To start with, it will surely
be hard for a postpartum client to cope up immediately from the stress of labor
and delivery but as early as birth, Newborns must be nursed immediately to
establish the mother and child bonding and this is the onset of building the
newborn’s trust. A mother must also be well-informed regarding the benefits of
breastfeeding such as it contains all the vitamins and nutrients a baby needs
in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting
substances that protects baby from illness, so that despite of the mother’s hard
shifts in breastfeeding her newborn, she would be eager and patient enough to
continue breastfeeding for the sake of her baby’s health. Secondly, a
postpartum client must be well educated on how to breastfeed her baby.
Basically, she must know or must be informed about the techniques for
breastfeeding such as cradle hold wherein the mother cradles her baby with her
arms, the baby’s tummy against her and the baby’s head resting in the bend of
the mother’s elbow; this is good for infant’s who already know how to latch-on,
Another technique that must be teach to client is the cross cradle hold, this
is the same as cradle hold but instead of tucking the baby’s lower arm under the
mother’s breast or arm, the mother should tuck her baby’s arm out of the way,
this is good for learning how to position the infant properly and this is good
for smaller babies. Another is the Football hold wherein the baby’s legs and
body are under the mother’s arm with her hand at the base of the head and neck
of the infant, this is for better view when getting the baby to latch-on and
lastly is the Side-Lying position, wherein the mother and infant is positioned
tummy to tummy and this is preferred by mother’s with perineal pain and
swelling. Signs of proper latch-on must also be told to clients such as firm,
tugging sensation on the mother’s nipple, baby slicks with cheeks rounded, jaw
glides smoothly with sucking, swallowing is audible while sucking, sucking
motion is along the jaw, not in the cheeks, baby’s lips should be turned
outward against the breast, As a part of the healthcare team, as early as now
we must also know how to educate clients regarding the possible problems that a
client might encounter regarding to their condition and must also be confident
and sure enough to take into action the proper nursing intervention in every
situation, with proper guidance of the healthcare team and the cooperation of
the client, mother and child bonding as well as the proper way of latching-on
and breastfeeding will surely be successful.