How to breastfeed a newborn and how often breastfeeding should be

The expectant mother, like all women, thinks about the beauty and relevance of her wardrobe. This is especially important during pregnancy, because your figure changes and new things are simply necessary. At the same time, you also want to remain feminine, fashionable and stylish, so dresses, if you have worn them before, should not leave pride of place in your closet during this happy period. You just need to change your style preferences a little.

Options for maternity dresses

Considering that a pregnant woman’s belly grows gradually, in the early stages you don’t have to think about updating your wardrobe - your usual dresses will fit you perfectly until the third or fourth month. But in the second trimester, new things will be needed. It will be necessary to adjust the style of clothing to the roundness of the figure and limit possible pressure on the stomach.

In summer, the materials should be light and the cut should be spacious so that the body sweats less. Sports models with a straight cut are well suited for winter. You can wear them for walks and out of town, or go to work, if the dress code allows. If you need formal clothing, feel free to choose insulated classics.

Here are the types of dresses for pregnant women (but this list is not much different from the list of styles for any woman):

Business. Sewn from dense material in calm shades, without bright prints or embroidery. The color is most often gray, black, beige, blue, burgundy, milky, white. You can choose according to your color type or simply according to personal preferences.
Casual. Models for walking, shopping, visiting and for working in a small creative team. Knitwear and cloth predominate here; you can try something made of denim, or for the summer - cotton sateen. There are also a lot of cut options, most often it is an A-line with a high waist or a simple straight cut.
Sports. Another style where knitwear fits perfectly, including very bright shades, even acidic ones. As for the styles, a knee-length straight-cut dress with pockets will look most advantageous. To help you better understand what we're talking about, imagine a long, loose hoodie. Among these models there are also winter ones - with fleece, with hoods.
Solemn. Evening and cocktail options with yokes, high waist or a simple flowy cut. Fabrics - chiffon, lace, satin, silk, etc. Shades and decor - for every taste, prints are preferably feminine, floral or abstract. A good option for going to a wedding, restaurant, or opera.

Before buying a dress for pregnancy, first look at your existing wardrobe. It may have some good options for the coming months. Something will be needed only after the baby is born - you can put it away for now.

So what do you need? The dress will suit you if it:

does not tighten the waist and stomach (high waistband, straight, loose fit);
has a classic, sporty, romantic, ethnic style;
decorated in the area of the shoulders, neck, décolleté, but not in the abdomen - this does not always look appropriate and elegant.

You can buy such a dress as described above in our online store. If you want your purchase to be useful after childbirth, buy a dress with a secret for nursing mothers. This way you can enjoy your favorite thing longer and save your budget.

The catalog contains dresses of the following styles:

A-shaped. Models with a silhouette that widens downward, hiding the belly under folds and draperies, focusing attention on the chest and shoulders. They are often decorated with beautiful collars, embroidery, inscriptions, etc. Suitable for any stage of pregnancy, including the last weeks of the third trimester.
Shirt dresses. The length varies, it can be knee-length or floor-length. Sometimes such models are complemented by a belt, which is tied above the stomach. Good for the first and second trimester.
Tight styles. Here you need to choose the right fabric. It should be as elastic as possible so that the item can fit your body without being too tight. All types of knitwear are suitable - from thin cotton with elastane for the summer to large knit for the winter.
Empire style High-waisted dresses from mid-knee to maxi length. Suitable for daytime and evening wear.
Sheath dress. Like the shirt, it is suitable for the first months. The products are made from dense fabrics in calm tones, often dark. A good option for the office. If the model is sleeveless, in winter you can complement it with light-colored or matching turtlenecks.
Long tunic. Usually this is a thing with a short hem, maximum to the knee. Therefore, it is worn with leggings or thick tights. Suitable for any season, comfortable for every day, but not for work.

Styles of evening dresses for pregnant women

Even if you don't plan to go to restaurants or banquets during pregnancy, a beautiful evening dress won't hurt. At the very least, it will be useful for a memorable photo shoot. This outfit can be made in the following styles:

Classic. This dress can be worn to the office and to formal daytime events. The product is made in a strict minimalist style. The fabric is usually dense, plain, light or dark, but always calm and natural tones. Finishing is minimal, for pregnant women - A-line.
Country. Here, on the contrary, frills, ruffles, flowers, and delicate lace trims are only welcome. The fabrics are flowy and natural, the colors are also mostly natural. This dress usually has a high waist or a belt over the belly.
Casual. Casual comfortable style for work, if there is no dress code, and the city. Simple long tunics with leggings, shirt dresses, knitted A-shaped and straight dresses.
Boho. The most unusual and creative style. It looks like country, ethnic and fantasy, but here you can afford bright colors, open shoulders, a lot of decor and jewelry.

An evening dress for a pregnant woman can be either long or short, but it is better to stay at least knee-length, especially if you do not plan to wear tights. Here are some style options worth taking a closer look at:

Feminine stretch. They are usually sewn from knitwear, so they fit the tummy very comfortably. Remember that these models emphasize the figure, so you cannot hide your interesting position in it even in the early stages. But they look very interesting. The decor is usually placed in the chest and neck area - rhinestones, beads, embroidery, etc. Suitable for going to a restaurant, birthday party, visiting, etc.
Empire style A romantic princess look for a major celebration. Dresses in this style are made of silk, velvet and satin. The waist is always located directly below the chest. Decoration from rhinestones, beads, embroidery, lace is allowed. Length - from mini to maxi. Beautiful clothes in the Empire style can be worn throughout your entire life.
Case. This dress is for a formal event. It is worn mainly in the first and second trimester. This business dress is made from wool or thick synthetics.

But you don’t always have to limit yourself to just a specific style. You can always buy or sew something original yourself. A dress with a yoke and lush drapery on the belly will suit a long-term expectant mother. The tummy will be partially hidden, and the image will be sweet and gentle. This style is universal.

Some pregnant girls prefer an evening dress style with flounces and pleats. Products can hide both the tummy and enlarged breasts. Those who have gained weight during pregnancy look especially advantageous in such things. In the summer, you can feel free to expose your shoulders and arms, wear sundresses with straps and sleeveless dresses.

Breastfeeding technique for a newborn

The child's head and body are placed in one straight line.
The baby's face is turned to the chest, the nose is opposite the nipple.
The mother presses the baby's torso to her body.
The woman supports the baby's entire body, not just his shoulders and head.
The chest is held with four fingers from below near the chest wall, the thumb is on top. Remember that your fingers should not be close to the nipple.
To help your baby latch onto the breast correctly, touch your nipple to his lips and wait until he opens his mouth wide. Quickly move it towards the breast, guiding the baby's lower lip below the nipple.
When your baby eats, his mouth should be wide open and his lips pulled back. In this case, the lower lip is turned outward and is applied slightly further from the base of the nipple than the upper lip.
The lips and gums are pressed against the area around the nipple (areola).
The tip of the nipple should be in the very back of the baby's mouth, and the baby's tongue should be below the areola area, covering the lower gum and lip. If feeding is correct, then you can clearly see how the baby’s jaws move near the ears, and not the cheeks. In this case, the load on the surface of the nipple is minimal, because the baby grasps with his mouth not only the nipple, but also the areola.
If the baby is full, he releases the breast on his own.
The food is offered with love and served rather than shoved. When an infant's boundaries are violated without his permission, an act of violence is committed.
Sometimes 3–4 days after birth, when milk begins to be produced intensively, engorgement of the mammary glands occurs: they hurt and become hard. In this situation, first express some of the milk to make the breasts softer, and then latch on to the baby.
The breast is offered to the baby when he is awake and interested in food. If you attach a baby who is sleeping or does not want to eat, he will take the nipple into his mouth and continue to sleep, but will not suck.

What to avoid:

It is impossible for the baby to suck only the nipple. In this case, he does not receive enough milk and remains hungry, becomes restless and may even refuse to breastfeed. Improper sucking leads to engorgement of the mammary glands, cracks and inflammation of the nipples.
You cannot interrupt feeding after a certain period of time or wean your baby off the breast. Some children are lazy suckers, others are the opposite. Give them the opportunity to decide when to stop eating.
We should not, either at the time of birth or subsequently, put the breast into the baby's mouth. We just need to create favorable conditions for this. The child decides for himself when to eat. This forms in him the right attitude towards food, which will last throughout his life.
You should not feed a sleepy baby. If you take the baby out of bed while he is still sleeping, he will not eat, but will continue to sleep in his mother’s arms. At the same time, the mother’s body in this situation will not receive a physiological signal to produce milk, because a child was attached who was not hungry. The result of such actions is the cessation of lactation.

Remember that the purpose of breastfeeding is to provide the good nutrition you need to survive. It should also create a special bond between mother and baby. This is where the foundations of social life are laid, where we learn how to communicate with other people and what feelings we have towards them.

Free lessons from experts

They will help you take the first step in creating a developing space for your child at home

It is important to know that breastfeeding requires a lot of muscle effort from the newborn, and this work should be treated with respect: if the baby stops sucking, this does not mean that he is “lazy.” He's just resting.

Styles of dresses for pregnant women that hide the belly

If a woman does not want to advertise her position, she needs properly selected clothes. With its help, you can hide your belly not only in the first, but also in the second trimester. You need a loose fit and an emphasis on any part of the body except the most prominent one. Pay attention to these techniques:

Pay attention to these techniques:

High waist. The tummy will not be noticeable if there are lush flying gathers under the chest.
Loose tunics. Baggy clothes are not very feminine, but they hide your figure perfectly. This works especially well if you choose fabric with bright prints, then the silhouette is visually blurred.
Silhouette A. Useful in the first half of pregnancy, it will distract attention to the top of the silhouette.

Clothing that, if necessary, should hide changes in your body, is available in our online store. Browse catalogs to find a dress for any event.

Styles of summer and winter dresses for pregnant women

In the second half of spring, summer and the first weeks of autumn, expectant mothers can take long walks in the fresh air. They need light clothing made from natural hygroscopic fabrics: linen, cotton, fine knitwear. We list several options for styles:

We list several options for styles:

Antique motifs. Romantic image of a Greek or Roman princess. The shoulders are open, the belt is located under the chest, the length is below the knees or ankle-length. Shades are usually light, but natural brown, burgundy, and gray are allowed. This is an option for hot weather.
And again A-shaped models. These are light, flowy items with a yoke or high waist and a flared hem.
And tunics. Usually this is a free, sporty style. They are usually sewn from knitwear.

The listed dresses are comfortable in everyday life and look very elegant. As for shades, if there are no restrictions on a certain style, then you can wear whatever you like. Romantic pastel, strict dark, cheerful bright colors, even acidic ones - modern fashion allows all this. The only thing a pregnant woman needs to take into account: in the heat, doctors do not recommend wearing black; doctors are afraid that the woman may overheat and feel unwell. If it's cool, in addition to the dress, you can throw on a cardigan, sweatshirt or denim jacket.

Many fashion brands offer beautiful dresses for pregnant women and other seasons. But, of course, the styles of maternity dresses for autumn and winter are always more closed: they are dominated by long sleeves and a relatively narrow neckline. In style and cut, winter dresses may not differ from summer ones, only the fabrics used are warmer and softer. Basically these are the same cases, trapezoids and even ethnic ones.

Remember that changing your figure while expecting a baby is not a reason to deny yourself fashionable new items. We bring to your attention casual, business, evening and even wedding dresses for expectant mothers. Choose a style and cut that suits your figure and age. Proud Mom has maternity dresses in a variety of styles.

Why is breastfeeding better than artificial feeding?

Infant formula has come a long way since its invention. Manufacturers have learned to adjust the fat and protein composition of cow's milk so that it meets the nutritional needs of a human baby, rather than a newborn calf. They began to add balanced complexes of vitamins and minerals to the mixtures and introduce beneficial bacteria. However, human milk still hides many secrets.

For example, only in recent years have researchers understood the role of oligosaccharides in breast milk. Previously, these substances were not paid much attention, but now it has become clear that they play an important role in the formation of the baby’s immunity, and some manufacturers have already begun to add them to formulas.

How many more discoveries are waiting in the wings is known only to the universe. And yet, it is theoretically impossible to create a mixture that will be in no way different from breast milk. It constantly changes - not only as the child grows up, but even during one feeding. Foremilk (the one that comes out in the first minutes) has less calories than hind milk (which comes later), and evening milk contains hormones that calm the baby and promote sound sleep. Breast milk is always different and always meets the needs of the baby. That is why doctors recommend choosing artificial feeding only in cases where breastfeeding is impossible or unsafe for medical reasons.

Here are just some of the benefits of choosing to breastfeed your newborn:

Our expert