POSTPARTUM
10 THINGS I WISH I’ D KNOWN ABOUT BREASTFEEDING
Photo courtesy of Karen Edwards of Apple Tree Doula & Birth Photography karenedwards @ shaw. ca
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he transition to motherhood is rewarding and challenging. Those early days of breastfeeding are sometimes marked with frustration, sore nipples, sour milk stains and tears( not just the baby’ s). I’ ve been there. However, I made it through those early weeks and have found joy and intense love with breastfeeding. With experience, it’ s so easy to look back and say to myself,“ if only I knew then what I know now.” Of course, I can’ t go back, but as soon as someone invents a time machine, I will travel back to my younger self and whisper sweet breastfeeding tips in my ear. Here’ s what I will say:
1. Have no fear. Your body is perfectly designed to make milk. The process begins during pregnancy and will be perfected when your baby arrives.
2. You don’ t need to, nor should you, wait for your milk to“ come in.” Colostrum is milk. Don’ t worry about its small amount or yellow tinge. Think of it as precious liquid gold! It is concentrated with antibodies, provides all the nutrition your little one needs and baby will love its sweet taste!
3. Your newborn’ s tummy is small, about the size of a shooter marble. It doesn’ t stretch, so your baby needs to have small, but frequent meals of mommy milk, colostrum style.
4. I know it’ s hard and you’ re exhausted, but your baby needs to breastfeed at least 8-10 times in a 24 hour period. Your baby needs the nourishment and more breastfeeding now, means more milk later. You and your little one are working
12 together to establish an ample milk supply. So, take comfort, all this hard work WILL pay off!
5. While breastfeeding is natural and normal, it takes time to perfect this new relationship. When you’ re getting frustrated, take a deep breath, lay back and let your baby take the lead. Your little one is hardwired to breastfeed!
6. You might be told to breastfeed every three hours. Often, your newborn will want to( and needs to) breastfeed more often than this. Don’ t worry, your baby knows when he is full. Follow your baby’ s cues.
7. Take a“ babymoon.” Enjoy your precious little one at home, inhale that sweet newborn smell( did you know breastfed babies smell sweet?) and breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed.
8. Surround yourself with supportive people. Become part of a breastfeeding community. The advice and support from other mothers who have experience with breastfeeding is invaluable.
9. Need help? Get it! Don’ t feel embarrassed or guilty; we all need help sometimes. There are trained breastfeeding professionals in our community who can make suggestions to improve your breastfeeding experience.
10. Remember sweet mama, it gets better! The dedication you put in during the early weeks of breastfeeding will pay off! One day, very soon, you will appreciate how easy breastfeeding makes life. Yes, it will make life easy! Breastmilk is always available, it’ s the perfect temperature, it meets your baby’ s nutritional and immunological needs and it comes in two attractive containers!
While I don’ t have a time machine to go back and make my early days of breastfeeding easier, at least I can share my experience and knowledge with other new moms. My husband also insists that if they invent a time machine, that I deliver a hoverboard to his 9 year old self. Until Doc Brown finishes the Delorean, join us at Kelowna Breastfeeding Cafe.
Contributed by Lisa Ford, Doula and co-founder of Kelowna Breastfeeding Cafe. kelownabreastfeedingcafe. com
2013 Okanagan4Kids. com Baby & Toddler Guide