Since I have a newborn, half of my day is spent with a little boy attached to me. Breastfeeding is what I do, thus it is what I write. I had such a hard time with breastfeeding my firstborn, but with a lot of great advice and hard work, my new baby and I are successfully breastfeeding! Here are a few tips that have really helped me out the past few weeks!
SARAH'S BREASTFEEDING 101
-My sister clued me in on this little tip! Eat oatmeal, simple as that. I eat a bowl of old fashioned oats every morning. I can tell that my milk supply is down a little when I don't eat the oatmeal. Apparently the oat grain is known as a galactagogue, which promotes lactation.
-This one is a little more difficult, but I try to pump after my son has finished eating. Of course this doesn't happen every time because, hello, I have a newborn to deal with. Pumping isn't the most convenient thing to do. But usually Ace falls asleep right after his first feeding and will allow me to lay him down. I also pump after my husband gets home while he watches the kids. Of course this helps with production because you are emptying the breast, which stimulates more milk to be made.
-I have been taking herbal supplements that have helped my milk production tremendously. 3 times a day I take 3 tablets each of Milk Thistle & Fenugreek. It is a lot of pills, but I just take them at meal times. Again, I can tell a difference in my supply when I don't take the supplements. The lactation consultant advised me to take these and I have had no adverse effects at all. But of course, talk to your doctor before you take them.
-Chill out. For real, chill out. I had such a hard time breastfeeding my first son because I was so freaked out about everything. I eventually gave up and bottle fed him after about 4 weeks. I've learned with Ace that most issues with breastfeeding can be worked out. Talk to a lactation consultant, your doctor or midwife, or just a woman who has been successful with breastfeeding. Ace was in the NICU and was primarily bottle/ tube fed for the first 5 days of his life. Of course, he was used to a bottle by the time we got him home. But thank goodness, we stuck with it and now he is a champ at breastfeeding. I try not to sweat the small stuff when it comes to feeding my baby. Ace still gets about 2-3 formula bottles or expressed milk bottles a day. A lot of the women who are very stringent about breastfeeding would say this is a huge no-no. As long as my baby is healthy and happy, I'm doing my job.
-Stop being so danged modest! With my first born, I would never try to feed him in front of others in effort to not show my boobs to the steady stream of visitors we had for the first few weeks of his life. With Ace, I've just had to make myself get over it. If my baby is hungry, I'm the one who can feed him. If people don't want to see the girls, they can go to another room. Of course I try to be as modest as I can be, but I won't let it get in the way of feeding my little man.
-Drink water, water, and more water. And eat. You can't expect to make food if you're not taking it in!
I hope these few tips help out with anyone who is venturing into the wonderful world of breastfeeding. It has NOT been easy. But it is so worth it! Check out other WFMW tips at www.wearethatfamily.com!
-This one is a little more difficult, but I try to pump after my son has finished eating. Of course this doesn't happen every time because, hello, I have a newborn to deal with. Pumping isn't the most convenient thing to do. But usually Ace falls asleep right after his first feeding and will allow me to lay him down. I also pump after my husband gets home while he watches the kids. Of course this helps with production because you are emptying the breast, which stimulates more milk to be made.
-I have been taking herbal supplements that have helped my milk production tremendously. 3 times a day I take 3 tablets each of Milk Thistle & Fenugreek. It is a lot of pills, but I just take them at meal times. Again, I can tell a difference in my supply when I don't take the supplements. The lactation consultant advised me to take these and I have had no adverse effects at all. But of course, talk to your doctor before you take them.
-Chill out. For real, chill out. I had such a hard time breastfeeding my first son because I was so freaked out about everything. I eventually gave up and bottle fed him after about 4 weeks. I've learned with Ace that most issues with breastfeeding can be worked out. Talk to a lactation consultant, your doctor or midwife, or just a woman who has been successful with breastfeeding. Ace was in the NICU and was primarily bottle/ tube fed for the first 5 days of his life. Of course, he was used to a bottle by the time we got him home. But thank goodness, we stuck with it and now he is a champ at breastfeeding. I try not to sweat the small stuff when it comes to feeding my baby. Ace still gets about 2-3 formula bottles or expressed milk bottles a day. A lot of the women who are very stringent about breastfeeding would say this is a huge no-no. As long as my baby is healthy and happy, I'm doing my job.
-Stop being so danged modest! With my first born, I would never try to feed him in front of others in effort to not show my boobs to the steady stream of visitors we had for the first few weeks of his life. With Ace, I've just had to make myself get over it. If my baby is hungry, I'm the one who can feed him. If people don't want to see the girls, they can go to another room. Of course I try to be as modest as I can be, but I won't let it get in the way of feeding my little man.
-Drink water, water, and more water. And eat. You can't expect to make food if you're not taking it in!
I hope these few tips help out with anyone who is venturing into the wonderful world of breastfeeding. It has NOT been easy. But it is so worth it! Check out other WFMW tips at www.wearethatfamily.com!
6 comments:
Thanks for the great tips! I'll be calling you this summer if I have questions:) Can't wait to see that sweet new baby of yours!
I LOVED BREASTFEEDING!!! I did with my first one for 9 months (stopped bc I was 3 months pregnant with the second one). I BF the second one for 12 months.
MY BEST TIP...When start feeling that little tingle of your milk dropping that is going to make you leak...apply pressure to your nipple. It will keep it from coming out. Once the tingling stops you can let go and you will not leak!! I did not wear anything to keep from leaking. Arms crossed over your chest applying pressure works in public.
Thanks for the oatmeal tip, I'll have to try that with my little guy! I have him drink on one side while I pump on the other.
Great tips. I nursed the first 13 months and 14 months with the second. I too pumped one side while they nursed on the other. I actually had to throw out milk with both kids as they wouldn't drink it from a cup and they did not get a bottle when I was at work after about 9 months (that was their "meal" and nursed right before and right after I came home - 4 days a week. Congrats on sticking with it - you can do it - the first 12 weeks is the hardest and the rest is a breeze.
My WFMW post is about packing checklists.
My newborn JUST woke up, so I have lost my window to read and comment on blogs, but I just recently wrote a post on breastfeeding and the supplements I take. Check it out if you have time!
Blessings to y'all!
You go girl ! I am so proud that you stuck in there this time !!!
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