fun with your baby while you are feeding him or her.
 Clear blocked tear ducts
Many babies have blocked tear ducts in the first weeks of life. You can help the ducts drain better by doing some massage while breastfeeding. To begin, make sure that your hands are clean. Gently massage the corner of your baby’s eye, by the bridge of the nose, while you are breastfeeding. You will have the opportunity to do each eye as you switch sides to feed. If your baby’s doctor has suggested warm compresses you can also apply those while breastfeeding. Usually, your baby will be more receptive to having a warm compress held on his/her eye with the comfort of nursing to keep him or her calm.
Try Infant Massage
You can massage each side of the baby’s face as you switch sides to feed. You can also take turns massaging a hand or foot while switching sides. If you aren’t familiar with infant massage techniques you might want to attend an infant massage series. The next series starts here at GVH on Wednesday September 26, 2012 (click here for more information).
 Read to baby
It can be something that you want to read or a children’s classic. In the early weeks, it is more about hearing your voice than following a story or looking at pictures. Your baby will definitely sit still for reading if you are breastfeeding at the same time. Once you aren’t feeding as often, you can replace breastfeeding time with snuggle/reading time.
Get Dad Involved
Dad can learn infant massage and use the techniques on baby (or mom!) while you are breastfeeding. This is a great way to involve him in feeding time. He could also read out loud to mom and baby. Practicing when your baby is very little will get him into the routine of reading to your baby that will hopefully carry on into childhood. The more often a baby has someone reading to him/her, especially dad, the better he/she will do academically once he/she gets to school.
Remember, using your time while breastfeeding to interact with your baby is more rewarding than catching up on texts and emails or watching TV. Babies love the quality family time that happens while breastfeeding. The early months are a precious time to spend with your baby. All too soon he/she will not want to sit still. Enjoy the quiet moments while they last, even those middle of the night feedings.
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