By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN. RM, Lactation consultation, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist. Baby Sleep Consultant)
All pregnant moms, whether its their first baby or not should prepare themselves for Breastfeeding during their pregnancy. Although it is the most natural thing a mom can do for her baby, it does not come naturally.
1. Read and seek information from lactation professionals, not just any medical professional.
Unfortunately, everyone has an opinion on if, when, and how to breastfeed, even if they have little understanding of breastfeeding! You’d be amazed (and shocked) at terrible breastfeeding advice moms are given, even from medical professionals. The best and only people to seek help from are those who specialize in breastfeeding such as Lactation consultants.
2. Get to know your breasts!
Pregnancy is a great time to go over any concerns about your breasts. We want to make sure you have breast growth and changes during pregnancy. You do not have to grow 3 cup sizes, but some growth during pregnancy is a good sign that your body is doing exactly what it needs to do in preparation for lactation. Also, have a look at your nipples. Do you have inverted nipples or flat nipples and are you concerned your baby might have difficulty latching? This is a great conversation to have with an Lactation consultant before your baby arrives. She will be able to assess whether there is actually a problem, and will be able to guide you regarding different options
3. Understand what is normal with pain.
There is a lot of confusion over pain during breastfeeding and whether or not it is normal. In the early days, you might feel some tenderness. HOWEVER, the pain should be a bit “ouchy,” not toe-curling pain, and should subside 10-20 seconds after your baby latches. You might feel this for the first week or two. If the pain lasts the whole feed and is more than just a mild “ouchy” pain, it is crucial to seek help. You need to contact a Lactation consultant as soon as you experience any pain. to get to the bottom of why you feel pain (or have damage).
It is NOT NORMAL to have ongoing pain and or damage. The earlier you can get help, the better. In most cases, it will just be a case of getting the latch worked out (remember, breastfeeding is a learning process for both baby and mother)!
4. Just like birth, prepare for EVERYTHING.
If you want to breastfeed exclusively, make sure to feed on demand (when baby asks for it) and do skin to baby in the early months, as this will help encourage your baby to breastfeed frequently. Also, make sure you know the signs that your baby is getting enough before you give birth. This way, you will not be stressed! It comes down to a few simple things.
Baby does not more than 10% of their birth weight
Baby is generally content after most feeds.
After your milk comes in, baby has 2-3 poos and at least 5 very wet diapers in 24 hours.
5. Make sure you understand what is expected with breastfed babies.
If you know what normal behavior is, you will have realistic expectations ! Here are some of the most important to mention:
Baby will not want to be put down.
Baby will want to sleep with a cuddle and your nipple in their mouth!
She will be happiest when sleeping near or with you.
Baby will not breastfeed on a schedule.
Baby will probably not sleep through the night for a long time.
You will sometimes love and sometimes hate breastfeeding.
Human babies are born very immaturely compared to many other mammals and have a very long infancy stage. They rely heavily on us for everything, and the frequent cuddles and breastfeed they ask for help them grow and develop. Just hang out with your baby as much as possible in the early months. It sounds simple, but it is the most important thing you can do to help establish breastfeeding.
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