08/03/2025
What I wish I would have known before breastfeeding ...
🤱🏻It’s hard ... one of the hardest things I’ve ever done ... I didn’t expect it to be. I thought it would just happen naturally. I had taken a lactation rotation in residency and given patients’ moms advice on breastfeeding...but when the time came, I was clueless!
🤱🏻Both baby and mama have to learn and the learning curve can be steep! Some dyads get it right away and some take longer! It took me 8 weeks to really feel like I knew what I was doing.
🤱🏻 Positioning matters! It affects the latch which then affects a myriad of things!
🤱🏻Pumps have so many intricacies... fl**ge sizes, settings, double-electric vs wearable, different brands ...do your research and practice before you head back to work! Most insurances provide a free breast pump and you can get it before you deliver.
🤱🏻 Your ni***es may go through some stuff - Organic ni**le ointment/balm and hydrogel pads - a must!
🤱🏻”Clogged ducts” and oversupply- clogged ducts can put you at risk of mastitis. If you have oversupply and have discomfort, breastfeed the baby physiologically or pump for baby’s needs.
🤱🏻Cluster feeding is nuts, normal and important for establishing supply. You will feel like you have a baby attached to you constantly!
🤱🏻Seek help, the sooner the better. We’re here to help! There are many other wonderful resources.
🤱🏻Going back to work is tough but hopefully you are in an environment that supports your breastfeeding goals. FYI, pump breaks are mandated by law. Bottle refusal may happen and it will all be ok!
🤱🏻Breastfeeding gets so much better with time and it is such a rewarding experience. If you are currently in the trenches of breastfeeding, be patient with yourself and think positive. Being anxious and stressed makes it harder! Even if you have to supplement, it’s ok. A fed baby is the minimum. A happy, informed parent = a happy baby!
📸 Breastfeeding my boys as newborns.
