The Ten Realities About Breastfeeding New Mothers Need To Know (Number 7 will surprise you! Number 9 will give you the warm fuzzies!)

This week I had a fellow San Diego Mama Blogger reach out to me about Breastfeeding and how I can provide more information to my readers about expectations when getting ready for breastfeeding. I am so happy to share this information because as a mom-to-be and getting ready for baby, I can use all the advice I can get! Thank you to the author of this amazing post!

This post was written by Stacey Lichter is a San Diego writer, voice teacher, and proud mom to one amazing daughter.

Read more on www.luckymamablog.wordpress.com

#1 - Breastfeeding is difficult for everyone, especially in the very beginning. So if it is not immediately a magical experience, don’t beat yourself up or waste too much time thinking that this should be an innate smooth process for both you and your newborn. The hospital’s lactation consultant can assist you, and you can meet with her weeks or even months after the birth if you’re still having concerns. 

#2 - Your breasts don’t start producing milk right away, especially if you’ve had a C-section. They make a substance called colostrum, and it can take a few days for your milk to come in. This may cause the baby to get a little bit hungry and frustrated, and your doctor might suggest putting a syringe filled with formula with a tiny feeding tube next to your nipple and pressing the plunger slowly while the baby nurses on you so she can “get something” while you wait for your milk to come in. You haven’t failed! Your milk is just a little late to the party.

#3 - A lot of hospital personnel will see your breasts in the first few days after the birth. Some other folks as well. They will all give you advice about the breastfeeding if it doesn’t seem to be going well. Hospital gowns and blankets don’t hide much, but the bigger issue is, you will be receiving assistance from lactation consultants,  and other nurses. Some of their suggestions and methods may work for one feeding but not for other times, and so much advice coming from so many sources all at once can be confusing and overwhelming. Pick the strategy that works best for you, and stick to it. 

#4 - Babies are born with the ability to suckle, but your nipples will need to toughen up to deal with newborn sucking efforts. It takes a while for you and your baby to find the sweet spot in which nursing doesn’t cause pain. She doesn’t know what she’s doing, and neither do you, so you’re figuring it out together. Hang in there, though. It’s totally worth it and the painful part does end.


#5 - Breastfeeding will cause your uterus to get back in shape - by causing uterine cramping. You’ll be in the middle of a feeding and your uterus will start to cramp more than you might have anticipated. The nursing is helping it shrink back to its original size (ouch! but yay!)

#6 - Breastfeeding will help you lose pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding actually expends 300-500 calories a day. I’d rather nurse than jog!

#7 - It is possible to continue nursing even after your baby starts teething. Don’t let the teeth scare you! If you’ve made it to the teething stage, you’ve been nursing for about ten months, and your baby can learn to avoid biting you, though he may take some experimental nibbles. Tell him, “No!” He can’t talk yet, but he can understand you.

#8 - If you choose to breastfeed for longer than a year, you’ll be in the minority (at least, in the United States.) When it comes to breastfeeding, other people will express outward approval of you in the first six months. If you continue for a year, most people will still say, “Good for you!” But if you continue for longer than that, many folks will start asking you when you plan to stop. If you don’t want to stop, don’t! Research shows that babies experience the benefits of breastfeeding for as long as they breastfeed. Also, you won’t need those nursing pads forever. Your milk production will decrease naturally as the baby incorporates more solid foods into her diet. (Pro tip: if you nurse for two years or longer, the weaning won’t make your breasts ache!)

#9 - You and your baby will be intimately, physically bonded in a way that cannot be duplicated. Your partner, Grandma, Grandpa - anybody can give baby a bottle - but only you can nourish her directly from your body and feel the mutual release of oxytocin as she nurses. 

#10 - Nursing fixes (almost) everything that makes baby cry. Nursing is great for when she is hungry, but it also calms her when she’s upset or frightened and lulls her to sleep easily. (This may make self-soothing more difficult, but that’s a topic for another article!) Nursing is also a great soother right after vaccination shots or when she’s ill, and breastmilk is easy to digest if she gets a stomach bug and won’t take any other food. 

In short, breastfeeding is one of the most amazing things a mother’s body can do and it has tangible long-term benefits for both mother and child.