When it comes to breastfeeding your newborn baby, I don’t know too much. However, that doesn’t mean I am not looking for more ways to learn about breastfeeding or become more educated on the topic.
I have two older sisters who have both had multiple babies and they have such different experiences with breastfeeding. Just because they have different experiences doesn’t mean that one was better at breastfeeding than the other. This just proves that everyone and everyone’s bodies handles breastfeeding differently.
One thing that my sisters have taught me is that if I am determined to breastfeed, then it will happen. If I am not determined to breastfeed and don’t try everything I can to accomplish the goal of breastfeeding I have set for myself, then I will have a terrible experience. Now this is not the case for everyone who breastfeeds, but it can definitely help you accomplish your goal of breastfeeding, if that is something you want to do.
A few things I have learned about breastfeeding is that your breast milk comes in three stages, how to achieve latching, it shouldn’t be painful, leaking is normal, and if you need help, seek the support.
Three stages of your breast milk:
The three stages are colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Colostrum is a yellowy substance that provides your baby with the nutrients and antibodies they need to in order to fight off any infections they may have in their early days of life. Transitional milk comes in after you give birth, roughly three to five days after, and replaces the colostrum. It looks like a mixture or milk and orange juice. The final stage of breast milk is mature milk. Mature milk comes in around 10 days and the second week after birth. It looks thinner than transitional milk and is white. Don’t freak out if your mature milk appears to be bluish at first, this is normal.
How to achieve the latch:
When reading and researching about how to get your baby to latch, I came across these six tips from: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/breastfeeding/things-to-know-about-breastfeeding-newborn/
1. Get comfortable: Sit in a chair or rocking with back, neck, and shoulder support.
2. Line it up: Make sure that your baby is tummy to tummy with you.
3. Guide your baby into place: Place your nipple around your baby’s lips, running it back and forth while you wait for a yawn. Bring your baby toward the breast instead of leaning in toward your baby. Your baby’s chin and the tip of their nose should be on the breast.
4. Suckling and sucking are different: You will be able to tell that your baby is latched on and suckling (extracting milk from the breast) when there is a suck-swallow-breathe pattern.
5. Get help: If you are having trouble getting your baby to latch on, a nipple shield can be a helpful tool to give them something larger to aim for at first.
6. Break the seal: If you don’t get a good latch, keep trying. Put your finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth and pull your breast out. Start the cycle until you get a seal with both the nipple and the areola covered.
Breastfeeding shouldn’t be a painful experience:
I have heard that breastfeeding is painful in the beginning, but after a few weeks there should be no pain. I have been told this by my sisters, and it has made me a little nervous to breastfeed, but the thought of how healthy it is for my baby keeps me at ease.
A few common things that cause pain when breastfeeding is mastitis, blocked milk ducts, and sore or cracked nipples.
Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland in the breast or udder, typically due to bacterial infection via a damaged nipple. One of my sisters had mastitis a couple times with each of her kids, and she was miserable. To avoid mastitis, you can pump, or you can nurse your baby. Blocked milk ducts a blockage of one or more ducts carrying milk to the nipple for the purpose of breastfeeding an infant. Some symptoms are tender to touch or a painful spot on your breast that appears to be red and irritated.
Sore and cracked nipples can come from not taking care of them. Make sure that you are keeping them clean and when you are nursing that the baby is in the right position and has a good latch.
Leaking is normal:
Don’t be embarrassed if you find that your breasts are leaking, this is normal. Both of my sisters both leaked and what they found to be helpful were these pads that you put in between your boob and your bra. These pads help absorb the breast milk that leaks from your nipple.
Seep help and support:
If you are having a hard time breastfeeding, don’t think that you are the only one. It is extremely common for women to struggle with breastfeeding, don’t give up. You can always talk to other moms, your doctor, an instructor at a breastfeeding class, etc. Seek the help and support you need if you are struggling with breastfeeding. Asking for help doesn’t mean you failed, it means you are trying.
***(Sources: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/breastfeeding/things-to-know-about-breastfeeding-newborn/
