When I was pregnant with my first, I remember being so intimidated by the idea of breastfeeding. Would I be able to? Would my milk supply be good? Would my baby have a good latch? What if she had a tongue tie? What if I couldn’t do it? The questions swirling around my head were constant and incessant. Those thoughts were what drove me to research as much as I could about breastfeeding before my daughter arrived. Let me share with you what I found!
Take a breastfeeding class
Typically the hospital/birth center that you are planning to deliver at will offer some classes, and a prenatal breastfeeding class will likely be among the options. This was so helpful to learn about different breastfeeding positions, what a proper latch looks like, breastfeeding nutrition and any props/support tools that I could choose to fit my needs.
Skin-to-skin
Next, the most important thing immediately post-delivery is skin-to-skin time with the baby on your chest. Make sure that the hospital/birthing center you choose to deliver at is “Baby Friendly” if breastfeeding is a priority of yours. These hospitals and centers prioritize skin-to-skin time. Not only is skin-to-skin time extremely important for regulating the baby’s respirations, temperature and glucose post-delivery, but it also majorly encourages the baby to make its way to the breast to latch. At this point, your body will be producing colostrum, also known as liquid gold, which is a very highly nutritious form of breast milk. Baby’s stomach at birth will only fit about a teaspoon or so of liquid so colostrum is extremely nutrient-dense to ensure that baby is getting everything they need even in such small quantities.
A good latch is key
There should not be pain when the baby latches. If there is, please reach out to a lactation consultant for help! In the beginning, your nipples might be tender as they adjust to breastfeeding but bleeding and excessive pain are not normal.
Your milk is a system of supply and demand
Your baby will be eating every 2-3 hours in the beginning. Some larger babies might be able to go a bit longer between feeds, but it is normal for newborns to feed every 2-3 hours including overnight. It is extremely important for the sake of your milk supply and your baby’s growth that you do not skip the night feedings in the beginning. Yes, it is tiring, but enlist help as needed during the day for you to take naps to keep up with your baby’s needs overnight.
Until your milk is well established, it is not ideal to skip feeds. Your body will continue to produce milk consistently as long as it is regularly drained. When you skip a feed and the milk is not drained, it signals to your body that it doesn’t need to produce as much anymore.
Nutrition matters
Breastfeeding moms burn about 400-600 extra calories a day just from producing milk. For optimal nutrition for you and your baby, make sure to eat balanced meals and focus on high-protein snacks to fuel your body. Many moms want to lose the baby weight as soon as they can, but, until your supply is established and the baby is thriving, it isn’t time to be cutting down calories or minimizing food intake. Your body will perform better for you and your baby by fueling it properly!
Introducing the bottle
If you plan to introduce a bottle to the baby to allow your partner or another caregiver to feed the baby when you go back to work or need a break, don’t wait too long. The first 3-4 weeks should center around you and the baby establishing your milk supply, but it is typically suggested around that 3-4 week mark to start introducing a bottle. It will be long enough to get your supply going and get your baby comfortable with breastfeeding but not so long before they lose that newborn sucking reflex which is vital to establishing both breast and bottle feeding.
Know where to go in case issues arise
It can feel hard and overwhelming in the beginning! If anything ever hurts or if more questions come up, make sure you know whom to ask for assistance. This could be a lactation consultant at the hospital, an outpatient lactation consultant through your ob-gyn office or even a pediatrician. Having your support system ready to go before the baby arrives will help you tackle any issues that come up.
Lastly, just know that while breastfeeding is natural, it may not feel easy right away and that is okay. No two moms have the same breastfeeding journey, and even the same mom doesn’t have the same breastfeeding journey with each of their kids. Don’t be discouraged, you’ve got this, Mama!
Here are a few additional resources for breastfeeding moms to add to your list:
Dakota DeSanctis is the Editor-in-Chief of Connecting Mothers Initiative, a Navy wife and a mother of two. She has her bachelor’s degree in English from California Baptist University and loves baking, reading, spending time with her family and exercising.
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