Things to Know About Breastfeeding

8 months into breastfeeding, and I finally feel confident enough to give others advice! Haha I’m a second-time mom, but first time breastfeeding (you can read all about our exclusively pumping journey here). I am very passionate about the topic of breastfeeding, to those that need the support.  Not all journeys will be the same, and I respect whatever decision you make for feeding your baby.

First Few Days

Not every mom will start lactating right after birth. Each body is different! Some moms will experience leaking during pregnancy, some will take a few days after delivery. Either way, the sooner you can have baby latch the better. My baby was rushed off to the NICU and I didn’t get the immediate skin to skin contact with her. However, hours later I was finally able to hold her and she lay her. I can’t explain the relief I felt!

If you are worried, ask for a lactation consultant to be present to give guidance. This will sound weird, but prior to having your baby watch some YouTube video of how to nurse, and how to position baby. It is so much easier to visually see the “football hold” and others than how some may explain it. 

If your milk hasn’t come in yet, the hospital can loan you a breast pump to use to get things going. But the more you latch the baby it will signal your body to produce milk. 

Now, you’re probably thinking you’ll feed and then pump the rest. Why wouldn’t you, since your breast will still feel full after feeding and might cause you some pain? Well, just as mentioned the more you latch baby (and pump) the more it signals your body to make milk. You may get an oversupply, may make it hard for baby to latch on a full breast, and could make you more susceptible to clogged ducts and pain. 

In the first days, start applying nipple cream after each feeding. This will get you in the habit faster and I promise your future self will thank you!

When your milk comes in

My biggest piece of advice in the early days is to not pump for a full session. Allow your body to regulate for the baby’s needs and get on a schedule. My nurse also shared with me how when your milk comes in, your breast tissue becomes inflamed and will make you think you’re more full than you are.

You’re going to experience engorgement, but there are several ways to help that! Cold compresses, hot compresses, hand express, pumping just to relieve pain (about 2-5 minutes), or massage your breast prior to feeding. Give yourself relief, but don’t add pumping to your schedule just yet! It’s recommended to let your milk regulate for the first 8 weeks. 

When you are solely breastfeeding, it can be hard to figure out how much baby is eating or even if they are eating enough. Babies will eat when they are hungry, so don’t expect too much of a schedule in the beginning! Your baby may be consistently eating 2-3 hours one day, then do a 4-hour stretch, want to eat within an hour… Basically, just be flexible. 

At some point, there will be cluster feeding which will mean some sleepless nights in your future. This is normal and happens with growth spurts too! Typically it’ll be 2-5 hours between feeds, but don’t compare because all babies are different. If you are worried about your baby not gaining weight, you can schedule a weighted feed at your hospital where they will weigh baby before and after feeding to see about how much they ate. 

Speaking of nighttime feedings, it will be so tempting to want to let baby sleep next to you so you can feed easier, or you may even find yourself dozing off while feeding. I get it, it is so so hard. My husband was very helpful in the beginning and would stay up with me for a bit, wake up to hand me baby (recovering from c-section leaves you with zero core muscle), or help take our baby so I could get some sleep in. Once I could get up easier, I would have my chair set up with what was needed and make a point to get up and out of bed to feed her. Doing this helped me be more alert and not in a dream state. I grew to love these times to be aware and soaking up those newborn snuggles that go away too quickly.

Breastfeeding Supplies

Okay, I know a big luxury of breastfeeding is that it is free. However I have loved having a few things to really make the experience enjoyable!

Something I bought this time around, was the Haakaa pump. It can work as a pump, but it can be more passive and catch the letdowns that will be happening while you feed the baby on the opposite side. This also built me a small freezer supply in the beginning, and no milk went to waste which made me happy!

A boppy. Wow, this is such an underrated product! I had it for my first but didn’t use it very often, but now 6 months in I am still using it religiously. It helps you elevate babies and keep them in position during feeding. Your arms will get a break, and it will also help prevent pulling on your nipple.

Making a breastfeeding station was an absolute must for me. I have a rocking chair, side table, and night light all set up. I always, always have a water bottle nearby to stay hydrated. Breastfeeding takes so much out of you, and you want to drink more water than you think you should. Also, in the first several months you will have the worst food cravings and be constantly hungry. I always had a stash of granola bars, almonds, goldfish, and yes even chocolate nearby. Remember how I mentioned earlier how I started to enjoy getting up for nighttime feeds? This is part of the reason why I had something to look forward to doing. Make a space to feed, even if it’s just your bed and bedside table!

Nursing pads are going to come in handy for the inevitable leaking that will happen. I wore a loose nursing bra (you never want something tight, this can result in clogged ducts) and added the washable nursing pads. I have around 8 sets total, that way when some are in the wash I still have backups and can change as often as needed.

Another aid will be a cooling/heating insert. I have this set that can be frozen or heating in the microwave to offer relief. They have been amazing and I still use them as needed! If you are experiencing pain on your actual nipple, I recommend getting soft shells that will allow airflow and not let anything hit against you. You will be so sensitive the first few months or so, just stick with it and use remedies as needed!

Mindset

This is the biggest part of breastfeeding. Even if your baby latches beautifully, your breast still goes through a lot of changes in a quick amount of time. Give yourself grace, and have the right mindset for this. You need to have the determination to figure out what works best for you and baby! What you are doing is such a beautiful thing, and the fact that your body is continuing to help your baby grow is no small feat. Don’t just look at breastfeeding on a surface level, as it is truly much more than that. Your baby you created is still depending on you and you are making liquid gold for them. Your milk is literally nourishing, giving baby antibodies, and changes with baby’s needs.

Days will be hard and filled with some pain and learning your baby. If you are feeling excruciating pain, contact a lactation consultant because you may need some adjusting. Being able to just stop and feed your baby is such a wonderful feeling, and you’ll feel like a boss. It is such a beautiful connection with your child, and for me, it has made every bit of this journey worth it. I’ve stated in the past fed is best, so don’t feel an ounce of guilt during your journey- however, it goes! I am very thankful breastfeeding worked out for us this time, and I wanted to share my experience with you all.