How long after giving birth can I breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is a feeding method chosen by many mothers. Of course, you can breastfeed your baby immediately after giving birth. The sooner you start breastfeeding your baby after birth, the better. Because breastfeeding not only ensures that children have adequate nutrition, but also brings certain benefits to the health of mothers. Below, we will introduce to you the benefits of breastfeeding in detail!

1. Promote the baby to expel meconium

Initially, the amount of breast milk is very small and contains a mild laxative component, which can completely expel the meconium from the baby's body. Meconium is the feces accumulated in the baby's intestines during the fetal period. It is discharged about 1 to 2 days after birth. If it is not completely discharged, the baby's blood will become turbid, blood circulation will be blocked, and the baby's health will be affected.

2. Promote milk secretion

Frequent breastfeeding can promote milk secretion. In the first 2 or 3 days after breastfeeding, the amount of milk is very little, and large amounts of milk usually come after the 3rd day. The production of milk is controlled by nerves and hormones. The baby's sucking requires the stimulation of the nipple nerve endings, which notifies the brain to quickly secrete prolactin, thereby causing a large amount of milk to be secreted. If you don't start feeding your baby as soon as possible, it will affect the establishment of normal lactation reflex and cause less and less milk secretion.

3. Promote breast smoothness

When the baby first starts breastfeeding, his suction is weak and a smooth production line has not yet been formed inside the breast. The first few mouthfuls are very difficult, and the baby cannot suck out the milk and will cry loudly. But after a few more times of sucking, the milk began to flow out smoothly. Although the amount is small, it is enough for the needs of a newborn baby.

Here, the editor would like to say a few more words. In some hospitals, after the baby is born, a lactation consultant will come to ask whether the breasts need to be massaged to promote milk production. In fact, apart from the fact that the profession of lactation consultant is now full of mixed people and it is difficult for people to believe, the editor believes that the best lactation consultant is the baby's little mouth. The baby's strong sucking can promote the smooth flow of the mammary glands.

4. Help mother's uterus recover

Sucking the nipple can also cause the uterus to contract, reduce postpartum bleeding in the mother, promote uterine recovery, and prevent or reduce physiological weight loss in the newborn. "Breastfeeding" will also cultivate a close relationship between mother and baby. During the sucking process, he will feel the mother's body temperature, smell the mother's scent, develop dependence and trust in the mother, and thus gain a sense of security.