BREASTFEEDING 101

When my son was born, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. What I wasn’t mentally prepared for were the challenges ahead.  Engorged breasts, questions about milk supply, night feeds, painful nipples and the list goes on. I am sharing this blog post in the hopes this helps you navigate the first weeks of breastfeeding. I will attempt at making this short and sweet because we all know as new mothers, time is of the essence!!

So, let’s get started.

1. Do some research ahead of time. Explore different pumps, find out if it will be covered or not and try to get familiar with it a few weeks before baby comes home. Your milk typically comes in 3-5 days post birth, and engorgement is REAL! Although it isn’t suggested to pump early on, I found myself having to pump on day #3 to get some comfort. Once I was able to pump, I resumed breastfeeding as usual. I didn’t get familiar with my pump ahead of time, so I scrambled to figure it out! Save yourself some heartache and play with your pump.

• While in the hospital utilize the services of a lactation consultant! They are a God send and they can guide you in the right direction!! From proper latch to tips and tricks on how to make sure baby stays awake during feeds will truly make a difference in your breastfeeding journey. Before you leave ask for a referral or resources to a lactation consultant in your community and follow up with them.

• Producing a few drops is expected in the first few days. Do not get discourage! The initial breastmilk that you are producing is called colostrum. It contains carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and so much more.  Collect what you can and feed your baby, even if it’s just a few drops. A little goes a long way with colostrum.

• Be prepared to feed often. Newborns have very small stomachs, therefor they need frequent small meals. You can expect to feed every 2-3 hours for the first couple of weeks. If you find yourself exhausted (which you will) ask your partner for some assistance. This is where bottle feeding can be introduced gradually.

•  You will experience “LET DOWN” which essentially translate to when your breast starts getting to flow and is ready to feed baby. Women will experience let down differently, but it can often feel as a tingling feeling in the breast. During a feed you can experience multiple let downs and they occur simultaneously, so make sure you catch that milk with a hand held pump!

• No one knows how much a baby is eating when breastfeeding. We can’t quantify what’s in the breast. A method to know if baby is satisfied or not is to assess his behavior after feeds. Diapers are also a good indicator. What comes in must come out. So, make sure that diapers are wet and or soiled. You can expect 6-8 wet diapers once your milk comes in. Notify a health care professional if most diapers are dry or has dark colored stool.

•  Feed baby on demand. This might be challenging and exhausting but it’s a common reality. Feeding cues are often initiated by rooting reflex (when a newborn turns his face toward a stimulus) and or begins sucking. Try to feed before your little one starts to cry, it will make it easier to latch and nurse.

There is so much more to breastfeeding then these tips, but I truly hope this helps!! Whether you decide to breastfeed, exclusively pump or offer formula, remember to make an informed decision.

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Tania Joline‌.