Breastfeeding has been a part of my life consistently for the last 6 years. When my second child was born, I made a commitment with my brain, my boobs, and my unborn baby that I was going to ride out the journey and stick with breastfeeding no matter what came my way. I’m happy to say that I stuck it out and nursed her into toddlerhood. My third baby that followed was also breastfed until 29 months – and my next journey should begin sometime in April of this year. Here are the things that I wish I had known before I began my first breastfeeding journey.
Breastfeeding did not come easy or “naturally” for me with my first born.
10 years ago, no one close to me had any breastfeeding experience and as a pregnant 17 year old, I didn’t expect it to be so hard. I also didn’t expect my baby’s pediatrician to push me so towards formula.
As soon as he was born they told me he had jaundice and I would need to supplement with formula. While in the hospital they also made it seem like it was easier for the nursery if I used their supplied formula bottles. I wish someone had told me that neither of those things were necessary.
The best thing for jaundice is mamas milk and sunlight snuggles. Your baby also doesn’t need to stay in the hospital nursery. They can bring baby to you if he needs to eat. Don’t let someone make you feel otherwise.
I wish someone had told me the more that baby and I practice latching on to the breast, the quicker we will get it down.
There is a science to it. You do have to learn the proper technique of latching a newborn baby to a breast. You don’t always figure it out right away.
My best friend, who had been breastfeeding her second child, was able to teach me the proper way to latch my newborn daughter soon after delivering and I’m so thankful. Otherwise it would’ve taken us a whole lot of YouTube and practice lol.
Your whole nipple has to be in baby’s tiny mouth for a good latch. You want baby to open wide for this to happen and that is hard. Newborns are tired. They’re not really interested in figuring out something new. So the work falls mainly on you mama. Don’t give up. Your baby won’t starve as long as you’re trying!
I wish someone had told me my nipples would hurt, a lot.
On top of dealing with afterbirth pains, your nipples won’t feel very good either. I’ve heard plenty of times, “it won’t hurt if your baby is latched correctly” and that is total bull.
I personally have extra sensitive nipples so even when our latch is perfect, my nipples are SORE. A baby is latched on to them for the majority of the day, every day, for months or even years.
So yeah, they’re gonna be a little tender.
I recommend taking good care of your nips during your breastfeeding journey. Apply coconut oil often. Don’t let them dry out. Use reusable nursing pads and apply heat or cold as necessary.
They may hurt but this is a part of the fourth trimester. Keep going mama! You were made for it.
I wish someone had told me not every one responds to a pump
This is a big one for me. I thought the pump determined everrrrrry thing. Man was I wrong.
My breasts do not respond to a pump at all. I’m talking about a few drops into the bottle and maybe an ounce MAX if it’s a lucky day.
But what I didn’t know with my first two kids is that a pump is not the same as a baby emptying the breast. What we get out of a pump is not a reflection of what baby is actually eating. Our babies are much more efficient at emptying the breasts.
And it’s not a necessity to pump, it’s only a convenience! I personally had much more success with a Haaka than a manual or electric pump.
The Haaka pump is a small silicone, bottle shaped “pump” that attaches to the breast opposite of the one baby is latched on to. During feeding times, your breasts will leak, a lot. Each time you have a letdown while baby is eating, milk will leak out of the other breast. The Haaka is designed to catch and save all of that milk that would otherwise be in a nursing pad or all over you. It’s definitely handy and I highly recommend!
I wish someone had explained letdowns better
Seriously, during my first year of breastfeeding my second child, I had no clue what a letdown was. I had heard the term but I didn’t understand it at all.
“The breastfeeding let-down reflex, also called the milk-ejection reflex (MER), is an automatic natural reaction that happens in your body as your baby breastfeeds. When your child latches onto your breast and begins to suck, it sends a message to your brain to release the hormones prolactin and oxytocin.”
Now, that makes sense right? What’s so difficult to understand? Well, when you’re asking questions about breastfeeding someone might say, “well when you may have a fast let down so you need to lean back during feedings or massage your breasts during a letdown.”
I was like…..ok…..but how do I know when it’s letdown time? Lol I don’t know if it’s just me, but for some reason that just wasn’t clicking for me.
I finally realized that my letdown was happening each time I had a stinging sensation in my boobs. It sometimes feels different for everyone, and can be a little uncomfortable. Letdowns normally happen a minute or so after your baby begins to suck. Milk doesn’t flow instantly, they have to work to bring it down.
So sometimes baby can get impatient and frustrated at the breast if you have a “slow” letdown. Other times you can have a super fast letdown and it will choke baby causing them to unlatch and get upset. A fast letdown can also cause gas, spit up, and just a fussy baby. So when you’re asking questions, it’s important to know what a letdown is and when it’s happening.
Don’t worry if you don’t figure it out instantly, the learning is in the doing!
I wish someone had told me how rewarding this job is
Even though the days are long and the nights are even longer, breastfeeding is the most fulfilling job in the world. To know that you’re the one providing everything your baby needs is something special. Breastfeeding creates a close bond and is something that can’t be explained until you are experiencing it.
I wish I had the support and knowledge I needed when my first baby was born. But, timing is everything and my baby was fed regardless. Breast will always be best, even though it is one of the hardest jobs in the world.
I would love to continue the conversation so if you have questions or need help with your breastfeeding journey, reach out to me on Instagram and lets chat!
Leave a Reply