The Ultimate Guide to Prepare for Breastfeeding
The Ultimate Guide to Prepare for Breastfeeding
As you get ready for your little one’s arrival, you’re probably trying to plan for everything, especially feeding your newborn and deciding if breastfeeding is the right choice for you. It’s totally normal to feel a bit overwhelmed thinking about how it will all come together once your baby is here. Just remember, it’s important to consider your own needs too. When it comes to breastfeeding, what’s good for you is good for your baby. So, whatever your breastfeeding goals are, make sure you’re taking care of yourself, because that’s the best way to take care of your little one too.
What Information to Consider and How To Plan
Prepare for Breastfeeding
Many expecting mothers expect breastfeeding to come naturally. They focus instead on packing their hospital bag and the birth itself, neglecting to plan and learn about something you’re going to be doing 8-12 times per day. If you leave breastfeeding to chance, and don’t plan ahead, you’re more likely to experience unpleasant complications like clogged ducts and sore nipples. Use the time before baby arrives and explore your resources such as La Leche League, The Matrescence, and other moms in your life. Save this article for when you get the urge to nest!
Emotionally Prepare
Emotional preparation is a crucial aspect of the breastfeeding journey, as it involves navigating complex feelings. Breastfeeding can help you develop a deep bond with baby, offering moments of connection and joy. However, it’s also normal to experience emotional highs and lows. You may feel immense satisfaction as you nurse your baby, but you might also encounter frustration or anxiety, particularly when facing challenges like latching difficulties or exhaustion. To manage these emotions, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and practice self-compassion. Engaging in mindfulness exercises, seeking support from loved ones, and connecting with fellow mothers through support groups can provide comfort and reassurance. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to ask for help and prioritize your emotional well-being, as this will not only benefit you but also enhance the nurturing bond with your baby.
You can also start by talking to an expert or taking a class. This will help you prepare and you get to learn it hands on. A class will teach you what to expect when you start breastfeeding, the benefits of breastfeeding, demonstrate pumping, and make sure you know your options. They’ll also cover holds and positions to feed your baby, how to care for your nipples, and signs you need help. Like many aspects of pregnancy and delivery, you don’t know what you don’t know – talking to an expert does help!
Put Support Systems In Place
A strong support system is vital for a successful breastfeeding journey, as it provides both practical assistance and emotional reassurance. Family and friends can offer a helping hand with household chores, babysitting older children, or simply providing a listening ear, allowing you to focus more on bonding with your little one.
Professional support, such as lactation consultants, can be invaluable for addressing specific breastfeeding challenges, offering expert advice on latching techniques and milk supply issues. While most hospitals have them on staff and they will help you during your stay, not all consultants are created equal. We know you want to be prepared, it’s why you’re here. The Matrescence® Marketplace is a great place to find trusted practitioners for your motherhood journey.
Additionally, joining breastfeeding support groups or online communities can connect you with others who are navigating similar experiences. These communities provide a platform for sharing stories, exchanging tips, and gaining encouragement from those who truly understand the ups and downs of breastfeeding. By surrounding yourself with a supportive network, you can enhance your confidence, alleviate stress, and create a more positive breastfeeding experience.
Select Your Breast Pump & Other Breastfeeding Products
Equipping yourself with the essential breastfeeding products can significantly enhance comfort and convenience in the early days of breastfeeding. Nursing bras are a must-have, providing easy access and support, while breast pumps can be invaluable for expressing milk, ensuring flexibility and relief for working moms or those experiencing engorgement. Be sure to contact your health insurance provider before delivery to learn more about ordering your breast pump. Nipple creams offer soothing relief for sore or cracked nipples, allowing for more comfortable feeding sessions. Nursing covers provide privacy and comfort, when breastfeeding in public. By investing in these postpartum essential items, you can create a more manageable and enjoyable breastfeeding experience, tailored to your unique experience.
After Delivery
You’ll want to know what the hospital staff will provide and what they suggest you bring yourself. We have an extensive checklist to help you make sure you have everything you’ll need in your hospital bag.
Tip: Check if your hospital offers their own breastfeeding classes. They will likely cover all of the information about their procedures and breastfeeding policies during your stay.
After you’ve given birth, a nurse will likely place your child on your chest for skin-to-skin. They might even gently help the baby latch. At this point, it’ll be up to you, mama.
Here are a few things we think you should consider before you are close to the 40 week mark:
- Positions – one might work better than another and make all the difference.
- Comfort – use a nursing pillow, boppy, or just your favorite pillow.
- Support – make sure you advocate for yourself and ask for assistance.
- Expectations – nipple pain, lactation issues, and difficulty with latching are common and normal.
Those of us that give birth through a cesarean section might find their first feedings more difficult. It’s ok to ask for breastfeeding support from another person to help with your baby’s positioning and latching. Soon you’ll be recovered and better able to lift your little one into the right positions.
Long-term
As you start to plan for your breastfeeding journey, remember it’s a commitment that requires time and effort, much like a part-time job. It’s important to acknowledge that while breastfeeding isn’t entirely free, given the time and energy you’ll invest, it’s also an incredibly rewarding experience.
You’ll be doing this a lot, so consider your space and preferences. You and your baby will be sitting together for multiple collective hours each day. You’ll want to be comfortable, so make sure your comfort items are within arms reach or have your partner ready to support you as needed. Trust me, there is nothing worse than feeling thirsty but your baby has just secured a really good latch. Make sure you have water, snacks, and possibly some entertainment like a book or the remote close by.
Once you establish a routine, you may eventually see these moments as small breaks throughout the day, precious time alone with your child. However, don’t set this as your expectation for your first week or two. You’re doing amazing, however you feel about the breastfeeding experience.
In fact, we want to tell you directly: be patient with yourself. Breastfeeding struggles do not make you a bad mother. Most of us have some sort of anxiety-inducing experiences on our breastfeeding journey. Whatever happens, just remember – all that matters is that you feed that baby. If that means switching to formula, do it.
For the first few days you will be producing colostrum. A thick golden yellow milk that is important for newborns as it is concentrated with nutrients for their tiny stomachs. After two to four days you’ll notice your breasts change and become fuller as your milk supply fully comes in. This will likely be accompanied with leakage, especially while you sleep. There are many ways and products to deal with this, including these disposable nursing pads.
Returning to Work
Returning to work after maternity leave presents unique challenges for breastfeeding mothers, but with planning and communication, it’s entirely manageable. Establishing a consistent pumping schedule is crucial to maintain milk supply, and investing in a quality breast pump can make this process smoother. Properly storing milk using labeled containers and securing a dedicated space for pumping at work are essential steps. Open communication with your employer about your breastfeeding needs can lead to more supportive workplace accommodations, such as flexible break times or access to a private space for pumping. For more comprehensive tips and guidance on navigating the transition back to work, check out our full guide Returning to Work After Maternity Leave.
Common Breastfeeding Challenges & What To Do
No one can predict how breastfeeding will feel for you long term, so we’ve tried to think of everything you may encounter. You may not experience a single one of these problems, so don’t let it add to your anxiety. These are potential concerns so you know when to seek support. Knowing common challenges and what not to do after giving birth can help you ensure a smooth postpartum recovery.
Baby won’t latch
Prepare Your Nipples for Breastfeeding
This is often caused by improper latching which causes damage after repeated feedings. Contrary to what some people might think, the infant does not just put the nipple in their mouth as they breastfeed. The best scenario, for mother and child, is for as much of the areola to be inside of the little one’s mouth as possible. Lactation Consultants and The Matrescence® App all have resources for proper latching.
Low milk supply
Most mothers do not have this problem, even if they felt they didn’t make enough at some point. Yet, if your child is hungry and you do not have enough to satisfy them there are other options. Make sure you are properly nourishing your body and not giving into postpartum cravings. Even if you prefer not to, you may need to offer formula as a supplement. Combo feeding is very common!
Engorgement
Clogged ducts
Milk ducts transport milk and if one gets clogged it will create pressure and irritate the tissue around it. Your milk production will be fully synced with your feeding and pumping routine, sudden disruptions to this schedule can cause problems.
Here’s what can cause clogged ducts:
- severe engorgement
- regularly breastfeeding with only a single side
- skipping feedings or sudden changes to schedule
- sustained pressure or a sudden impact on your chest
Leaks
Some moms get all the luck and don’t experience leaking at all. For the rest of us, it’s a completely normal symptom that should fade with time. Although, for some it could last for a month, or longer. Consider purchasing breast pads or a Haaka to help.
Infections
Lactation Mastitis can lead to an infection that causes flu-like symptoms of fatigue which is obviously not something you have time for. This is often caused by clogged milk ducts.
Symptoms may suddenly appear and include: tenderness and swelling, thickening of tissue or a lump, pain or a burning feeling, feeling ill, and a fever over 101° F.
This is a case when you call your doctor as it can get worse very quickly and you will likely need an antibiotic.
Uneven breastfeeding
Nipple vasospasm
Oversupply
Baby’s mouth shape
A small percentage of the population is born with tied tongues (or ankyloglossia). This is where the infant’s frenulum, the thin strand of skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth, is too tight and is restricting the tongue’s range of motion.
A lip tie is another rare condition, where the strand of skin that connects the upper lip to the gums (also a type of frenulum) prevents the lip movements necessary for healthy breastfeeding. The Matrescence® App has a guide to help you understand how to identify a tongue and lip ties in newborns. Our expert-curated guides make it easier to sift through the noise of the internet and find science-backed education to support your parenting decisions.
Symptoms of both for your new baby could possibly include:
- Not be able to latch onto your nipple and areola deeply enough, or at all.
- Cause constant pain to your nipple, possibly leading to damage.
- Continually make a clicking sound or leaking milk while nursing,
- Eating more frequently because of their tiny mouth’s inefficiency to extract enough milk per session.
- Ending meal sessions abruptly before your breast is close to empty.
- Painful engorgement and/or clogged ducts because of insufficient extractions, or lower milk production because of decreased removal.
You little one could also have rare conditions affecting their palate. High or narrow palates are diagnoses that describe the space in the top of a baby’s mouth being slightly different than what is average. On top of all of the symptoms above, and depending on the severity, this may cause the infant any of the additional symptoms:
- Being unable to create sufficient vacuum pressure – properly suck – to get a full meal.
- Having an over sensitive gag reflex which hinders their ability to get a good latch.
- Struggling to breath through their nose due to restricted breathing from a higher palate, thus unlatching continuously during feedings.
If you experience any of these symptoms to the point where they are infringing on your ability to consistently and sufficiently feed your child while maintaining your comfort, contact a medical professional as soon as possible. Don’t freak out, mama! Your baby is fine and this is something that countless new mothers have gone through already.
Preparing Before Birth Will Give You Confidence & The Support You Deserve
There are going to be times when you feel completely over breastfeeding, perhaps due to overstimulation or exhaustion. There will also be times when you feel overwhelmed with love when breastfeeding your baby. Being a mom always comes with the good and the bad, and we want to be there for you through all of it. Join our community and learn from other pregnant people, veteran mothers, and the experts we’ve curated to help guide you through your matrescence.
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Lauren Hays, PMHNP
Lauren was a licensed and trained registered nurse in the NICU and has since made a career shift to focus on mental health. Lauren is now a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, focusing on women’s health and wellness. She is a mom of three precious little men who has turned her pain into passion.
