Breastfeeding: What to Expect

You know the drill: breast is best. I’m not a lactation consultant or pediatrician, but I know a lot about breastfeeding because I’m a mother of 4. All of them have breastfed, and the youngest is still.

You hear a great deal about the benefits of breastfeeding, but there are things that nobody tells you. You’re supposed to figure this out on your own, but how can you if you’ve never done it before?

Anyone can breastfeed, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. If you’re dedicated to the idea, though, you’ll overcome the obstacles. Here are some pointers so you’ll know what you’re getting into:

It Isn’t as Easy at it Seems

Just because breastfeeding is natural doesn’t mean it will come naturally for you or for baby. Babies have an innate suck reflex, but you have to teach them that sucking = milk. Once they understand, they catch on quickly, but you have to teach them to latch on the right way.

It Can Hurt if Latch on Isn’t Right

If your baby doesn’t get your nipple far enough into his or her mouth, you’ll be in pain. When my second child was a newborn, it took both me and my husband working in tandem to open up her tiny mouth and get her latched on. I suffered bleeding nipples (yikes!) for a few days, but we got it right, and she was a champion nurser who gained weight quickly.

There are Remedies

Try using tea bags on your sore nipples. After tea has steeped, let the bags cool off and blot out the excess liquid. Apply them to your nipples for a very soothing compress. Lanolin creams are wonderful for dry skin, too, and don’t have to be removed before the next feeding. (They’re terrific for dry cuticles, too, by the way).

If you are engorged (too much milk in your breasts accompanied by a painful fullness), try pumping or even manually expressing milk to relieve the pressure. Eventually the supply and demand will even out.

Breastfeeding is Relaxing

Settling down to breastfeed your baby is nature’s way of making sure you rest. It is tempting to want to clean, cook, wash clothes, or entertain when you have a precious spare moment, but don’t’. Sit down, put your feet up, put the baby on his nursing pillow, and let those hormones kick in. When your milk lets down, you may feel incredibly sleepy, and that, too, is your body’s way of reminding you that you are working hard to feed your baby, so you need your rest.

You’ll be Starving . . .

Food is never as satisfying as it is when nursing a newborn. You will be ravenous and very thirsty, so choose healthy foods and enjoy them. Keep hydrated or your milk supply may suffer, and you’ll get headaches.

But You’ll Lose the Baby Weight Quickly

There is no better post-partum weight loss program than nursing. In the week between my second child’s first and second week birthdays I lost seventeen pounds. All with no effort! Your uterus will shrink much faster, too, thanks to hormones. (See this hub for more post pregnancy weight loss tips).

Those Darn Hormones

They will tear you up. When my third child was a few weeks old I actually slapped my husband in the face because the baby was crying and I couldn’t get to her fast enough. I was horrified by that, and my doctor explained that I was exhibiting some strong, hind-brain, survival-of- the- species behaviors. Thankfully, it never happened again. Be prepared for a rollercoaster, but probably not one as unpredictable as the one you rode in early pregnancy.

Dress for Success

You don’t want to have to disrobe to breastfeed. Try wearing a camisole (and there are lots of specially designed nursing camisoles and tank tops out there) under your clothes so that you can pull up your top, pull down the camisole, and your back and belly are not exposed. Practice at home before venturing into public and you’ll find you can quickly pull up your top and get baby latched on without exposing much skin at all.

Invest in the Right Bra

Get a professional fit for a nursing bra and invest in several you like. Go for beige and black versus whites since those colors will not show wear or staining as readily.

Breastfeeding is Your Right and Your Privilege

Despite what nay-sayers may tell you, there is nothing obscene or sexual about breastfeeding in public. Your breasts were designed to feed your baby, and it really is a perfect design. Most states have laws that protect breastfeeding in public, so don’t let anyone ask you to cover up or leave a public place where you have a right to be with your baby.

It is Absolutely Worth It

Never will you be as close to your baby as when you are breastfeeding him or her. You’re giving your baby immunity to many diseases, fostering a close bond between mother and child, providing complete nutrition that is tailor-made for your baby, and saving a great deal of money in artificial baby milk (that stuff is expensive!) to boot. Even if it seems you and baby won’t get it right the first time, work with a lactation consultant or nurse to troubleshoot your obstacles. You’ll be glad you did!