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Are you on the brink of motherhood?

Excited about your journey as a first-time mom and eager to find more breastfeeding tips?

Breastfeeding is a magical process, but it’s a general misconception that it is a natural and easy process.

In reality, the journey of a breastfeeding mother is hard with many challenges and more pain.

Here are some insights for new mothers to prepare for one of the most beautiful — yet challenging — experiences that you’ll encounter as a mother.

Don’t miss the first milk (Colostrum) to your baby

Colostrum is the first thick liquid that comes from your breasts, in the first few days of breastfeeding. Do you know how precious it is? It is packed with proteins, salts, antibodies, nutrients and is the ideal nourishment for a newborn which cannot be reproduced or substituted.

It’s the perfect first meal for a newborn, that is invaluable to your child’s health, immune system, and development. So, the first milk goes a long way in your baby’s tiny tummy.

Even if you can’t breastfeed or choose not to, try to give your baby the greatest gift of colostrum.

Breastfeeding is not always easy

Breastfeeding could be incredibly painful and a pretty difficult skill that both you and your little one will have to get perfect.

You may feel the need to feed your baby every two to three hours, (in the worse cases every 15 minutes), around the clock during the first few weeks. Your nipples might get sore and painful. Nipple creams or nipple shields can help soothe and protect them.

You might feel it difficult to understand the comfortable position to feed your baby. Sometimes, lying down might not work or it might be the only position that works for you. It changes as the baby grows and there is no one right or wrong way. It takes a lot of patience and persistence, especially considering post-partum body discomforts.

Try all the positions and choose the one that you and your baby are comfortable with.

You need to use Breast Pumps!

Many women have no idea about breast pumps. Some even wonder what that is and what is it used for. You might face a situation when you need to extract the milk and feed it to the child using a feeding syringe or a bottle. Here comes the need to use breast pumps, the tools used to extract the milk from breasts.

Breast pumps are recommended when your baby is not sucking properly or your baby is premature and needs special care in the hospital or sometimes, you may not be able to feed your baby due to some complications.

Pumping might seem daunting at first, but once you get the knack of it.it gets easier.

Hot showers, heat pads, and massagers will help you maximize your milk output.

Milk letdown

When you are breastfeeding, you may notice that milk is dripping or leaking from the other breast that your baby is not breastfeeding on. You may notice a tingling sensation in and around your breasts and a feeling of fullness.

It’s a reflex that occurs when the nerves in your breasts are stimulated, usually as a result of your baby sucking and it’s normal.

Do what works best for you and your baby

Everyone says their opinions. But what worked for one mom may not work for you.

Trust your instincts. Seek help from someone who knows about breastfeeding.

It is completely normal if you hate breastfeeding and feel the need to stop it and it’s okay to feed until your baby wants to stop.

You can’t eat everything

If you are a first-time mom, you might probably have already got the advice from your mothers or elders, that you need to avoid some foods while breastfeeding.

Wondered why?

What you eat can cross into your breastmilk. For instance, garlic and other spices can tinge the taste of your breastmilk.

Certain foods can even lower your milk supply if consumed in large portions and some foods can cause gas in babies.

But not all types of food reactions are proven. So, unless you notice some adverse reactions in the baby, you are free to eat all the veggies and fruits.

You could get Pregnant

Don’t believe the myth that you can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding.

More pumping or breastfeeding results in the release of more prolactin levels and the chances you will ovulate are less.

So, don’t think of breastfeeding as a reliable form of birth control because you can still get pregnant while breastfeeding!

Don’t hesitate to ask for help

Breastfeeding challenges are common in the first couple of weeks, and most of them resolve with time and a little guidance.

Talk to your family members if you are struggling with breastfeeding or have any concerns. Ask your friends about their experiences. Consult a lactation specialist or nurses if there is a need.

However difficult breastfeeding might be in the beginning, it can be so wonderful after that initial challenging period and more rewarding than you expect. All you need after the hard days is the health and happiness of your baby.

What is COVID’s Omicron variant?

The World Health Organization has warned the new Covid-19 omicron variant is spreading faster than any previous strain, and it is probably present in most countries of the world.

“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Covid update in Geneva. “Seventy-seven countries have now reported cases of omicron. And the reality is that omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.”

Is this variant dangerous?

Reports say that people with Omicron can have the full spectrum of disease, everything from asymptomatic infection, mild infection, people needing hospitalization, and people have died from Omicron. It has so far been noted that Omicron may be less severe compared to Delta. But if cases rise then so will hospitalizations, and if a health care system is overburdened, people will die because they won’t get the appropriate care that they need.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, American infectious disease epidemiologist

“Now, don’t be fooled”, says Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a member of the Health Emergencies Program at the World Health Organization. “Even if we have a virus that causes less severe disease, this virus can affect vulnerable populations. And we know people with underlying conditions, people of advanced age, if they are infected with any variant of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron, they are at an increased risk of developing severe disease. So, it is really critical that even if we do see more mild disease, we still do everything that we can to reduce transmission in all populations, people who are vaccinated, as well as people who are not vaccinated”.

The Current State of COVID’s Omicron Variant

Omicron is more contagious and spreads faster but it is not yet clear whether the strain causes more mild or severe disease than the past variants of the coronavirus. Omicron has been detected in more than 77 countries, but it’s likely that it’s present in other countries as well. Businesses around the world are still meeting new rules for monitoring the epidemic. Questions still surround the transmission of Omicron, re-infection with this virus, or severe disease. WHO is working to find the answer by understanding the possible impact on vaccine effectiveness. Studies are on to find out more about the following:

Transmissibility, or ease of spread from person to person, of Omicron as compared to other variants

Severity of infection and re-infection with Omicron

Performance of current COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron

Performance of diagnostic tests, including antigen tests, to detect infection with Omicron

Effectiveness of current treatments for management of patients with COVID-19 disease

A recent update from www.indiatoday.in says “South Africa-based Discovery Health CEO Dr Ryan Noach, has updated that while doctors have noted a slightly different set of symptoms among the patients diagnosed with Omicron, the most common early sign includes a scratchy throat and nasal congestion. The symptoms were also confirmed among patients in the UK, who had four symptoms as well including headache and fatigue. An analysis of cases between December 3 and December 10 in the UK showed that ‘predominantly’ cold-like symptoms were the most common signs of Omicron. The symptoms reported in the ZOE Symptom Tracking Study are runny nose, headache, fatigue (either mild or severe), sneezing and sore throat.”

How You Can Stay Safe

Even though the vaccine is highly effective, there are some instances when someone will be infected even after being vaccinated themselves. In these cases, you could also be spreading the virus to unsuspecting people as well – making it extremely important to practice protective measures.

Every individual needs to practice regular and safety protocols despite vaccination. With the recent outbreaks and the disease spreading across countries, it is paramount to be mindful and prevent infection each and every day.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19 variants it is important that you continue to practice the following:

Keep a distance of at least 1 metre from others

Wear a well-fitted mask over your mouth and nose

Open windows

Cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue

Clean your hands frequently

Get vaccinated, as soon as it is your turn

In fact, WHO suggests that people avoid traveling to countries where they are most common or where outbreaks are reported. However, if you cannot stay away from high-risk areas, there are ways to try and minimize your risk of infection. So it is better to stay safe to stay healthy.

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