In pics: 5 celeb mums share their personal breastfeeding experiences

Read about the personal journeys and also learn the four ways to breastfeed a newborn, from our expert Dr Sangeeta Saha.

What these 5 celeb mums says about breastfeeding

Celebrity or not, breastfeeding can be the most beautiful experiences for a new mother. It not only helps the baby get the right nutrition, but also strengthens the bond between a her and the baby.

And while it is an experience that is unique to each new mum but they may all still get the same advice from their friends and family.

We take a look some of the most unique breastfeeding experiences of some of the most famous mothers and also speak to Dr Sangeeta Saha, Senior Physiotherapist, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru, to understand just how to actually breastfeed a new baby.

Click 'Start Gallery' to read about celebrity breastfeeding experiences and advice from our expert.

Lara Dutta Bhupati

The former Miss Universe and mum to her now five-year-old daughter, Lara Dutta has been and continues to remain an ardent supporter of breastfeeding.

In an interview post her daughter's birth she said, “Being a mother is the most beautiful aspect of a woman’s life. It is also a great responsibility. As a mother I want to help all new and expectant mothers understand the importance of breastfeeding."

And breastfeeding can be made more easy if you know just how to do it. It can also benefit you to lose weight later. So should one do it? Our expert, Dr Sangeeta Saha, Senior Physiotherapist, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru, explains.

"There is no particular rule on how to sit during breast feeding. But the posture which the mother follows should be comfortable for the baby as well as the mother. The mother should be relaxed and should support her breast and body while feeding the baby. There are some simple positions which the new mothers can follow while breastfeeding their kid,” she says explaining the first position.

Cross over hold: This is a perfect and comfortable position for many infants and mothers. In this position mother uses her right arm and hand to support the baby and left hand also to support the baby. New born babies feel safe in this position.

Nandita Das

Actor, writer, director and activist, Nandita Das wears many hats, but the one most important to her is that of a mother.

She gave birth to her son in 2010 and soon joined hands with Save the children organisation to spread more awareness about breastfeeding, which she initially didn't fully understand herself.

In an interview Das shared astonishingly, "I always knew that breastfeeding was good for a baby but I never knew how important colostrum (first thick yellow milk) is to protect him from so many diseases."

And it sure does. Dr Saha adds that apart from understanding its medical benefits, one must also understand how to administer it to the baby. So the next position she explains is called Cradle hold.

Cradle hold: This is a common poster which many mothers follow. Here the mother holds the baby with her hand, where her elbow supports the head and hand supports the bottom of the baby. With the other hand mother can support her breast. The mother has to be careful while holding the baby’s in this position. It is difficult to feed the baby which is less than 1 month in this position as their neck muscles are not strong.

Raveena Tandon Thadani

The famous 90s actor Raveena Tandon who gave birth to two kids is a firm believer of breastfeeding and advises the same to new mums.

In an interview she said, "Breastfeed for at least 6 months. Don't give in to the pressure of getting back in shape in an insanely short time. It's neither good for you, nor your newborn. Check with your gynae what foods you should be consuming. Strict dieting at this time is a no-no. And yes, breastfeeding can actually help you burn calories."

Dr Saha agrees and explains another position you can use to breastfeed easily.

Football hold: This position is good for the mother if she has undergone C section delivery. The mother has to position the baby at her side, under the arms like a handbag. She should support the baby’s shoulder, neck and head with her arm. This position helps the mother to avoid put the weight of the baby on her stomach while breastfeeding.

Renuka Shahane Rana

The famous bhabhi of Indian cinema is a vocal supporter or breastfeeding and has ample experience given her two handsome young sons.

In an interview to indusparent, Shahane said, "t's very simple to understand that when a child is hungry, he will ask for a feed. And if he is still crying after being fed, than perhaps it is something that is making him uncomfortable which could be a blocked nose or may be he has not been burped properly. So it is very, very simple to understand a child’s nature. New mothers should stick to demand feeding. It also helps in boosting the milk supply."

Dr Saha agrees and says while there is a lot of advice out there, new mums must work on breastfeeding with "a lot of patience and practice." She shares another useful position a new mum can try called the Lying position, especially useful for mums who've had a C section.

Lying position: After C section delivery few mothers may feel uncomfortable in sitting for a long time. So they can feed while lying on their side on the bed. But there should be enough pillows to support her back, head and knees. Here mother makes the baby lay on her side and covers the baby’s back and bottom with her hand.

Sonali Bendre

The gorgeous actor and mum to a boy, Sonali Bendre is also a firm supporter of breastfeeding and mentioned it in her book as well.

Bendre started solids after three months of exclusive feeding because she says breastfeeding works differently for different people. “It’s an example that I felt was very important because for everything that new mothers are told and taught, every child is different and sometimes you need to try different things. There’s no hard and fast rule,” she said in an interview.

And while that's absolutely true Dr Saha shares that if you do continue to exclusively breastfeed your baby for six months make sure to take some precautions.

Precautions while breastfeeding

"Positioning yourself and your baby correctly to avoid back and neck pain. Hold the baby softly and make it comfortable while feeding," she says. Dr Saha adds, "If the posture is not comfortable for the baby, it may not drink the milk. Feed the baby with alternative breast & in alternative positions. Otherwise, mother may suffer from sore nipple problem and musculosketal pain. Use a proper fitting bra."

Finally, she shares, "Milk flow can be restricted by a poorly fitted bra. Breastfeeding helps uterus to shrink to return to its pre pregnancy size more quickly."

Read: The unusual ways your boobs change post breastfeeding