Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms!

Breastfeeding

I know the feeling all too well.

You’re frustrated, baby won’t latch, you feel like you haven’t gotten a minute to yourself in weeks.

You’re overly exhausted, and baby needs more food… all night long you feed..your boobs are filled with milk or maybe not filled enough.. nipples hurt ahhh!

How will you keep going on like this? Will you ever shower again…

the answer is yes! You can do it momma, and if you’ve tried it all and can’t, don’t feel obligated to. Fed is best! You’re doing great.

I was terrified to breastfeed

It was always my plan to breastfeed baby J, so even when it got REALLY difficult… and let me tell you, sometimes it was really hard. I tried my best to stick it out. I was lucky enough to only have problems for the first few months.

It will get better!!!

It’s true, I don’t know how long…

but it will get better. I kept seeing this everywhere  when I was looking for advice and to be honest I don’t really know if it helped or not. I think it can never hurt to try. So many times when J wouldn’t stop crying or when he couldn’t latch correctly I thought-this will never get any easier.

“Don’t cry over spilled milk.” Or do, if it’s breast milk.

{ I know you can relate}

There might be roadblocks

When J was born he was 7lbs 6oz which was way bigger than any of us thought he’d be! In the hospital I felt confident about our feeding, I really recommend to use the lactation consultants!! Their amazing, and so helpful. I was somewhat sure I had breastfeeding figured out. But once I got home, that wasn’t the case. J was dropping weight, even a couple weeks after birth.

We then were put on a STRICT schedule of waking him to feed every 2 hours (pumping after that) and feeding the bottle. He did gain weight this way and it really helped with getting feeding down! We also visited a Lactation Consultant again (She said J was actually feeding well, it worked as a good brush up & confidence boost)

After all though, it did in fact, get easier! Now baby J is One and it’s not even something we think twice about. He can very easily latch on his own, and my milk supply is very evened out, it’s just a normal part of every day. Seriously he could latch onto my breast upside down (yes he’s tried)

Take the help

Did you hear me?… Take the help!

Don’t forget that as a momma, you need to give yourself the time of day. Brush your teeth and hair, eat a meal (hey eat 2 meals), and accept whatever help you are offered. If you’re offered a shower so that you’re swollen boobs can relax, T A K E I T.

So many times, Marc would feed me ice cream or dinner just so that I could continue to breastfeed J. {lucky gal=me} It really meant a lot to me to have a good group of people around me. Between my family and Marc’s I’ve had a lot of help around.

For the longest time I wouldn’t accept help from anyone else besides Marc, and I was so exhausted. Not always was someone around of course, but when you’re exhausted and worn out; Even a pee alone can help. So if someone is offering to help… T A K E I T.

Do Your Research

I’m a pinterest and google queen, need a deal let me check Amazon really quick for you.

This isn’t necessary for everyone, it might even fit into the ‘ask for help’ section. However, I LOVE to do my research on things that influence my life. I’m an “overachiever” in that way I guess.

On the same token there is only so much you can do before actually having your baby and breastfeeding. Try to breathe Momma you’re doing great, if there are dads reading this… just do your best to listen and help where you can & GET SNACKS HURRY.

One thing I’d really recommend is, Lanolin Cream the hospital actually provided this to me and it was amazing! You can put it on before and after breastfeeding so it’s totally safe for baby (HUGE plus on my Parent Points scale…)

Helps with the rawness, especially if there is trouble with latching. J in the beginning had a hard time staying latched (he would get super sleepy).