I think there are many parents to be, I was one of them, who think “Breastfeeding has been done for thousands of years, it is natural, how could it possibly be hard?”
The truth is what come super simple to some, can be next to impossible for others. I fell into the second category. You can read about my breastfeeding beginning here. But to say it wasn’t easy for me, would be an understatement. By the time I hit 6 weeks breastfeeding my nipples were cracked and bleeding, I cried every-time I fed my Squishy. I dreaded having to do it again. This was NOT how breastfeeding was supposed to go. Thankfully, we made it through. I ended up breastfeeding for just over 16 months.
If I had it to do over again, I would have prepared more. I would have done more than just read a few articles, and giggled through the breastfeeding class I took. (To be fair, you would have giggled too. I didn’t realize we were supposed to bring a babydoll or stuffed animal to use as a pretend child, and all the hospital gift shop had was a frog and a cow. So of course I had to get a cow! Little did I know how ironic I was really being)
PRE-BABY
1. Talk to your partner about your breastfeeding goals and desires. Talk about how they can support you. Talk about how they feel about breastfeeding. Get on the same page. And when you are on the same page…
2. Talk to your families. Let them know you are wanting to breastfeed and could use their support. Moms who have partner and family support are more likely to succeed.
3. Find and Take a class. Ask your partner to join you in the class. Trust me – they will NOT be the only male in the class!
4. If you have a LLL in your area, go to a meeting. Talk to the leaders, find out if there are new mommy groups for you to attend after you have your baby. These are great, not only could you make new friends, but you will get answers to any feeding questions or issues you could be having.
5. Find a lactation consultant in your area (check to see if your hospital has them). That way in your tired, worn out, frustrated state, if you are having issues you don’t need to worry about hunting one down. All you have to do is make a phone call.
6. If you plan on pumping, make arrangements to rent a hospital grade one, or if you can purchase a nice double pump. (I wasn’t planning on pumping much so I bought a single pump. Later when I had supply issues and was pumping to increase my milk, I ended up buying a double pump, it made a huge difference.) (PS I like my Medela PISA, but when I was at the ABC Expo I saw the new pump by Simplisse and was impressed by the gentle compression.
7. Get all your supplies. Nipple cream, breast pads, my brest friend nursing pillow, boppy, and 2 soft cotton nursing bras. I also plan on picking up My Milkies for my next baby. Such a great product for salvaging all that lost milk during breastfeeding.
POST-BABY
8. Set short-term goals. My first goal was 6 weeks, then 3 months, then 6 months, then 1 year, then 18 months. Short goals help you to feel less of the inevitable mommy-guilt we all instill on ourselves. They also help you realize how great you are doing.
9. Go to a new mommy support group. I can’t tell you how much that saved my sanity. If for nothing else to just get out of the house and be around people who understand what you are going through.
10. If you plan on heading back to work – pump every morning after your first feeding with your baby. You can also pump the opposite breast from which you are using for the current feeding. If you are able to do that, you will have a great stash for heading back to work and there will be less pressure on yourself to ensure you are pumping enough daily. (Or save you from a panic attack when the day-care calls to say they spilled that mornings bottle, and won’t have enough to get through the day.)
11. Be sure to introduce a bottle within the first 6 weeks. If you don’t, you could face what many breastfeeding mothers do – bottle rejection. This can be fine for some, and very difficult for others. Having a baby who will take pumped milk from a bottle means your husband can do one of the night-time feedings allowing you to get some much needed sleep. It also allows you to head out on a date night, girls night, or even to a hair appointment without worrying (as much) that your baby is going to freak out while you are gone.
MOST IMPORTANT
12. Remember a happy/healthy mom = happy/healthy baby. Sometimes no matter how much preparation you do, breastfeeding just doesn’t work out. Whether your milk doesn’t come in, your health needs attention, or any other reason; know that you are a strong woman and a great mother. Breastfeeding doesn’t make you a better mother than a formula feeding mother. The best thing to do is to do your research and make the choice that is right for you, your baby, and your family.
Emily – creator and founder of Simple Gift – Stories from Breastfeeding Mamas
Simple Gift is a blog created for breastfeeding mamas to share their stories. Breastfeeding is one of the best gifts we can give our children, and although this blog is called Simple Gift, we all know that breastfeeding isn’t always simple. Sometimes things don’t go smoothly.
I wanted to create a place for moms to share their stories with others so that people can read and learn from them. My hope is that by sharing as many kinds of stories as possible, people will be able to find common ground and know they aren’t alone in their feelings.
You can find Simple Gifts on Facebook as well.
Emily also writes a personal blog: Family and Life in Las Vegas
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