The Five Rules of Breastfeeding
If breastfeeding is natural then why in the world is it so difficult? You would think that
something like feeding your child would be second nature but unfortunately for most women
it's not. Many women never grew up with anyone who breastfed to learn from, so something
that should be inherently easy isn't. I was one of those women who suffered through sore,
cracked nipples and leaky boobs all for the sake of providing my little guys with the best start I
could. Now after breastfeeding three children for the past five years I have a few tips to share
to help you along the way, the sorta stuff I wish I'd known.
1. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
This is the number one thing to remember when breastfeeding, but it does apply to pretty
much all of parenting. When you decide to breastfeed try to familiarize yourself with all of the
resources you might call on after baby comes. Look for your local WIC office, La Leche Leauge
group, and the hospitals lactation consultant. If possible try to take a class on breastfeeding
before the baby comes, this will help you learn what to expect and how to get off to a good
start. Another valuable resource will be your baby's pediatrician. Let the doctor know you're
breastfeeding and ask about doing weigh ins if you ever doubt your supply and babies weight
gain.
2. Despite what society tells you, boobs are all you really need to breastfeed.
Nipple cream, nursing bras, nursing tanks, milk savers, lactation cookies, lactation tea, lactation
pills, nipple shields, breast soothies and the list goes on! You will come to find there are literally
dozens of breastfeeding accessories out there that companies say you need in order to be
successful at breastfeeding. Let me save you some money and headaches, you really don't need
anything but your baby and breasts. Having latch issues? Skip the nipple shield and refer back
to #1 by calling your support system for help on correcting a poor latch. Worried you're not
producing enough milk because baby wants to nurse all the time? Forget all of the
supplements, bitter teas, and bowls of oatmeal and refer yet again to #1. Talk to your local LLL
about baby's feeding habits and how you can be sure they are getting enough. Many nurslings
cluster feed during growth spurts which may lead you to believe you're not producing enough
but in fact they're just growing and gearing your breasts up for more demand. Also remember
pumping is never a good indication of how much milk you have because even the most
expensive pumps don’t empty the milk ducts like baby can and most women just don't respond
well to them.
3. Take good care of yourself and your nipples.
You are the sole source of your little ones nourishment while breastfeeding and the old adage
“you are what you eat” has never been more true. Every mom wants the best start for her
children and when it comes to breastfeeding you literally are eating for two again. Eating
healthy and drinking water, lots of water, are two of the easiest things you can do to be
successful in breastfeeding. You will probably still want to take your vitamins to ensure both
you and baby are getting all of the nutrients needed, this would be a great thing to ask your
doctor about during your postpartum check up. Taking good care of your nipples and breasts is
equally important. Sore, cracked and bleeding nipples can lead to issues like thrush and even
clogged ducts or mastitis from not wanting to feed on that side because of the pain. If your
nipples do get sore and crack leave a bit of breastmilk on them and call a lactation consultant.
Chances are it's something as simple as poor positioning or a poor latch to get things good as
new.
4. Relax!
Don’t get your panties in a knot over breastfeeding. Remember to stay calm and just relax,
cuddle your baby and take it one hour at a time. Forget all of the rules you think you must
follow and listen to your baby's cues, follow his lead. Invent your own positions for
breastfeeding, really do it however you feel comfortable! Put away the timer, most babies
haven't read What To Expect When You're Expecting and have no idea that they should need to
be fed on each side for at least ten minutes every two hours. Every baby is different and every
baby has to learn how to do this too. Don't expect too much from you and your little one right
from the get go. Breastfeeding comes with a learning curve and is meant to be enjoyable. If you
feel like giving up remind yourself of the benefits to both you and baby, then give yourself a
little bit of time to think about it. Above all go with your instincts mama, if something feels
wrong call your support system.
5. Breastfeeding is like childbirth.
Breastfeeding doesn’t always go as planned and sometimes doesn't look like what we had
envisioned, but we shouldn't get hung up on that. For some mothers breastfeeding looks like
pumping around the clock every two hours in order to feed their child. For other mothers
breastfeeding looks like bonding at the breast while using a supplemental nursing system (SNS).
Create a breastfeeding plan, much like childbirth, and include everything you need to be
successful for your version of breastfeeding. Start off on a good foot by reading The Womanly
Art of Breastfeeding for advice on all kinds of breastfeeding scenarios. Also remember to
involve your family members and help educate them on ways they can aid in your success like
meal prep and helping with housework. Be open minded and flexible about everything because
things can change and you may have to alter your idea of breastfeeding to be successful. Don't
get upset if things don't work out the way you envisioned. Keep trying and do what you need to
for your family. Remember breastfeeding is different for everyone and comparing and judging
other mothers for their version of feeding doesn't help anyone. Never feel guilty for your
choices and if breastfeeding turns out to not be for your family that's okay too! Breastfeeding is
not special or better, breastfeeding is just another variation of normal.
