6 Good Tips for Breastfeeding
4. Store your breast milk
This one’s especially for the working mothers. When breastfeeding is well established, you can express milk and leave it with your caregiver for feedings throughout the day. Your breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator (3 days) or frozen (about 6 months). Simply warm up the breast milk by standing it in hot tap water before it is used. Heating breast milk using a microwave or a stove can actually destroy the anitbodies present in the milk and even lower the Vitamin C content.
5. Avoid smoking and drinking
This doesn’t need to be told but remember that cigarette smoke is harmful, especially to babies. Protect your baby from firsthand as well as secondhand smoke. Alcohol and other drugs can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Check with your doctor, nurse, midwife or lactation consultant if in doubt about any medications or other substances you are using that might affect your breast milk.
6. Ask for help
Don’t keep concerns to yourself. Many groups and individuals are available to help you, including public health nurses, lactation consultants, your doctor or midwife, family members, friends who have breastfed and other breastfeeding mothers.
