breastfeeding

Breastfeeding 101

by Katie Andrien
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Dear new mom,

Congratulations on the birth of your little one and your decision to breastfeed.  Starting your breastfeeding journey is exciting, emotional and a bit exhausting (feeding an infant takes a lot of energy!).  At some point you will no doubt find yourself typing some nursing worry into Google at 2am, or scrolling on forums through weary eyes to see if someone is facing the same issue you are.  We have all been there.  I have been breastfeeding every day (and most nights) for over 2 years (and counting!), and done my fair share of late night internet searches.  And so, with the hope of settling some new mom fears, this is what I have learned so far.

  1. Always listen to your baby and your body.  Your baby will tell you when she needs to nurse and when she is finished nursing.  Your body will tell you when nursing is going well and when something is wrong.  Listen.  Slow down and listen.  No book, program or routine should ever fully dictate how you nurse your baby.  Ever.  Have faith in your baby and in your ability to listen to her and to your body’s natural signals.  The more time you take in building that connection, the easier it will be to respond to your baby’s needs.
  2. Nursing should not be painful (although a strong let down reflex can feel quite uncomfortable at first!).  If you are in pain, feel ill or if your baby is not gaining weight, seek help. It is also important to surround yourself with a community of people who are knowledgeable about breastfeeding, have breastfed and support your decisions.  This community could consist of nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, friends, family, your local La Leche League chapter or moms on social networks that are in your shoes.  Reach out.  The breastfeeding community is overwhelmingly supportive.
  3. Nursing is about supply and demand.  Many new mothers are worried about whether they will produce enough milk.  The more time the baby spends at the breast, the more milk you will make.  Certainly some moms do experience low supply.  But for most breastfeeding mothers, if you respond to baby with breast first (versus a soother for example), your supply should most likely be fine.  Trust the process
  4. Engorged-If you feel within the first few weeks that you need to pump your milk because you are engorged and uncomfortable, know that engorgement is normal and your breasts will feel softer as the weeks pass and your supply starts to regulate.  If you pump to relieve the pressure, you are signaling to your breasts to make more milk (it’s like telling your breasts that you are feeding twins).  It is better to hand express only a tiny amount and let your baby do the rest.  Some mothers take a hot shower or use gel pads that can be frozen to provide some relief.
  5. Nursing Positions-Try lots of different nursing positions to find a few that work for you and your baby.  You will change these positions and angles as the baby grows.  Personally, I love nursing lying down.  We both get to relax and we usually drift off to sleep afterwards.
  6. THINGS THAT HELP-Some items that I invested in that I found incredibly useful in the beginning were:- A handful of really comfortable cotton night nursing bras and day sports bras. Neither had clips or fasteners to deal with.  You just pull the material down, take breast out, nurse and go on with your day.
    – Nursing pads.  You will likely leak (more at the beginning) and this will save you from washing your sheets every night and changing your shirt multiple times a day (and the embarrassment when out in public and you hear a baby cry)
    – Nipple cream
    – Soft receiving blankets.  You can use them to mop up any milk when nursing. They can also be used to prop up your baby’s head if you don’t have your nursing pillow or as a light cover to be more discreet if you are not comfortable nursing in public.
    – A nursing pillow
  7. Babies will nurse for a variety of reasons.  Certainly they nurse because they are hungry or thirsty.  But babies will also nurse because they are tired, scared or need to connect after a period of separation (which may only be as short a time as a nap).  Nursing is not just a feeding method, it’s a relationship.
  8. SCHEDULE-Your baby is going to dictate how often you will nurse and for how long. Don’t schedule feedings.  This can hurt your supply and schedules don’t take into account your baby’s unique needs.  Don’t limit the nursing session.  Don’t stop if you don’t feel “full” anymore – milk continues to flow.  The breast doesn’t fill up and empty the same way a bottle does.  The flow of milk changes consistency as baby nurses (thinner to more fatty) which is why it is so important not to stop before baby is finished and unlatches.
  9. Supply & Demand-Sometimes baby wants to nurse for what seems like forever.  When this happens, do not worry that you will run out of milk and do not immediately conclude that something must be wrong.  Remember, breastfeeding is about supply and demand.  Babies (and toddlers too) will usually nurse more for a few reasons including growth spurts, illness or changes in their life (daycare or a new sibling).  Breast milk changes in response to the needs of the baby, so keep breastfeeding and know that this high demand time shall pass.

If you nurse for one day, one week, a month, a few months, a year or many years, high-five to you.  We should always celebrate breastfeeding regardless of the length of time a mom nurses for.  And remember, practise builds confidence.  You’re doing a great job.  Nurse on, momma!

Sincerely,

A breastfeeding mom

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