Whether you are a first-timer, or a seasoned nurser, there is always something to learn. To start off, I will be sharing a few things professionals have found useful when mothers choose to breastfeed.
"The Birth Crawl"
First up is something called the birth crawl. This term describes baby's first feed at the breast. It is when your baby pulls themselves to your breast when laid on your chest to feed, which usually happens during the first half hour after birth. In the beginning, you won't produce a milk-colored milk. It will be more golden, and look lotion-like. This is called colostrum, and it is the most important substance because it contains important nutrients that shape and strengthen your baby's immune system.
Don't worry if your milk does not come in immediately. It can take up to a week to come in, but normally it will come in within 3 days. If you are serious about breastfeeding, the first couple weeks are crucial to establish supply.
FORGET SCHEDULES! FEED ON DEMAND!
When you first bring baby home, you may already want a set schedule to make your life easier. BIG MISTAKE! Don't! Nurse when they first wake up and if they root around. It will feel like you are constantly nursing, but this is normal. Let them nurse, allow them to sleep when tired and you sleep when they are. Trust me, when I tried scheduling with my daughter, it was difficult. With my son, I let him take the lead and life was so much easier. Who cares if the house is a mess, or the dishes aren't done? You just pushed a watermelon out of a hole the size of a lemon. Relax and enjoy babyhood!
Also, letting your baby set the schedule helps your supply greatly. I believe that is why I was able to nurse until my son chose not to anymore. We nursed from the beginning, even though it was rough, until he turned 2 at which point he no longer wanted anything to do with nursing.
Latch On
You will hear a million tips about getting your newborn to latch, but every baby is different. Listen to the sounds they make while they nurse. Clicking indicates a poor latch, as well as pain for you. If it does not feel or seem right, let a lactation specialist know. That is what they are there for.
Also, you want to get comfortable. Play around with different positions. Check my post about the best possible nursing positions here. Use a pillow or a boppy. You also want to drain one breast completely before switching, instead of timing and switching back and forth constantly.
DON'T GIVE UP!
The best tip you will see everywhere is be diligent! I won't lie, it will be difficult at first, but it is worth it to both you and your baby to commit to breastfeeding. Eat well, drink plenty of fluids and most of all ask for help! Don't be ashamed to ask. Your bond with your baby will be amazing if you follow some of these tips. When I nursed my daughters, I tried setting a schedule to make my life easier and definitely wanted to give up when I had difficult times. It did not make my life easier. With my firstborn, I lost my supply within 2 weeks after she was born.
My second daughter, I ended up getting stressed with when she would cry and not follow a schedule. Looking back, I made the mistake of not listening to her cues. I now know better. When my son was born, I allowed him to set the schedule. He did nurse a lot, but that was not only normal, but it helped my supply greatly and I was not as stressed as I was with my daughters. I am happy with all the knowledge I gained from his birth until the day he had stopped nursing.
I hope this information helps you as much as it had helped me to know about a lot of this. I will have other posts soon with more breastfeeding information, so keep an eye out!