Like several mommies-to-be, I was terrified of the thought of breastfeeding because I heard it could be worse than labor. From it being excruciating to the term “cracked nipples” (Yikes!) or even hearing and seeing nipples bleed, were just a few of the things I associated with breastfeeding prior to having my own experience. This led me to pray and research everywhere. I discovered ways to prepare and ultimately enjoy the early days of breastfeeding. Though every woman’s experience is different, if you give it a try and heed to these tips, you should be able to have a better experience than expected when it comes to nursing your newborn. It became one of the best moments in motherhood with my firstborn and I was able to produce more than enough milk for him until his 1st birthday. One of the main reasons breastfeeding can be frustrating is if you are not producing enough milk as you wish or none at all. Here are a few ways you can prepare yourself before and during the first few days of breastfeeding to hopefully increase your milk production.
- Prepare the area. You can massage your breast and nipples weeks before your baby is due. Nipples tend to have a higher sensitivity during pregnancy but try to massage your nipples to stimulate and prepare them for nursing. It is completely normal for some women to produce colostrum weeks before the baby is due, so do not be alarmed if you have some.
- Skin-to-skin contact & attempt to latch your baby (the sooner the better). I read in numerous sites how skin-to-skin contact upon birth helps with breastfeeding and attempting to latch your baby quickly after giving birth increases your chances of having your baby latch on properly and effectively. Though you may be exhausted after delivering your newborn, request to have skin-to-skin contact with him or her. Your doctor and nurses will fulfill your wishes. I had a C-section and was still able to experience this with my baby.
- Stay hydrated & Eat Healthy! Drink a lot of water please! Breastfeeding can truly drain you. It’s important to have a water bottle beside you at all times in order for your body to produce milk. Eating healthy is also extremely important. Do not go on a “Lose My Baby-weight Diet” immediately after birth. Simply make sure you are eating when you are supposed to and do not skip meals. Eat healthy and small portions frequently because you will get hungry as your body begins to produce “liquid gold”.
- PERSEVERE! Try to nurse every 3 hours. This is the secret to increasing your milk supply! It’s not drinking a special tea, nor eating certain cookies – the secret to increasing your milk supply is nursing often, which in the early days, this translates to every 3 hours. It is absolutely OK if you find yourself overwhelmed and need a few extra hours of sleep to recover your strength after delivery. Try to nurse again when you wake up. Your milk production will flow the more you stimulate your breast. Even if you feel nothing is coming out or if your baby is not latching on properly, ask a nurse or lactation assistant at the hospital to assist you with the latching part. Trust me, they are very patient and helpful and they offer great advice in this area.
- Use a cream and make sure your baby is latching on correctly. Breastfeeding is NOT supposed to be painful. It may feel strange because it is a new experience, but if you find it agonizing, chances are the baby is not latching on correctly. Although your nipples will be sore and feel tender, you should not feel a tormenting pain. I always used Lanolin cream during the first few weeks of breastfeeding in which I would apply a pea-size amount on each nipple after nursing. You can also try a nipple shield which will still allow you to breastfeed and I’ve heard from close friends that it worked great!
If your milk supply is not kicking in immediately at the hospital, you can complement by feeding your baby formula. Do not feel guilty! There is nothing wrong with this! I did both at the hospital because in the first 2-3 days my milk supply was low. But after being discharged, about a day or two, my milk finally flowed because I did all of the above. I personally love breastfeeding because it is such a unique experience between you and your baby. I was able to breastfeed my son for almost a year and this is something I will always cherish.
Here are a few bittersweet photos of my last day breastfeeding my son, Caleb. I wanted to capture this treasured moment and now that I look back, I’m glad I did! I’d LOVE to hear about your experience or if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email: Hello@ARaadStory.com or comment below.
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