Breastfeeding is quite possibly one of the most natural things you can do as a mother (alongside giving birth). As natural as it is though, it can be intimidating and daunting for some. The issues of cracked nipples, bleeding nipples, and being so sore you choose to stop breastfeeding are all too common for some women. Much of what depends on the success of your breastfeeding journey is to get good information, such as from an up-to-date lactation educator, lactation counselor, or IBCLC. You can find any one of these people in your community and they can make a lasting impression on your breastfeeding experience. In this blog post I’m going to discuss some simple “tips” to helping you survive your first month of breastfeeding.
When you come home from the hospital (if you didn’t have a home birth) then suddenly you’re expected to care for your child alone with no help from hospital nurses. You have diapers to change, halls to walk, lullabies to sing, and many feedings to give. You’re exhausted and recovering from giving birth to your bundle of joy, and if you have a cesarean birth then you’re also in pain on top of everything else. It can be intimidating and scary, especially for a first time mom. Your decision to breastfeed is congratulated and your baby thanks you each time they gaze up at you. Below are some handy “tips” and helpful information to assist you in getting off to the best start in your breastfeeding journey for both you and your baby. Remember that every body is different and every breastfeeding journey is different so you may not need some of the following helpful tips.
1. Start breastfeeding ASAP! I cannot stress this enough! Immediately after birth your baby should be placed on your chest skin to skin, as long as there are no medical problems with mom or baby. Also known as kangaroo care is extremely beneficial to your baby’s development and the bond between you and your new baby. You should be given the opportunity to breastfeed within an hour of birth, following the baby’s lead. Your baby has a great sense of smell and can find your breast when they are ready to eat although you may have to help them get to the breast or to latch on. If you do not know how a nurse or doula can help initiate this.
2. Don’t follow a schedule! You should feed your baby on demand starting from birth. There is no need to deprive your baby of food or force your baby to eat because a schedule tells you to. Follow your instincts as a mother and feed when your baby shows the cues (sucking hand, sticking tongue out, tight fists, rooting). There are instances when you may have to wake your baby in order to feed them, such as in the case of a jaundiced baby or sick baby. It is okay for a baby to go 4 hours without nursing once a day as long as they are nursing 8-12 times a day. It’s also okay for a baby to nurse every hour or 2. Following a schedule can lead to unnecessary supplementing, poor weight gain, and poor milk production.
3. You’re making enough milk! As long as you drain your breasts completely and often (every 2-3 hours) you are producing enough milk. It is the idea of supply and demand. If your breasts are empty then your body tells itself that it needs to produce more… If you ever find a decrease in your production using a breast pump or nursing often can help reestablish that supply. You don’t need to stress out about if you have enough milk or if your baby is eating enough. Your baby’s diapers can tell you a lot about how much they are eating. *Note that your breasts are never totally empty. Each nursing gets approximately 60% of the milk removed. So, I repeat, you have enough milk!
4. Get a good breast pump! Getting a good hospital grade breast pump can be very beneficial to you especially if you have a baby who is unable to suckle adequately enough to empty the breasts. In some circumstances you will need to use a pump to establish your supply or will need to pump exclusively and feed your baby with a bottle or maybe in a feeding tube depending on the situation. If you are a working mom or travel a lot a breast pump can also be important in keeping your milk production stable.
5. Avoid pacifiers and bottles! Avoiding these two things can help lower the chance of “nipple confusion” or “nipple preference”. Pacifiers were created to replace the woman’s nipple…in other words, giving a pacifier can lead to your baby not nursing as often or to refuse to nurse at the breast completely, forcing you to give a bottle or attempt the use of nipple shields. Using a bottle can be detrimental because your baby may come to prefer the flow and the ease of the eating from a bottle, therefore leading them to refuse the breast entirely. Most people recommend waiting about 4 months before introducing a pacifier that way breastfeeding has been fully established. You can begin introducing a bottle around 2-3 months. Remember though that these are just recommendations and you in no way have to follow them. If you’re exhausted and want someone else to feed the baby then by all means get out the bottles! My only intention is to inform you on possible consequences of these decisions. Your baby may prefer one to the other (yes, some babies prefer the breast and refuse a bottle) or they may not have a preference and be easily fed either way as in my personal breastfeeding experience.
6. Nursing pads! Nursing pads! Nursing pads! These things can be your best friend sometimes! Whether you buy the reusable ones or disposable ones they both work great at preventing embarrassing leaks while out in public. Niagara Falls has nothing on a new breastfeeding mother! It can get a bit messy. I suggest keeping paper towels, a hand towel, or “wet naps” nearby your nursing station in order to clean up leaks and sprays. It sounds awful, I know, but it really isn’t that bad. By the end of the first week you hardly notice, or are too tired to care.
7. Invest in some lanolin! For those who experience sore or damaged nipples can find some relief by apply a small amount of lanolin to the area. You can find this at a local store. They are safe for baby, but if your baby doesn’t nurse after you’ve applied the lanolin it is likely because of the taste. Simply wash it off before nursing and you’re good to go. You may also find other products on the market aimed at breastfeeding mothers to help heal damaged nipples.
8. Don’t forget to eat! I know it sounds crazy, but once your baby comes and you try to adjust to your new life it can be a bit hectic. Between late night lullabies, middle of the night feedings, and early morning diaper changes you are TIRED! There’s no wonder why you forget (or don’t want to eat). But you do need to try to eat your 6 small meals a day if you can. Eating healthy foods can help replenish your energy as well as the calories you’re losing as you’re breastfeeding. If you’re not much of a water drinker you may find it helpful to purchase a new water bottle you like to encourage you to drink plenty of water. You may find that when you nurse your baby you get really thirsty. I recommend moms to make a “snack box” that stays next to their “nursing station” so that there are small snacks and a spare water as they nurse their baby (which can last anywhere from 15-40 minutes).
9. Let go of stress! Stress can have a negative impact on your milk eject reflex or “let down” of your milk and may also strain your milk production if you are really stressing out. Stress can also affect your baby as they can “feel” what you’re feeling thus creating a stressed baby. Finding a stress outlet can help you relax and learn to deal with any stress you may encounter. Meditation, music, a foot rub, a massage, or if you’ve been cleared a warm bath can do wonders on your body and mind.
10. Rest! You will hear it a thousand times… “Make sure you sleep when baby sleeps”. It couldn’t be any truer. Try to sit down or lay down and relax. Don’t worry about cleaning the house or doing the pile of dishes in the kitchen. Focus of yourself and your baby. You need rest in order to be the best mother you can. If you have older children you can have them help you take care of the house and the new baby. Try to include them in the new baby’s life and into your new routines.
PEACE, LOVE, AND BREASTMILK! :D
Mohrbacher, N., Kendall-Tackett, K., & Newman, J. (2010). Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications.
Wiessinger, D., & West, D. (2010). The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (8th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books.
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
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