Breastfeeding, a magical moment full of love: our tips for living it in serenity
But breastfeeding is not just this, it is also a real moment of relationship that guarantees safety and well-being to the little one: a feeling of tranquility and warmth, a real pleasure that mum and baby share. Also for this reason, a mother, who for various reasons or emergencies must leave her baby and is unable to breastfeed all the time, may be sorry and be afraid of having to stop breastfeeding. But that's not the case ... or at least not always!
It is essential not to feel in any way inadequate or guilty: the fact of not being able to breastfeed your baby at every feed does not mean that you cannot still give your own milk and continue with natural breastfeeding. With the help of the breast pump, the mother can always guarantee her baby the best nutrition it needs, while maintaining milk production. The most important thing for the child, then, is to perceive warmth and affection and to be nourished with love, and this can happen easily even if the mother cannot be present, perhaps thanks to the father who can carve out a moment entirely dedicated to his little one. .
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The other great anxiety of a mother is linked to the use of the bottle and the fear that it may unaccustom her baby to breastfeeding, in this case it is important to choose a bottle suitable to support the mother in the alternation between breast and bottle .
What characteristics must a bottle have to facilitate alternation with the breast?
The teat must be developed in such a way as to allow the baby to suck as naturally as possible. First of all it is important that it has a large shape like the breast and is soft to give a natural feeling during the feeding. It is also essential that it ensures a slow flow. In short, the baby has to do the same "fatigue" and the same sucking movements of a breast feed. Obviously it is important that the bottle has an anti-colic valve that allows regular and constant sucking, limiting the ingestion of air during feedings and reducing the risk of colic.
As for the materials, there are two types: plastic or glass. The choice is completely personal: glass bottles are easier to clean, but they are heavy and if they fall they can break. Plastic bottles, on the other hand, are light, easy to carry and less delicate in case of falls but are more subject to wear.
Breast pump: how to use it?
Breast pumps are often thought to be complex to use and rather annoying or painful. In fact, it can be easily managed according to needs, by adjusting the pressure and the intensity of the extraction so as to make everything easier and more comfortable. After the first pressures, in fact, the milk flows more easily and does not cause discomfort to the breast. It can become a precious ally, useful to better manage breastfeeding in any situation and thus continue to give the baby breast milk, allowing him to enjoy its many benefits for as long as possible.
It is recommended that breast milk be collected in a well-washed and sterilized container and carefully stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
Breast and bottle alternation
The alternation between breast and bottle, especially if dictated by necessity, should not be considered as a removal from the breast but as a way, sometimes even only temporary, to reconcile the needs of the mother with breastfeeding. In this sense, a good breast pump and an adequate bottle can become valuable allies for maintaining breastfeeding longer. The most important thing is always and only one: that the child is fed and feels loved, at all times and in all circumstances. Even in the absence of the mother, the nourishment can continue to be the mother's milk and, for the emotional aspect, the father can come into play: the bottle offers the father the opportunity to live the exciting experience of feeding his baby. This will help father and son get to know each other and get closer and closer.
How to breastfeed with a bottle?
As for breastfeeding, even bottle feeding needs tranquility and serenity, our advice is, therefore, to put yourself in a quiet place and find a comfortable position: you can use a pillow to lift the baby and to support the elbow. It is advisable to put your arm around the baby and make sure that it remains in a semi-sitting position with the head higher than the body and not reclined backwards, otherwise the milk risks going sideways. The bottle should be tilted so that the teat is full of milk, to prevent the baby from swallowing air. Just like breastfeeding, if you notice that the baby is starting to get tired, it is fine to take a break, to give him the opportunity to rest.
There is no need to worry if there is milk left in the bottle: except in exceptional cases, the baby can regulate itself. At the end of the feeding it is advisable to keep the baby raised for a few minutes so that he can burp if he has swallowed a little air. If it does not happen, do not be alarmed, it means that you do not feel the need.
In order to best support mothers in such delicate moments, Chicco has studied and created a line of bottles that can simulate breastfeeding as much as possible: the teats have been made of ultra-soft and velvety silicone, to guarantee a sensation natural in the feeding and facilitate the alternation between breast and bottle. For newborns, an exclusive inclined teat has been designed and created that is always full of milk and allows for a more natural attachment and sucking, thanks also to its slow flow, suitable for the newborn. All the bottles in this line are also equipped with a double anti-colic valve to ensure regular feedings and maximum protection from regurgitation and colic.
In collaboration with Chicco
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