As a new parent, I feel like I’m learning new things constantly. There is so much to learn in the world of babies, it can feel a bit overwhelming! I want to make sure I am making all the right choices for her as a mom and that starts with what she intakes. Breastfeeding these past six months have been filled with beautiful and hard moments, making me learn a thing or two. Recently we discovered Evivo, which provides babies with healthy bacteria to build up a good immune system.

I have partnered with them to share 6 lessons we have learned during her first 6 months of breastfeeding.

1. It requires patience

Some babies are easier than others, mine definitely being more challenging. If you’ve kept up with my breastfeeding journey, you’ll know we faced lots of obstacles. Through it all, I was required a lot of patience to continue feeding her. Latching a shallow latch and impatient baby, took a lot of deep breaths! Go into breastfeeding knowing you will need patience. Your little one may want to feed after eating just thirty minutes ago. They may finish eating by spitting up all over your chest, or maybe patience is required when you have to relatch them for the third time. Breastfeeding requires a lot of patience, especially in the first 6 months as you and baby are adjusting, mentally prepare yourself for that.

2. Consider adding a probiotic

This may seem like a different concept, but there were times I felt she wasn’t getting enough nutrients from my breast milk. Breast milk has amazing powers and protected her when I was sick, but still I wish I had known more about baby products out there that help our little ones. Evivo combines with breast milk to help ensure your baby has a healthy gut. When more good bacteria exists in the gut, it creates a strong wall and crowds out the bad bacteria. Unfortunately, today, 9 out of 10 babies are experiencing a disruption in their gut, causing more bad bacteria to thrive. You can learn more about Evivo and all the benefits of it!

It is critical in the first 6 months of your baby’s life for metabolic and autoimmune development, so incorporating Evivo into our daily routine was a necessity. Below I show you how easy it is to add Evivo to your baby’s diet.

3. You need to take care of your body too.

Yay we are feeding baby and taking care of their health! Wait, when was the last time I ate?! Remember during pregnancy how you were eating for two, well you still are. Breastfeeding takes a lot out of you and a lot goes to baby and some is just you burning calories (that counts as a work out right?). I often found myself these first few months not having time to eat and some days I would go all day without drinking water. I had a huge appetite don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I chose sleeping over eating which didn’t help anyone. Drinking lots of water and making sure you are intaking enough calories is essential. If you can manage to feed yourself while feeding baby, do it. You will find that you have bigger cravings then you did while pregnant, it’s okay to give into them. As long as you are eating and taking care of you and baby, who cares how much you weigh? We have our whole lives to work out, these first few months are very important for our postpartum health and for baby to grow.

4. It can hurt like a mother

Ha see what I did there? Okay so say in a perfect world your baby latches great and you have no issues. Well guess what, your nipples will still crack. Clogged milk ducts are a thing and hurt, and make you do crazy things to get rid of them. (Hot showers, feeding upside down, some have hubby’s step in to help, you get the point.) Gear yourself up with some nipple cream (Medela and Lansinoh were my faves), Ice packs are your new best friend, and find some great nursing pads or soft shells to protect yourself. I have a blog post all about these products here.

5. It’s a lot of trial and error, baby

Babies can be so finnicky. You might have to test out what hold works best for your baby, there are lots of positions you can try. Your baby also could be picky with which bottles and pacifiers they will take, so be prepared to spend a little bit to get it down. Try not to get frustrated if something doesn’t work, keep a very open mind and give yourself a break. It’s only been a few months mama, and your baby is still getting a hang of this whole life thing. This goes for situations like breastfeeding in public, too. You may be able to cover up and baby be okay with it, sometimes baby doesn’t like covers. Whatever happens, make sure both you and baby are comfortable. I know I was never comfortable breastfeeding in public (applying a nipple shield discreetly just wasn’t possible ha!) so have a game plan.

6. It’s O.K to get help

My biggest struggle in the hospital and the few days after, asking for help. I am so glad I called the Lactation Consultant as much as I did, but I wish I did more. Use your resources especially during those early days. Most hospitals should provide you with consultants info and some have groups you can attend. Take advantage of all the advice you can! Call your mother if you need to hear her advice or thoughts (mine gave me permission to call her at anytime, score!), they’ve been through this! While it can be physically draining, take care of yourself mentally too. Postpartum depression and anxiety is very real and shouldn’t be ignored. Seek help if you are feeling any of the signs, people are there to help you and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Your mental health is just as important as your postpartum health, healthy mama transfers to healthy baby!

While there are so many lessons to be learned during breastfeeding, a lot of it will come with time. You’ll learn some valuable tips and better ways to do things through your growth as a mom. Here I am at 6 months still learning numerous tidbits, like adding probiotics into my breastmilk, and I love growing as a mom! What are some lessons you have learned as a breastfeeding mama?