Breastfeeding Survival Guide
After the birth of my own sweet baby, of course I’d breastfeed. Everyone know’s breast is best. It’s the natural way. The easier way after all, isn’t it? Hook that kid on and go about your business. Duh!
Hold it Sister! You want to Breastfeed?
Well, it ain’t for sissies.
The Breast Decision: Breastfeeding Guide
It may be easy for you. However, it doesn’t always come naturally, and it certainly didn’t for me, despite my Mother’s strong support.
The previous knowledge that it isn’t necessarily all a cake walk may have prevented me some intense heartache.
We all know the health benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby. And yes, my Mother was right actually; it is easier and simpler to breastfeed versus formula feed. BUT the easier part takes some extra effort to get to. Formula is easier in the beginning. I have lived both experiences to some extent.
If you decide to breastfeed it can be bumpy for about a third of the way. It’s disorienting, exhausting and darn right scary. You’ll be tempted to ditch. But then the road widens and opens onto a beautiful, sunny scenic highway for the remainder of your drive. Then life is sweet.
The 3 Month Road Map to Breastfeeding Bliss
The beginning days of breastfeeding are similar to running a Marathon.
Not that I have ever ran a Marathon mind you, but I have spent countless hours in different gyms throughout my life, and understand the mental discipline it takes to get out of bed at 4:30am day after day to attend a butt kicking fitness class before work. So, I can imagine.
It takes mental discipline to continue to attempt to latch your sleepy, unwilling newborn baby onto your breast every two hours around the clock.
Especially when said baby does nothing but shove at you and cry as if you are asking him to clean his room at a day old.
If this is your first child, you may find this unwillingness from your precious angel to be a hard slap in the face.
If you’ve got twins, you’re probably feeling like you’ve been hit by a sledge hammer. Read up on my personal experience with breastfeeding twins here.
The Hospital: Your Nurses Turf
Your have survived the birthing process. The nurse hands you the object of all your dreams over the past 9 months. Finally all that heartburn has paid off. And now – it begins.
While in the hospital your nurses will all do their best to make you feel like crap help you learn to breastfeed.
Each shift change brings a new nurse, with their own experiences, techniques and perspectives on how you are doing so far. Some will tell you your positioning is perfect, while the next will scold you that it’s all wrong. Some will make you want to toast to your boob brilliance, and others – not so much.
Remember, they’re just people.
Your nurses may be pro-breastfeeding, but that doesn’t mean they themselves have any personal experience. As with anything, book learning and life learning can make a pivotal difference when it comes to guiding others. Your Nurses may be doing their best to help you and your newborn in your quest to master breastfeeding. However, in the end it’s up to you to work it out.
Supplementation
I experienced terrible latch on issues with two of my four children. As the days ticked by in the Hospital I found my ultra supportive nurses losing their kind demeanor as my baby failed to successfully pass the weight check on our last day.
If your newborn loses more than 10% of their birth weight, the Hospital recommends supplementation.
Having done my research I had read all about nipple confusion. The prospect of supplementation after 2 days and nights of countless battles waged with my daughter was devastating.
I cried uncontrollably at the prospect of failure.
Looking back I’m unsure why no one suggested that I pump. My sister was able to produce several bottles for her newborn while admitted.
My advice on this is that during this very brief, but intense time period in your breastfeeding life, be flexible.
If you’re against supplementation, request a pump prior to administering the formula bottle. You are in the Doctor’s house, and while living with the nurses, you don’t want to lose their smiles over a bottle of formula. If you are committed to breastfeeding, it likely won’t make any difference to your success.
Pumping
If you are experiencing supply or latch on issues, don’t get discouraged – just try to pump. With my twins I pumped and supplemented with occasional formula for their first two months of life. I would attempt to nurse for about 45 minutes, then pump, feed my expressed milk to the babies, and then offer a bottle of formula if I felt they needed it. Everything worked out in the end and they breastfed exclusively from two months of age until weaning.
The important thing is that you don’t give up. If you truly want to breastfeed, just keep trying to latch your little one on first before offering the bottle. Eventually you may find that they get it, and you can ditch the pump and bottles if you want.
Positioning
Once you arrive home from the Hospital you are free from the constant nagging of blood pressure checks. Now you can relax with your new baby in the comfort of your home and finally work this whole thing out in your own way.
Try different pillows, positions, rooms and chairs.
Expect to seclude yourself in your home for a while. My favorite pillow was the Easy2Nurse Twin Pillow. But there are so many others such as My Brest Friend, or the classic Boppy. With my daughter I used a regular bed pillow. This is such a personal thing. Just because someone else loved one particular pillow, it may not be best for you. Your couch is different. Your breasts are different. Your baby is different. So find what works for you!
Support Person
Your home is most likely going to be filled with crying, your baby’s and your own.
Sleep deprivation makes even the most even tempered person feel insane. This is why I recommend finding someone whose presence is calming. For me, that person was my Mom. Not only had she done this whole crazy breastfeeding thing three times – she’s my Mom. No one else can make me feel all tucked in and cozy.
While my newborn was carrying on, essentially having a temper tantrum that my milk wasn’t flowing fast enough for him, my Mom would sit next to me on the couch and hold my hand. This would force me to take some calming breaths and inevitably my milk would flow more freely and the noise would stop.
Having someone nearby who can remind you that life outside your living room exists is important. They will help keep you going after those round the clock feedings. With breastfeeding, there are no breaks in those early weeks.
There is no relief pitcher.
You need understanding, supportive people surrounding you. This is the time you will need to dig down deep, and rely on your determination to make this work, especially if you are like me and must encourage your baby to nurse. I found the nights hardest. I recommend loading up on some good funny comedies to watch during those long hours.
The Good Fight
The extra effort required in those early months is sadly often the downfall of many hopeful breastfeeding Mother’s. It is within those early weeks and months that most give up. Most common is the three-month mark, which corresponds with a return to work for many. Just when the sun is about to shine it’s brightest, is when so many quit.
If you can stick it out and follow this breastfeeding guide past the first three months, you can expect all those beautiful bonding moments you had originally hoped for.
The nights turn into a love fest beyond belief as you watch those baby eyes look adoringly into yours as they drift off into dreamland. Those precious seconds make all the early effort so worth it! And then you too can brag one day to your children about how easy and wonderful breastfeeding is!
Best of luck to all you new Breastfeeding Mommies. I wish you much love and success!!
