Breastfeeding is well known as the optimal choice for feeding a baby. It’s natural, free, and provides all the necessary nutrients that a baby needs, along with boosting a baby’s immune system by sharing antibodies from the mom’s body to the baby’s. Yet for all of that, many women report that breastfeeding just doesn’t seem to come… naturally. Below are a few things that I wish someone had told me before I had my first baby!
- It typically takes a few days for your milk supply to come in after birth. The first day or two you might only have colostrum, which is a thicker, clear milk that is higher in sugar and only comes in small amounts. Colostrum is beneficial for the baby, even if it doesn’t look like traditional milk! Your doctors and nurses should be monitoring your baby’s health and weight to help determine if you need to supplement with banked milk or formula while you wait for your milk to come in. If you have concerns that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat, tell someone! As a mom, your instincts are important and should always be taken seriously!
- To prevent pain, when baby latches to nurse, his mouth should be open very wide! If you’re having difficulty getting your baby to open his mouth as wide as he should, ask to meet with a lactation specialist for some tips.
- Sometimes babies get sleepy when nursing. In some cases, they’ll keep nursing while they sleep, but other babies stop feeding when they’re drowsy. If your baby needs kept awake, consider holding him skin-to-skin and tickling his back, neck, or feet if he starts to drop off.
- Breastfeeding makes women very thirsty! Keep a water bottle on hand when nursing so you stay hydrated.
- For most women, your body will produce as much milk as is demanded of it. If you start pumping to store up some extra for going back to work, your body will see that as increased demand and increase the amount it produces, so balance is key! Pump only as much as you need to prevent engorgement.
- Most women will experience engorgement (which happens when the breasts are over-full of milk) from time to time, and it can be very uncomfortable! If this happens and your baby isn’t ready to nurse, pump or massage your breasts just enough to ease the discomfort, but don’t pump all the way! Otherwise, you’ll just produce even more milk, and chances are your baby will be ready to nurse in just a little while anyway.
- There are many different positions you can hold your baby to nurse, or ways to lay beside your baby so he can nurse without being held. What works for one person may not work for you. Additionally, what worked when your baby was a newborn may not be best once he is a little bigger, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different feeding positions.
- Some babies eat really quickly, and some are very slow! Learn to recognize your baby’s pace, and strive to be content with that. If your baby nurses slowly and you’re feeling impatient, try reframing it as a mandatory relax break. Maybe it’s a good time to listen to a podcast or read a good book you’ve been putting off for awhile!
- Don’t try to cut a bunch of calories to lose weight when you’re breastfeeding! Breastfeeding requires at least as many, if not more, calories than pregnancy, and if you try to cut calories too much or too soon, your milk supply can drop. If you’re concerned about losing pregnancy weight, talk with your healthcare provider about healthy diet and exercise during breastfeeding so you don’t overdo it.
If you’re really struggling to breastfeed, whether right from the start or a few months into the journey, talk to more experienced moms who have been there. Depending on the situation, you might need to persevere through a difficult spell, or see a lactation specialist, and things will smooth out over time. Other times, you might have to supplement with formula, or maybe even stop breastfeeding altogether and switch completely to formula. Struggling with breastfeeding doesn’t make you a bad mom! The time with your baby will go by so quickly, and every mom’s experience will be unique, even from one baby to the next. No matter how your experience goes, try to focus on the positives and enjoy the journey!