What is meant by "lactation initiation" or "breastfeeding establishment"?

Colostrum refers to the first breast milk fed to the baby after birth. Generally, mothers can breastfeed their babies about half an hour after childbirth. The first breast milk is usually of high nutritional value. However, the initial milk is relatively scarce because it is very nutritious. Therefore, mothers must feed their babies the first milk to provide them with the best nutrition.

1. How to initiate breastfeeding? New mothers who are having their first baby may not know how to produce milk, but it's actually not very difficult. Generally, in the later stages of pregnancy, starting from the 33rd week, mothers can squeeze the area around the nipple with their fingers to allow colostrum to flow out from the milk ducts. This helps open the milk ducts and avoids milk stagnation after childbirth.

2. Breastfeeding through diet. After childbirth, mothers should maintain the habit of drinking milk daily and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. However, avoid overeating as the high fat content in traditional dishes like pig trotters, chicken soup, and crucian carp soup can clog milk ducts, hindering breast milk production.

1. What should be noted during breastfeeding initiation? There are many things that mothers need to pay attention to when initiating breastfeeding. In the beginning, the nipples are very delicate and the baby may not know how to control its sucking strength, potentially hurting the nipples. Therefore, when breastfeeding, ensure that the baby covers the entire nipple and areola, not just the nipple itself. Also, control the feeding time. Mothers must maintain a positive mindset and believe that they can provide breast milk for their babies. Some mothers may worry when they don't have milk initially and fear that their baby will be hungry, so they choose to feed them formula milk.