Breastmilk comes in naturally for moms after giving birth, but not every mom produces the same amount of milk. Dealing with a low milk supply is a common problem that many moms have to face at some point in their breastfeeding journey.
Mother feed is widely known to make babies smarter and improve their immunity naturally. Breastfeeding helps in gaining a healthy weight for the newborns and also helps moms to shed some post-baby weight faster.
Breastfeeding encourages healthy hormones in your body. These hormones help in reducing your pregnancy weight and lessens the risk of postpartum depression. If you’re struggling to increase your milk supply, this post will be super helpful for moms, especially after a C-section delivery.
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Best Tips to increase Low milk supply for breastfeeding moms
These amazing tips will help you increase your milk supply faster. In this post, we are talking about lactogenic food and some other non-food items that can significantly increase milk production for nursing moms.
1. Massaging Breasts
After the baby is born, your breast produces colostrum, a thicker form of milk. Colostrum produced initially is yellow in color, has high proteins and low sugar valuable nutrition for the infant. The transitional milk comes next after colostrum, and massaging your breasts with a warm moist towel helps with milk letdown.
Apply both hot and moist compresses to increase the flow of breast milk naturally at home. The correct way to massage is by using your fingertips, beginning in a circular motion from the top of your breast, and coming towards the nipple to stimulate the milk course.
Warm towel massage, hot showers, and warm compresses are ideal for mothers before breastfeeding.
How to do warm towel massage?
Take a hand towel or washcloth, and soak it in a little over warm water. Wring it to remove excess water and massage your breast with this warm moist towel. This massage would help with the milk flow and the letdown process starts sooner.
Gently massaging breasts helps significantly with low milk supply. Lavie Breast massager can help improve low milk production and relieve clogged milk ducts, mastitis, and other nursing issues.
2. Eating the Right Food
Eating a balanced diet to increase breast milk supply is equally essential. Some of the best foods to include in your diet are:
Barley increases the production of prolactin, also called the breastfeeding hormone.
The combination of fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds are believed and researched to show an increase in milk production. Cumin and fenugreek seeds are widely used, in Asian countries for ages.
Oats, whole wheat, and rice (brown) contain beta-glucan in abundance, which is famous for increasing milk production.
Papaya and foods like apricots, asparagus, anise seeds, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, dill, garlic, poppy seed, and red beets are called lactogenic foods – Consuming lactogenic food helps improve milk supply for breastfeeding moms.
Moreover, the intake of spinach and other green leafy veggies is good for nursing mothers to boost their healthy milk supply. Some mothers might also use lactation supplements to increase milk production as their babies grow.
New parents often get upset with an infant’s continuous crying; hence they start using a pacifier to solve the problem of low milk supply. Most doctors say a big ‘NO’ to pacifiers as using a binky too soon might create nipple confusion and the baby will have trouble latching on for breastfeeding.
Not to mention, babies need to put a lot of effort into a good latch and amp up their suckle for faster milk let down. Hence, the doctor suggests that a pacifier should be avoided in the first four to six weeks. Instead, the mothers should try and feed the babies at short intervals, monitoring the excretions and the infant’s digestion by burping them.
4. How to increase milk supply when Pumping exclusively
Initially pumping milk seems overwhelming and difficult to handle, but it is very beneficial in the long run.
In some cases of sudden milk let down mothers can hand express breast milk into a bottle. Haaka Manual Pump is a breast pump made of 100% silicone; a power pump that uses suction to pump milk. Haaka is not electrical or manual; it acts to support pull instead. By using a strong suction, the milk gets out of your breast and most importantly, you can save milk from leaking breast on the other side while nursing.
Exclusively pumping is helpful if you are a working mom. It is always best to pump from one breast and then pump from the second breast. Remember to pump milk till the breasts are completely emptied. You must use an electric pump if you are exclusively bottle feeding your breastmilk.
You must take Online Class on Pumping Breastmilk by Milkology to have yourself prepared for exclusive pumping, storing the milk, and keeping your milk supply up. At Milkology, Stacey is a lactation educator and has helped thousands of moms on their breastfeeding journey.
Electric pumping allows hands-free pumping the breastmilk directly into the storage bag. Using an electric pump will help you produce more milk. You can store extra milk in the freezer storage bags for later use.
If you are exclusively nursing, Haaka manual pump helps in easier milk storage to make sure nothing gets wasted.
5. Feed More Often On-Demand in Short Intervals
Feeding more often is essential for the first two weeks as the more your feed your newborn, the more milk will be produced. The newborn suckling signals the hormone prolactin to be produced further triggers the brain to increase milk supply overnight. Exclusively breastfeeding your newborn on demand would help increase milk supply faster; as your baby grows, your body will produce more milk according to your child’s need.
6. Empty Breasts Properly on Each Mealtime for the Baby
The infants should be breastfed after every 2 hours till they get the hang of it and latch perfectly – and your supply keeps on increasing as the baby grows. Realistically speaking, the feedings are not evenly spaced during 24 hours – throughout the day. However, the first week is the hardest for a new mother to establish the milk supply as it may take 3 to 5 days for flow to kick in.
If your baby goes to sleep after 5 minutes of feed while the regular time is 15 mins, it is essential to wake the baby up by tickling the feet or move the baby by holding the chin. The breast continuously keeps producing milk when your newborn is being nurtured.
A newborn must take a feed of 20 to 30 mins so that the baby’s stomach is full and the breast is empty. That way the brain gives the signal of producing more milk to meet the requirements of the baby.
Not to mention, emptying the breast will fix the issue of leaking breasts and pain due to engorgement.
The four supplements to increase milk supply strongly recommended for increasing breast milk includes
Fenugreek: this comes in numerous forms powders, seeds, liquids, and capsules. The recommended dose is 580 to 610 mg per day as needed. The positive results might be noticed in 24 to 72 hours.
Fennel is a nutritious food available in different forms and combinations to support a breastfeeding mother and is an essential ingredient to promote lactation.
Palm Dates: are rich in zinc, magnesium, copper, selenium, potassium, Vitamin-C, B-complex vitamins and have increased fiber content.
Coleus Amboinicus: is used in Chinese cooking and given for increasing woman’s milk supply.
8. Milk Tea
Milk tea is a special supplement prepared by herbs to increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers. This tea is a herbal remedy to help with a low milk supply. To prepare this at home you need coriander (210 mg), blessed thistle (35 mg), fennel (560 mg), fenugreek (35 mg), and anise (350 mg). This tea can be consumed 3 to 5 times a day depending on the need to improve milk supply.
Here are some amazing Milk teas that have been beneficial for improving milk supply.
Did you know that experts have suggested drinking at least 128 ounces of fluid a day when you are breastfeeding?
Water alone helps regulate so many body functions. Drinking a sufficient amount of water is essential when you are breastfeeding, as 90 percent of breast milk is water.
Bone broth is an ideal diet for new moms, especially after a C-section. It gives new moms nutritious hydration and helps them recover faster after giving birth.
Newborn babies need to be fed every two hours or on-demand during the day. Nursing your baby on long stretches, like 3 to 4 hours, reduces the milk supply significantly. If you are overproducing milk, pump and store it for bottle feeding.
Also, feeding according to a timetable or a rigid feeding routine can lead to low supply. A mother’s body does not act as a clock;-it does not manufacture milk during the day at a steady rate.
2. Supplementing with formula feeding
Offering a formula bottle at night or missing nighttime feedings, showing the absence of breastfeeding demands eventually results in a lower milk supply. In addition to that, allowing the baby to sleep while nursing when your breasts are still full of milk, sure reduces the milk supply.
When the breasts do not feel full, or the mother does not feed the baby or pump out the milk; the flow decreases as the body gets the signal of producing less as there is lower demand. Latching your baby on the breast gives the brain impulses to produce more milk naturally.
3. Green Tea with peppermint May Have a Negative Effect on Milk Supply
Caffeine is strictly not endorsed by the doctors for younger children. Similarly, it is not advised for newborn babies. Research shows that the intake of caffeine doesn’t have any life-threatening side effects during lactation. It certainly causes beneficial effects to become side effects in the infant.
The caffeine can be transferred to the infant through breast milk affecting the sleeping pattern of the babies. Other times the babies tend to become irritable and harder to handle by parents due to caffeine as it stays in the babies’ system longer in comparison to the adults.
4. Stress and Anxiety kills milk supply
Research has proven that anxiety and stress are the two most significant reasons for low milk supply in lactating mothers.
Sleep deprivation and lack of interest in breastfeeding would not let you get enough milk for the baby. After giving birth, the mother’s routine changes altogether, her lack of sleep, adjusting to the baby’s routine, and the nursing schedule could keep her exhausted all day. It can raise the level of cortisol, the primary stress hormone and decrease the milk supply. Researches show that due to this reason, the milk supply of the breastfeeding mother or lactating mothers is negatively affected.
Mothers who are suffering from severe or mild anxiety, stress, or postpartum depression should consult health care providers for the right treatment.
The best and most traditional position is the side-laid position, where the infant is laid on the elbow of the mother on the right or left side facing each other. This position situates the breast in a manner where gravity helps in improving the blood flow. This position also creates a space for the baby as the mother cuddles him all night. This is an ideal position for mothers with C-sections to start breastfeeding.
Sleeping on the chest may have a negative impact on breastmilk supply for some women. Suppressing the breasts decreases milk expulsion at night, affecting the milk flow for some women, so it is important to keep track of it.
Low milk supply is a common problem for new mothers but it can be avoided with a proper understanding of breastfeeding. Lactation consultants are extremely helpful on that topic if you are nursing for the first time.
Nursing baby in short intervals, making sure baby is eating well every nursing session, and emptying breasts completely help your body produce more milk.
Staying organized in the everyday schedule is the most challenging part of motherhood. Whether you are a full-time working mom or a stay at home mom, there is no exemption from your motherly duties.
Finding the right balance between professional and family life makes all the difference in a woman’s household. You have to feed, bathe, and clothe the kids on top of getting them ready for school and getting their homework and assignments done on time. It means that you are on the clock 24/7 because you have to manage your kids, home, work, and whatnot. The list of chores is too long and keeps adding up.
Even after juggling all of the responsibilities simultaneously and keeping everything organized, you might find that one or another thing is left out; either your kids suffer or your work, or sometimes both because you cannot manage all at once. The person who has neglected the most in this chaos is you, and it is not a good sign because if you cannot find time for yourself, it will eventually affect everything.
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Best Organizing tips for moms
To overcome this hassle and keep your life maintained, the key is staying on a schedule and humanly organized. Here are the best tips you can get to simplify your life in a good way.
1. Plan Your Day or week in Advance
If you are a working mother, you can’t rely on being spontaneous; you need a schedule to keep things organized by planning your everyday tasks ahead of time.
Every night before you go to bed, take a pen and paper or use your phone and list the tasks for the following day. Once you have done that, prioritize the tasks as per their importance and deadlines. This way when you wake up the next morning you have no or minimum surprises plus you know what is urgent and needs foremost attention.
You can take virtual help by using apps like Asana or Trello; they are very interesting and help maximize your potential.
You can get yourself a paper planner for all you’re planning. There are multiple planners available in the market or online. It is simple and stylish with different floral patterns.
One of the most difficult tasks at hand for every mother is deciding what to cook. It can be time-consuming, complicated, and tends to take up a good amount of your day.
Many working mothers choose to go for take-out meals most of the nights because they are too tired to cook after a whole working day. The best way to overcome this issue is to plan a meal for a whole week on the weekend. You can decide on a menu for seven days with your family and then prep for it in advance.
You can plan meals on weekends; for example, you can make breakfast burritos and freeze them for up to a week. Whenever you want to eat, wrap them up in a damp paper towel and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Your hot and fresh burrito is ready to eat. You can boil chickpeas, beans, and kebabs and use them when preparing a meal. This can reduce your cooking time by a great margin. You just need to decide on a menu and get prepping.
You can also organize your kitchen, and the best way to do it is by getting some stackable storage bins. They keep your pantry clutter-free, and you have access to all your goods at your eye level at all times.
3. Get Your Whole Family to Help
You might be in chaos because you take up all the tasks that have to be done by yourself. To be organized you need to steer some of the tasks to other members of your family as well.
You can ask your kids to help. Sometimes it is better to do the chores yourself than to watch your kids do it but trust me, it will benefit you in the long run. Kids enjoy helping when they are little. Moreover, it teaches them a sense of responsibility and completing tasks. They feel responsible when they are trusted with important tasks that you do yourself.
The same goes for your better half; you can always divide laundry, cooking, and taking care of the house between both of you. You could take the responsibilities for alternative days, or you can undertake the one you are best at.
4. Get Maximum Out of the Weekends
Weekends are the best days to focus on yourself and your family and take a break from your tiring work routine. You can get the maximum fun and management out of the weekend, you can catch up with your friends, family, movies, shows, or even restaurants you have been planning to go to. At the same time, allot a small time to your chores.
You can plan your meals; plan your meetings and your kid’s schedule ahead of time. You and your spouse can decide between school pickups and soccer practice, and other chores as well. Try to take the maximum potential out of the weekend so you can spend a stress-free week.
5. Family Calendar
Treat your family members like your co-workers so you can work as a team and get things done. The best way to get everyone on the same page is by getting a family calendar. This way, you are not the only member in charge of every event and task. If your kid has an event, he/she can add that to the family calendar, and you can decide who takes her and picks her up. If you are old school, you can use a paper calendar for this, but if you are tech-friendly, Google calendar can be of service. It sends you notifications and keeps sending reminders when an event is close by.
6. Try to wake Up Early so a lot can be done in a day
If you struggle to find time for yourself, my suggestion is to wake up early. There is no time like the morning when no one is awake, but you can shower, take your coffee, and do your exercise before everyone is awake. It gives you a head start to the day and some time to pamper yourself.
You can prep for everyone’s breakfast before they wake up. It can be difficult if you have a kid that wakes up before you but still, it is one of the best hacks to get your life in order.
7. Do Not Let Things Pile Up
Mail, health insurance, kid’s assignment, clutter, etc., can all pile up if not tended to from time to time. The best way to do so is not to let things pile up; check your mail every night; 90% of the mail is junk and needs a look to be sorted. Pay your insurance and bills on time, try to bring as little work into your home as possible, and ask your kids to clean up their mess. This way, you can nip any clutter in the bud and have no sticky spots in your house and office.
Organizing is not a super impossible task. Rather it is about developing habits and seeing things better. You can introduce organizational habits in your life and your children’s lives as well. It is composed of small tasks and can be as simple as putting your bags, keys, and shoes in their spot when you get home. Identify that your everyday line’s routine tasks and just 5 minutes every day on these chores can get your life in order and help you balance between work and home.
Try to make your life easy by using new technology and upgrade.
Invest in instant pot pressure cooker so you can have delicious meal ready quick and easy.
You can use a Kitchenaid mixer for dough preparation, so you have to spend less time in the kitchen preparing food. Meanwhile, you can get something else done when a machine is sharing your workload.
Not everyone would like this tip, but in my opinion, this is by far the best strategy to stay organized and stress-free. When you have less stuff to look after, you will be automatically at peace. For example, fewer toys for kids means less clutter and quick clean-ups. Going moderately minimalist is key to a healthy and simplified lifestyle.
Motherhood is a challenging phase of life. before giving birth women are all excited about holding a baby in their arms, looking at the joyful side of a journey. The journey from labor pains to childbirth is a life-changing event.
Counting babies kicks and most of all watching your baby moving in your third-trimester belly is one of the fondest memories of being pregnant.
Rest assured the joys of holding a baby are beautiful and you are going to have the most cherishable memories of all times.
Now you are ready to give birth and excited too, I highly recommend you should visit your hospital pre-birth and get yourself registered. This will save you a lot of time when you will be actually in labor and need immediate assistance.
Visit your hospital labor and delivery department to be well aware of the rooms and other formalities, you might have to take care of.
This is a very common question for first-time moms when you know it’s time to bring baby home.
Having all those excitement and butterflies in your belly; one fine day your time would come with real pains and probably with a gush of water.
When you know these are not Braxton hicks (false contractions) and you could actually time your pains at equal intervals. If your contractions are exactly at 20 minutes interval, maybe less or more, you need to pack up your hospital bag.
Well, as a matter of fact, these contractions interval may take days to shrink down to maybe 5 minutes or 3 minutes. Whenever you are able to time them for like 2 to 3 hours at the same interval, you need to call your doctor, nurse or a midwife at your hospital you are planning on to deliver.
If your water breaks, you need to call right away, even you do not feel any sort of contraction or pains.
Once you are at the hospital, you need to check in with all those bands with barcodes. These bands are going to stay on your wrist until you are staying at the hospital.
What happens in the labor room?
Nurses would take care of everything when you get there. If you have more frequent contractions, they would find out and provide immediate assistance. Your doctor or midwife is going to find out how much dilated you are by that time.
If your labor pains are not very frequent and you don’t seem to be dilated more than 2 cm, you might be sent back home.
If your baby is full-term at 39 weeks, you might want to discuss the option of Pitocin, a medicine to speed up the labor pains.
You can opt for epidural. Before that, you need to eat or drink whatever you want because once you get epidural you won’t be able to drink water even.
What happens in the surgery room in case you have scheduled a cesarean or emergency C-section?
If you have a scheduled C-section due to many reasons like baby’s position, multiple fetuses, health concerns, etc., chances are you have to get it in the morning. Thus, you have to make sure you should not have eaten at least 12 hours on the day of C-section. You have to be an empty stomach.
Eat well the night before and sleep better as you are already signing up for sleep deprivation motherhood brings. 🙂
Epidural or General Anesthesia
By any chance you end up having C-section, you most likely be given epidural (spinal) If not general anesthesia.
Nurses would make sure your area for the incision is shaved.
After that, they are going to apply medicine and all the surgical procedure you can expect.
Although doctors, surgeons, anesthesia staff, nurses, every concerned person would be in the surgery room. However, if you want your partner or husband to be in the surgery room, you can surely ask nurses.
They are going to provide the medicated clothes for him so that he can be with you inside the surgery room and you both could enjoy the birth of your baby.
What to expect right after Childbirth
You might be an expert by now for what happens in pregnancy and how to deal with those nauseous mornings, but getting to know what happens in the hospital right after birth is not too far now.
Curious to know or not – here the things you must need to know what happens after birth.
1. Apgar Evaluation
This is a necessary evaluation procedure done after birth. The purpose is to see if there are any medical concerns or not. Doctors measure five signs of the baby’s condition
Heart rate
Breathing
Reflexes
Activity and muscles tone
Skin color
Apgar evaluation score varies from 0 to 10. Babies who score 7 or more are considered healthy. Low Apgar score does not mean any necessary medical concerns.
Researchers say that in more than 98% of babies, quite often the Apgar score reaches 7 within 5 minutes of baby’s life as it is checked twice in the first 5 minutes of baby’s life after birth.
2. Vitamin K injection
Babies are born with vitamin K deficiency as it does not reach the placenta during pregnancy. Thus, doctors make sure that babies get vitamin K injection right after birth to make sure no bleeding in the brain or intestines could occur. Right after the birth baby is given vitamin K injection to help with blood to clot.
3. Antibiotic eye ointment
Your baby will be applied Erythromycin an eye antibiotic ointment to her eyes so that it does not cause an infection that could occur during delivery. Infections could occur due to sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
If you are concerned, babies can see through the ointment and it is not irritating for babies.
4. Oxygen saturation testing
This procedure is done to check for lower levels of oxygen in the baby’s bloodstream that might identify any significant yet rare heart defects. This is a needleless procedure involves placing a band-aid-like sensor on the baby’s right hand and right foot.
4. Baby Foot is printed
Your baby’s foot will be printed.
5. Identification Bands on wrists and legs
Your baby will also be wearing an identification band on with your name as a mother.
6. Skin to skin
Research has shown that an hour after birth is when your baby is very awake and alert and during that time and it is highly recommended when mother and baby has to be more on skin to skin.
7. Regulating the baby’s body temperature
Baby’s lose body heat fairly quickly, thus it is highly advisable to practice more and more skin to skin to regulate baby’s body temperature after birth.
8. Latching or Breastfeeding right after birth
As soon as your baby is done with all those requirements after birth, mothers are advised to start breastfeeding their babies right away, as this will help with the flow of milk supply for moms.
Breastfeeding has numerous benefits along with it helps the uterus to come back to its original size within 6 weeks.
9. Bonding with your baby
Right after birth, It is very normal to feel overjoyed to see your little bundle of happiness. Some mothers cannot feel that way which is normal too. Do not stress about bonding if you are not in that state of mind, because most of the time it is the effect of medicines as well.
However, dads would be happy to perform skin to skin if mom is having a surgical delivery.
In my both C section deliveries, at the time my first one was born I was in labor pains for three days, tired and exhausted, yet I just was super excited about bonding with my little guy. On the other hand, while with my second delivery, which was within 19 months, it took a while for me to feel normal again I was having extreme shoulder pain and my blood pressure dropped significantly. I just could not talk. And I could not hold her for a long time.
It is not advisable to hold your baby when you are not feeling normal about yourself. Bonding can weight but you as a healthy mother is more important.
Start skin to skin the moment you start feeling better and want to connect.
Nursing, latching, and feeding after childbirth
If you are a first-time mom, and you THINK that you KNOW how to breastfeed, do not stay in this misconception.
There is a big difference between knowing something and actually doing it.
Some babies do not know how to latch. They will learn slowly and gradually.
However, some babies are great at latching. They know suckle very well.
I would highly recommend first-time moms to consult a lactation specialist. Many hospitals in the US offer lactation classes which are super helpful.
Doctors would not allow you to go home if your baby is not having enough wet and dirty diapers. This means your baby is not having enough to eat.
The lactation consultants will visit you every day during your hospital stay and are there to help. Seek help, consult if you are struggling with breastfeeding.
Moms expect delayed milk supply as it takes time to settle in. However, babies are not going to eat too much in the beginning.
Colostrum is the thick form of milk that comes in before the milk supply. Colostrum is the most beneficial first baby food and sufficient for the early days of a baby’s life.
If you are not mentally or physically ready to take care of your baby, talk to your nurse about it. They are there to help. You can ask them to take your baby for the night and have her in the nursery room so you can sleep or rest for that night.
You can also tell them to bring the baby in for her feed or they could give formula if you have talked to your doctor about it.
Whatever you decide to feed your baby, remember FED IS THE BEST.
While you stay a the hospital nurses give you a chart to record about your baby eats, wee and poo schedule.
You have to feed every 2 hours or as per demand. The more you nurse the earlier and quick would be the milk supply.
Care providers want you to time baby’s eating, pee, and poo schedule to ensure baby is performing great after birth.
Baby’s First Poop
Baby’s first poo is called Meconium which is made of mucus, amniotic fluid and everything which baby has ingested while in the womb. Meconium is a black almost tar-like consistency.
Rarely, during normal delivery, babies tend to poo during the delivery process (while passing through the birth canal) which has to be monitored closely. It should not be swallowed as it could pose high risks.
Some babies poo within the first couple of days after birth. This first poo meconium is a good sign that means your baby’s digestive system is working just fine.
Colostrum, your first milk, will help meconium to excrete out of the baby’s body. It protects against infections and also acts as a laxative.
Well during your hospital stay doctors and nurses are going to closely monitor your baby’s health after birth.
Vital Signs test
Vital signs test is a baby’s hearing screening test.
This test is done before you leave the hospital. During this hearing screening, babies are monitored to respond to any sounds by using tiny earphones.
Some babies do not pass their test on their first attempt due to fluids in ears. There are very likely to pass the next day or so. In order to keep baby calm, the examiner might have to give sweet water (don’t worry, it’s just a drop) to have baby calm during the test.
Hearing problems are not very uncommon. If newborns by any chance do not pass the test, it would be helpful to treat any hearing defects earlier.
Physical weight check
Baby’s weight is monitored right at birth and then within the first few days after birth. It is very normal for babies to reduce weight during the first few days of their life.
It is normal for a baby to lose 7 to 10 percent of birth weight in the first couple of days after birth. If your baby keeps losing weight more than 10% of birth weight then you might want to consider supplementing.
Waiting for breastmilk supply is a great way to ensure healthy nutrition for your baby, BUT, if your baby is losing weight and you are struggling with milk supply, you should discuss your concerns about it with your doctor.
They measure the baby’s weight, height, and head circumference.
They are going to check how is your baby breathing.
Number of wet and dirty
To ensure how well your baby is eating, the number of wet diapers could depict. If your baby does not wee or have a wet diaper within 24 hours then your baby needs more nutrition.
Despite, your baby is losing weight after birth within limits even then the number of wet diapers confirms your baby is eating just fine.
If there are no wet diapers for more than 24 hours then you should be concerned.
Shots / vaccinations
If your baby has got a shot/vaccination, the hospital will provide you with a card and name of the vaccination with dates and everything that you need to know for a record.
Hep B vaccination
All Babies get the hepatitis B vaccine before leaving the hospital. HBV is a series of three different shots. All three of them will be received over the course of two years i.e. three times in 24 months.
Newborn Metabolic screening
This test is done by pricking your baby’s heel to take blood samples to rule out any signs of illness or diseases. This is done to make sure the baby does not have any disabilities, organ damage, etc.
First bath
The nurse is going to give the baby a bath. Wash baby’s hair and rest she sponge bath baby without having umbilical cord wet.
Additional tests for baby
Measuring bilirubin levels
Some, but not all, newborns require a bilirubin level check – a substance in the bloodstream responsible for causing jaundice.
Baby’s blood type test
Those babies who are born to women having Rh negative or O blood type must be tested. Other babies may get tested depending on the requirements and circumstances.
Other blood tests
Other tests are done to check blood sugar, blood counts, and blood cultures as per the circumstances.
Circumcision
Circumcision is the surgical procedure of removing foreskin on a baby boy’s penis.
Most but not all, boys get their penis circumcised before hospital discharge. Choosing this procedure could be personal or religious preference and could be scheduled even after discharge from the hospital.
In case you want to get it done for your baby boy, circumcision is widely practiced all over the world with many health benefits.
Always discuss its pros and cons with your doctor before you even decide to get it done for your baby boy.
Given the risks and concerns, this needs a lot of aftercare. Watch any signs of an infection. Keep the area dry and keep it covered with cotton gauze and a substantial amount of petroleum jelly on the wee-wee area.
This does not mean to get the process done right away. If you want your boy to get this done, you may want to do it in a couple of days after birth. The earlier the better as it heals pretty quickly within just a few days.
Nurses are going to guide you with care instructions.
We all know what
breastfeeding is, but knowing and practically doing are two different things.
Breastfeeding experience varies from one mom to the other.
You have to understand what breastfeeding may seem like in the first couple of weeks; it won’t stay like that. Those who are worrying about the flow should know that there have been millions of moms who were able to breastfeed successfully.
That being said, every mom has struggled with breastfeeding one way or the other.
You must have heard the slogan, “breast is best,” indeed it is, due to its natural benefits and nutritional value. Breastfeeding is getting popular as compared to a few decades ago when fewer moms chose to breastfeed, although it may get to the point that you have to struggle a bit more to get good results.
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Tips for breastfeeding moms
Although it takes several weeks for breastfeeding moms to have everything go smooth and you may have to give your baby some time to establish a good latch that will eventually lead to a picture-perfect breastfeeding experience. Remember every mom’s experience is different and so as their body.
For exclusively breastfeeding, new moms have to stay put and see how well you experience yourself as a nursing mom.
For moms who choose a combination feed for their babies does not make them bad in any way. in addition to that, there are a few moms who may not have enough supply even after several weeks of trying. No matter what way you choose to feed your baby, remember, “fed is best”. You should not starve your child just for the sake of giving breast only.
1. Milk Supply takes a couple of days
Before you jump on to supplementing, remember breastmilk and the right flow takes about a couple of weeks. It is a matter of supply on demand. Your baby’s latch is essential to have the flow ready.
Babies take time to latch. Some are quick learners. They have good suckle naturally, while some have to learn and they take their sweet time.
2. Take the right advice
You may have tons and tons of advice or pressure from other moms in the family, friends, nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, listen to what they say. Some of the advice may prove to be helpful. Also, be aware you may end up having unsolicited suggestions, contradictory, confusing or just plain wrong advice.
If you want to breastfeed, someone’s advice may prove to be helpful and make things better for you. But if it is not helpful in any way, follow what you think best for your child.
During this struggling period, if you think your newborn is losing weight and dehydrated due to no milk supply or less milk supply, you have to discuss it with your doctor. DO NOT STARVE YOUR BABY just out of sheer pressure of breastfeeding.
It is okay to wait for milk supply if you wish but for that, you have to remember, neither every baby is the same nor every mom, choose what is best at the right time for your baby.
3. Search for support groups
Breastfeeding could be
daunting and painful in the beginning but it is not going to be the same in the
coming week or months. It is going to be a beautiful motherhood experience.
However, if you still feel overwhelmed search up for support.
Find an international board-certified lactation consultant IBCLC. These consultants are professionals with knowledge and training in breastfeeding support. Ask your hospital or your baby’s doctor for the name of a local lactation consultant.
Call the national
breastfeeding helpline call la leche league or visit their website www.lalecheleague.org
iii). Get help from the hospital
Hospitals offer breastfeeding classes with lactation specialists. For the first time moms, they may want you to have a lactation class at the hospital if you are struggling with breastfeeding experience. Always ask your hospital or nurses if there is something like that.
I highly recommend first-time moms to take breastfeeding class at the hospital or take advantage of lactation expert visits while you stay at the hospital.
They are really helpful if you want to
LEARN how to breastfeed.
Turn to your pediatrician for further advice or assistance.
Always talk to your baby’s pediatricians about your problems and struggles with breastfeeding and they will help you.
iv). Help from friends and family
Don’t be hesitant to enlist your spouse, partner, or friends.
Join a support group or don’t be afraid to talk to your friends and family about it. Someone’s advice or support may prove to be helpful.
4. Breastfeeding is healthiest of all feeding options
Breastfeeding is healthiest in all aspects. Not only it is nutritionally healthy food for babies, but it also reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), reduces the infections, allergens or concerning health conditions.
Breastfeeding gives moms an altogether different perspective. Your breasts are nurturing a child is an incredibly beautiful experience for moms.
Although mother feed is the healthiest food for baby, however, it should not take a toll on your mental and physical health.
There is always room for formula feeding if you ever want to think about it. Even though a few moms get overwhelmed with the idea of breastfeeding but still most of them choose to breastfeed.
Once you deliver, the first thing you are asked to do at the hospital is to latch your baby to the breast. Some babies learn it fast while some may take time. This totally depends on the hospital staff attitude towards breastfeeding.
It is very obvious for moms to feel emotionally and physically exhausted, which may hinder breastfeeding experience. It does not hurt to take some time in order to feel physically or emotionally ready to breastfeed.
However, the ideal situation would be to start latching or breastfeeding, right after delivery (even in the delivery room or recovery room). The sooner the better.
6. Breastfeed every 2 hours or more frequent
Sometimes nurses may take babies to the nursery room and feed a ready-made bottle so that moms can rest. If you want to breastfeed the right way, you should start while you are in the hospital at least every 2 hours to establish a good milk supply immediately after delivery.
7. Getting Comfortable While Breastfeeding
When you are breastfeeding, you have to make sure you are comfortable. Either you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section delivery, you have to make sure the way you are holding a baby is not putting stress on your shoulders, belly, back, etc. Your posture should be straight and comfortable.
Have a couple of pillows for support. Keeping your essentials in an arm’s reach is helpful, a book, a phone, some snacks to munch on, a water bottle, TV remote control, etc.
While you are nursing, you have to make sure, you are not leaning on the baby rather bring your baby to the level of breasts by using support pillows or nursing pillows.
However, there are different ways you can choose to breastfeed.
i) Cradle hold
This is the most common way to breastfeed. If you had a C-section delivery you need a lot of belly support. Wearing a postpartum belly belt would give you good support. However, it may get a little uncomfortable for too many layers but it is helpful for breastfeeding as well as shrinking your body faster.
Putting pillows in the back
would give your back good support to avoid any aches and pains while
breastfeeding. Have a specially designed nursing pillow that would help in
positioning your baby sideways.
Remember you bring baby closer to you, not lean on to get closer to the baby. Adjust baby’s height with pillows and support the baby’s head with your arm on each side while breastfeeding.
Before you try other breastfeeding positions, you should be aware of your baby has started latching.
ii) Football or clutch hold
You position your baby on one side of your arm just like a football player holding a football under his arm and runs the downfield. Position baby’s head closer to your breasts so you can nurse with convenience.
iii) Side by side are lying down position
Once you get comfortable breastfeeding and get your flow just in time, you can breastfeed in laying down position. You can do this if you feel exhausted or just due to c-section delivery.
8. Make sure there is enough Breathing room for baby
Regardless of what breastfeeding position you choose, you have to make sure you and your baby are comfortable. Your baby needs support under her head. But you still need to make sure there is plenty of room for her to adjust while she is close to your breast.
There should be enough room to breathe at all times. As a general rule, at least one nostril is visible at all times and not completely covered by your breast.
9. Make the best use of Colostrum
It is the first natural food for your baby, thick and yellowish milk your breast starts producing earlier in the second trimester. Colostrum provides them everything they need for the first several days of life including nutrition and infection-fighting antibodies.
By the end of the first week, if not sooner, you most likely be able to produce runny flow milk called transitional milk.
However, if you are already producing colostrum, you are almost halfway there.
10. Ensure a Proper Latch
When your baby latches, you have to make sure, it has the whole areola in her mouth (the darker part) as she sucks.
To nurse effectively, babies
tend to use their tongues to essentially lap or massage milk out of the
breasts.
However, sucking with no outcome is going to be painful for a while and after that, it is smooth sailing.
You have to develop your baby’s interest in breastmilk by gently expressing a few drops to have her coming for the target.
Rooting reflex is a reflex that should have a baby open her mouth in search of mom’s nipple.
Try to lightly stroke her cheeks just to the sides on her mouth to stimulate rooting reflex. You should help her open her mouth wide.
If baby’s suckle is bothering you because of the wrong latch, gently insert your finger in baby mouth and pull a breast out with the help of your finger. Do not just pull off as it is going to hurt more.
Do not hesitate to try again if the baby refused to nurse for the first time.
12. Dealing with tongue-tie
You have to make sure if your breastfeeding experience is not working with all the struggle, there are chances your baby is tongue-tied.
Tongue-tie is caused when a piece of tissue under the tongue limits the ability of the tongue to extend known as ankyloglossia. The vast majority of babies have been able to successfully breastfeed with no issues. However, for some in order for them to breastfeed, they need a minor procedure to help them latching.
Not every breast or nipple is created equal. There are different sizes and shapes. Sometimes nipple size may become a problem for breastfeeding. In order to solve that, moms may use a nipple shield for a better breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding becomes painful with sore nipples, cracked and dry nipples that hurt. Once you have the flow and your baby gets a proper latch then the pain surely fades away.
Mild irritation or discomfort that occurs only at the start of each feeding is generally associated with newness of breastfeeding. Use alternate breasts to get used to the new journey of nursing.
Once mother feed starts coming in, you have to make sure the baby is latching properly and the pain will go away. Using nipple cream after every feed is highly recommended.
14. Timeline for milk supply you should keep in mind
It takes about 2 to 5 days for milk to settle in from colostrum to transitional milk, and then mature milk.
Although for some moms it is a few hours of colostrum and then good enough milk to have a sufficient flow of transitional milk. Mom and baby both get hang of breastfeeding smoothly.
There could be a number of factors in delayed milk production, most common in C-section moms.
15. How much milk supply is enough in the beginning
However, for a few new moms, it is not as easy as it may sound. The noticeable change in milk takes place over the course of a few days. If you are concerned about your milk flow, or if your newborn baby is getting enough, or there are signs when you are not sure what is going on.
For instance, you may notice a perfect latch but no supply or your baby is crying unusually too much possible due to hunger or, not having enough wet diapers, then you should never delay a visit to a pediatrician.
Not every case is the same. You should never delay if you feel your baby is not getting enough.
When milk production
progress, you would know when yellowish milk becomes white, appears thinner and
clearer.
The baby would be making more obvious and gulping noises, and they may seem more calm and busy
Every mom would have that tingling sensation, although not the same for everyone when milk production increases and breasts become more fuller.
When milk production starts, fullness from breastmilk often called engorgement. It means full to the capacity of being painful.
Frequently nursing your baby can help with breast engorgement as fuller breasts can be painful and the letdown tingle can be seriously uncomfortable for new moms.
Using a Breast pump can be helpful if the let-down is pretty quick.
2. Express some of the milk to relieve the pain. And expression to the extent that your body gets the message of producing more.
3. Taking a warm shower and using a warm compress on your breast can be a source of relief.
17. Dealing with Mastitis
Mastitis is the breast infection when one of the milk ducts gets infected that stores milk. This will cause swollen, red, painful breasts. In a couple of days, you start feeling sick, feverish, very achy in your breast.
You need to start antibiotics
once it is evaluated by the professional health provider.
In the meantime, you can
still breastfeed as frequent as every two hours to keep the breasts becoming
overly sore
Make sure your baby is latched on well every time you breastfeed and try to change the positions.
Apply a warm compress
Wear a well-supported bra and massaging the breasts may speed up the healing process.
18. Dealing with Leaking breasts
Not every mom has the same amount of leaking breast issues.
Leakage will subside with time. You may experience more leakage with your first child doesn’t mean it is going to be the same as the second one too. This process will take its own time of recovery. Do not stress over it.
Another way you can stop leaking is by putting inward pressure on your breasts. Pushing back your breasts with closed arms if you are in public, may work most of the time.
Using breast pads and keep a few in your baby bag if you have leaky breasts most of the time, would help with public exposure of wet shirts.
19. Use nursing bra for the better breastfeeding experience
A good nursing bra, a sports bra is going to be super helpful for your whole breastfeeding experience. It is not only going to protect your breast from sagging but also keep them in a good shape.
You need a good fitting bra, not too tight and try to wear it 24/7.
Prefer comfort and convenience when choosing a bra that you are going to wear 24 hours a day.
It should be easy to use and has flaps to fasten and unfasten.
There is room for expansion as when the breasts are fuller, they should not be bulging out.
20. Feeding frequency
The aim is to give 8 to 12
feedings to your newborn baby during 24 hours.
For newborns, you need to feed more frequently every 2 to 3 hours once your milk supply settles in.
During the day, keep it more
frequent feedings for a better and faster flow. However, for the night, if your
newborn sleeps for at the most 4 hours and eats well during the day then you
can stretch your night feedings for upto 4 hours. Set your alarm to feed your
baby.
Most likely babies wake up within 3 to 4 hours at night to breastfeed.
If you are struggling with your milk flow and your baby is not eating well during the day or does not have enough wet diapers, then you should wake up every two hours to establish a good flow to breastfeed.
When you are trying to
establish a breastfeeding routine for your newborn, you should breast every 2
to 3 hours, keeping one stretch for 4 hours or more preferably at night for a
better routine.
21. Breastfeeding on the go
One of the advantages of breastfeeding is you can nurse whenever your baby needs to eat. Either you are traveling by car or in an airplane, visiting a friend or going to the mall, you have all the ease and convenience of feeding your baby without having to worry about bottles.
22. Breastfeeding in public
Many moms, if not all, are comfortable breastfeeding in public and there is nothing wrong about it. It is all about when and what your baby needs and how comfortable you are to breastfeed in public.
Using a nursing cover while in public is the best you can do for having some privacy.
23. Breastfeeding by number
Breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours means, if you are feeding at 8 AM in the morning, that may last till 8:30 with a consequent diaper change, then the next feed is going to be at 10:30.
If the nursing session lasts from 8 AM till 9 am on each breast, then the next feeding will be at 11 am.
24. How frequent mom should nurse
Moms need to feed 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours a day to make sure your newborn is not dehydrated and gaining weight.
25. Consider Signs of inadequate Milk supply
Newborns who are still waiting for mother’s milk to come in or those who are slow to latch on, or nurse even when there is abundant milk supply would end up having less energy and tend to sleep more.
When newborns seem less interested in feeding become lethargic, sleepy, dehydrated and more fatigued.
In the beginning, new moms have to work hard to have them eat every 2 to 3 hours during the day to establish routine and healthy weight gain.
This is a really important
measure after birth. Although all newborns are expected to lose weight after
birth but not more than 7 to 10% of their birth weight. Your pediatrician in 3
to 5 days appointment can tell you if your baby is losing more weight. On your
baby’s 2 weeks checkup, if she is gaining back her birth weight then it is a
sign the breastfeeding experience is going great.
However, if your baby is
losing weight then it is a matter of concern and you should not delay a visit
or call doctor’s office without waiting for a 2-week checkup.
28. Alternate breasts to nurse
Nursing on both sides every
time is going to be helpful for good flow on both sides as well as avoid
engorgement on one breast.
Ideally, 15-minutes of breastfeeding on each side is going to prevent any lopsidedness in your breasts.
29. Hindmilk – benefit of emptying breasts
Some experts believed that fully nursing on one side would give babies a dessert equivalent of hindmilk that is richer in fats and more creamy than foremilk that babies need to grow and develop.
If you notice, your baby has green frothy poops, this could be a sign your baby is not getting enough hindmilk.
Emptying one breast in each feeding would help your baby benefit from hindmilk.
Keep track of what side you have nursed previously and then start off with the other side if you are choosing one side for each feeding.
There is no such thing as spoiling your newborn babies for the first several weeks. If your baby demands feed or seem hungry, nurse if needed. You should always be available to your newborn needs in order to make sure they are well fed.
31. Avoid Using Pacifier for the first few weeks
Newborns tend to suck on as their natural instinct. For some babies, sucking is not just about getting fed. This interest is known as non-nutritive sucking and this is the reason why pacifiers come in handy to console the fussy baby.
Using a pacifier may calm babies when they just want to suck on fingers or breasts with no urge to eat.
You can use a pacifier to help baby sleep at night.
32. When you should start using a bottle to feed
If you want to introduce a bottle whether formula or breastmilk in a bottle you should wait at least 4 to 6 weeks until you have a good milk supply to pump. Babies find artificial nipples more convenient and effortless than to lap out milk out of breasts.
So if you want to introduce a bottle, wait for a few weeks. Let your baby get regular on latching, nursing, peeing, pooping and gaining weight then you can start on pacifier or bottle feeding.
For irregular pumping, you can use a manual pump. Whereas for a routine and scheduled pumping, using an electric pump is a great option.
Besides, what type of pump you end up getting, Haakaa manual pump is something you need anyway. This will help moms save gold milk during sudden leaks and preserve it with a lid. Also, it can significantly help with breast engorgement which is painful.
Most likely if you have insurance, you may get on free from your insurance depending on the perks you have.
If you are pumping then there are chances your body is producing more milk. You can pump and store in the freezer in milk storing bags.
34. Keeping milk outside or frozen
Breastmilk is good for 6 to 8 hours at room temperature if it is very clean but no more than 3 to 4 hours is the best.
Refrigerated breastmilk is good if used within 3 days. It is still okay if used within 3 to 5 days.
Breastmilk can be frozen and used for up to 12 months on 0-degree Fahrenheit or colder. Otherwise 6 months on 24 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
Once you thaw frozen breastmilk you should never freeze again.
Writing dates on the milk storing bags is a great way to avoid any expired milk consumption. However, as a general rule of thumb if breastmilk smells bad it is better to dispose of.
35. Breastfeeding moms eating habits
Breastfeeding doesn’t take
more than 500 calories a day. Moms do not have to go wild over their cravings.
However, you still have the right to eat for two. Drink plenty of water and
avoid extra sugars to stay in shape and lose weight while you are
breastfeeding.
Babies can handle pretty much everything you eat, however, you still want to avoid some gassy foods for several weeks when your baby’s digestive system is developing. Although this is not supported by research, yet a lot of moms swear by some foods that they ate made their babies gassy.
Whenever you breastfeed keep a water bottle with you to stay hydrated. You can have flavored water or just plain water as per your taste. Staying hydrated can definitely help things get flowing.
Whether you are taking
supplements, herbal medication, prescription or pain medication, you should
always talk to your doctor about it, regardless. Medications may have a
negative effect on the milk supply.
Some medication is safe to use in breastfeeding as it does not have any effect on breastfeeding babies.
Studies reveal that intake of Caffeine – i.e. 2 to 3 cups of coffee (200 to 300 mg of caffeine) per day poses no inherent harm to nursing mothers and babies.
That being said, if you still notice your baby is irritable or fussy, you might want to try decreasing or gradually eliminating your caffeine intake.
37. Impact of Smoking and alcohol on breastmilk
Smoking cigarettes pose some health issues for your newborn. It may increase the risk of asthma, and SIDS.
Those moms, who still smoke, the AAP recommends only doing so right after nursing, smoking no more than a few cigarettes, and never smoking around your baby in your house or car.
Consumption of alcohol may significantly impair mothers’ ability to care for their newborns. However, knowing all those side effects of alcohol, AAP recommends having an occasional drink of alcohol right after nursing. Wait for 2 hours for the alcohol content to drop in breastmilk before starting the next feed.
Marijuana has the ability to reach fetuses during pregnancy and as well as potentially affect breastfed infants.
38. Bottles and nipples care for pumping
For newborns, the 4-ounce bottle is a perfect choice. When baby gets bigger you can start using 6 to 8 ounces bottles.
When you choose a bigger
bottle make sure you also buy nipples for 3 months and 6 months as required to
have better flow and better feeding experience.
Angled bottles and those with disposable bags, built-in vents or flow, may help in swallowing less air while feeding. An added benefit of milk storing bags is, you need to wash only nipples in the end.
39. Safety measure on Heating Breastmilk
Do not use the microwave for heating breastmilk, However, bottle warmers are the best option to warm breastmilk.
40. How to clean up bottles
Although all ready to feed
bottles come with packages nipples that are safe to use, however it is still
recommended to sterilize all feeding supplies and pacifiers before using.
You can buy a sterilizer available in the market or else you can sterilize your supplies by putting them in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
Washing bottles after every
feeding is also practiced by many parents and that also kills most of the
germs.
Invest in bottle and nipple brushes that are inexpensive and invaluable for cleaning hard to reach places.
You can buy a dishwasher safe basket to hold all your small feeding supplies to wash in a dishwasher.
41. Take Growth spurts into consideration
When babies grow their needs, and eating requirements grow too. That means increased hunger as your baby keeps growing. So moms need to incorporate variability in baby’s everyday routine.
42. Feed on demand or Cluster feeding
When you choose to feed on demand is called cluster feeding. If a baby decided to eat several times of the day when you are not following a 2 to 3 hours timeline.
Remember, babies who eat well during the day may end up sleeping at stretch at night.
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps prevent rickets and strengthens the immune system and reduce the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Chances are your pediatrician is going to provide you with vitamin D drops on your baby’s first checkup. You may have to apply a few drops on your nipple so the baby can easily suck on while feeding.
Breastfed babies need vitamin D drops whereas among formula-fed babies require only those who do not drink at least 32 ounces of formula every day.
44. Choosing pacifier
You can choose to use a pacifier for your baby if she is super fussy and sucking on fingers even after getting a good number of feedings.
Be sure not to offer pacifier
when your baby needs to be fed and hungry.
Babies seem disinterested in pacifiers when they do not see anything coming out of it. Keep trying if you feel your baby is still in search of breast just for comforts not because of hunger.
45. when babies get gas due to mother feed
Breastfed babies tend to get gassy due to specific types of food moms eat. Although this argument is not supported by science still many moms notice babies being fussier when they eat certain types of food. Not every mom face this, like I said, every mom and baby is different.
This does not mean you should avoid eating gassy foods altogether, however, the best approach is to avoid gassy foods for about 4 to 6 weeks after delivery until the baby’s digestive system gets mature enough to handle gas.
Breastfeeding begins with painful letdown of milk supply, but for some moms the nursing discomforts gets annoying to the extent, that they do not wish to continue.
Dealing with breastfeeding problems is not as easy. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to overcome the struggles of nursing difficulties.
Although it may take several weeks for breastfeeding moms to have everything go smooth. A new mom may have to give baby some time to establish a good latch that will eventually lead to a picture-perfect breastfeeding experience. Remember every mom’s experience is different and so as her body.
For exclusively breastfeeding, new moms have to stay put and see how well you experience yourself as a nursing mom.
For moms who choose a combination feed of their babies does not make them bad in any way. in addition to that, there are a few moms who may not have enough supply even after several weeks of trying. No matter what way you choose to feed your baby, remember, “fed is best”. You should not starve your child just for the sake of giving breast only.
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How to solve breastfeeding problems and Nursing Difficulties
Breastfeeding problems are real and you cannot ignore as they might get worse.
The irony is what’s natural doesn’t always come naturally. Breastmilk is natural but it takes time to have enough supply. Unfortunately, this becomes a struggle for new moms to have that idealistic picture of breastfeeding.
Babies take time to latch. Some are quick learners. They have good suckle naturally, while some have to learn and they take their sweet time.
You may have tons and tons of advice or pressure from other moms in the family, friends, nurses, doctors, lactation consultants, listen to what they say. Some of the advice may prove to be helpful.
Also, be aware you may end up having unsolicited suggestions, contradictory, confusing or just plain wrong advice.
However, if you are a first-time mom or expectant mom with a plan of breastfeeding, here is what you need.
A virtual breastfeeding class by a Certified Lactation Educator, Stacey at Milkology. She is going to teach you what you actually need to know as a first-time breastfeeding mom.
To be honest breastfeeding may seem easy but it is NOT in the beginning. Learn how you can make it easy.
Best Tips to deal with breastfeeding Problems and breast irritations
For good nursing experience, you have to make sure your baby is latching on properly called an asymmetrical latch.
1. Use Nipple Shield
Not every breast or nipple is created equal. There are different sizes and shapes. Sometimes nipple size may become a problem for breastfeeding. In order to solve that, moms may use a nipple shield for a better breastfeeding experience.
Breastfeeding becomes painful
with sore nipples, cracked and dry nipples that hurt. Once you have the flow
and your baby gets a proper latch then the pain surely fades away. Mild
irritation or discomfort that occurs only at the start of each feeding is generally
associated with newness of breastfeeding.
Rest assured, the pain will go away in a couple of weeks after you establish a good milk supply.
2. Use Nipple Cream
Using Organic Nipple butter helps soothe sore nipples. Apply generously before and after the feed and let it air dry. Or applying your own breastmilk is an effective remedy to help cracked nipples.
If one breast is hurting, choose the other one to nurse your baby.
However, if the pain does not go away for weeks, seek professional help.
Sometimes it is about yeast infection that is not letting the discomfort go away. For any breast-related issue that makes you uncomfortable and not getting better, do not hesitate to seek your doctor’s advice.
When you notice a milk flow, you may notice cramping in your uterus. Mainly, that is the reason if you breastfeed, your uterus shrinks back to its original size in a few weeks. These contractions are considered responsible for triggering the milk let-down reflex.
4. When will milk come
As we have discussed it takes about 2 to 5 days for milk to settle in from colostrum to transitional milk, and then mature milk.
Although for some moms it is a few hours of colostrum and then good enough milk to have a sufficient flow of transitional milk. Soon after, mom and baby both get hang of breastfeeding smoothly.
However, for a few new moms, it is not as easy as it may sound. The noticeable change in milk takes place over the course of a few days. If you are concerned about your milk flow, or if your newborn baby is getting enough, or there are signs when you are not sure what is going on. For instance, you may notice a perfect latch but no supply or your baby is crying unusually too much possible due to hunger or, not having enough wet diapers, then you should never delay a visit to a pediatrician.
Keep in mind, not every mom’s nursing experience is the same. You should never delay if you feel your baby is not getting enough.
There could be a number of factors in delayed milk production, however, the most common in C-section moms are due to;
The effect of IVs for C-sections mom.
The side effect of medication.
6. Going with a flow
Once your baby gets hold of a
good latch, the next thing that comes to mind, is your baby getting enough
milk?
Newborns get colostrum in the first few days of life – what they need in the first few days of life. Colostrum is rich in proteins, but it lacks fats and sugars. It is the perfect food that your newborn needs.
When you see colostrum a yellowish thick milky secretion from your breasts, that’s a sign you are going to have transitional milk, white thin milk.
Like I said, mother’s milk takes about 2 to 5 days to settle in. the latter case is for C-section moms.
7. Breastfeeding is about Demand and supply
Colostrum is a complete food your newborn baby needs at this time, that would make the baby hungry and wants to be fed more. This process of demand and supply would help milk supply settle in about a week to meet your baby’s nutritional demands.
Once the flow settles in, milk supply keeps on increasing with your baby’s demand. The more you nurse your baby, your body will sense his increased demand and respond by stepping up milk production accordingly.
During pregnancy, the breast size would increase, but when your milk flow settles in, that is going to make a massive difference in your breast size. .
8. The letdown tingle during production progress
The letdown tingle would happen when milk production progress, you would know when yellowish milk becomes white, appears thinner and clearer.
Another sign is; the baby would be making more obvious and gulping noises, and they may seem more calm and busy.
Every mom would have that tingling sensation, although not the same for everyone when milk production increases and breasts become more fuller.
9. Alleviating the discomfort of engorgement
When milk production starts,
fullness from breastmilk often called engorgement. It means full to the
capacity of being painful.
The discomfort is something new for first-time breastfeeding moms. As the days progress, things will get better.
Do you want to exclusively breastfeed? then you need pumping Class by Stacey. Stacey is a lactation educator and helping millions of other moms too.
Effective Ways you can deal with breast engorgement
Frequently nursing your baby may help with breast engorgement.
1. Manual Pumping or electric pumping
Pumping is the best solution if the let-down is pretty quick. Some women happen to overproduce breastmilk. If the letdown is too quick you may notice baby’s gagging a lot.
If you are pumping then there are chances your body is producing more milk. You can pump and store in the freezer in milk storing bags.
3. Breast Massager
Using a breast massager has helped moms significantly. This product is amazing in soothing the clogged milk ducts, improving flow before pumping.
Either you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, using a breast massager before pumping significantly improves milk flow.
What is Mastitis
Mastitis is the breast infection when one of the milk ducts get infected that stores milk. This will cause swollen, red, painful breasts. In a couple of days, you start feeling sick, feverish, very achy in your breast.
You need to start antibiotics
once it is evaluated by the professional health provider.
In the meantime, you can still breastfeed as frequent as every two hours to keep the breasts becoming overly sore.
Please make sure your baby is latched on well every time you breastfeed and try to change the positions.
Also, wearing a well-fitted bra and massaging a breast may help speed up the healing process.
What is Leaking breasts
Every breastfeeding mom must have experienced leaking breasts and for that, you should know: leakage will subside with time. You may experience more leakage with your first child doesn’t mean it is going to be the same with a second one too. This process will take its own time of recovery. Do not stress over it.
Another way you can stop leaking is by putting inward pressure on your breasts by a finger poke. It works like a charm.
Also, pushing back your breasts with closed arms if you are in public, may work most of the time.
Choosing Breast pads
Using breast pads and keep a few in your baby bag if you have leaky breasts most of the time, would help with public exposure of wet shirts.
A nursing bra is going to be super helpful for your whole breastfeeding experience. It is not only going to protect your breast from sagging but also keep them in a good shape.
You need a good fitting bra, not too tight and try to wear it 24/7.
Prefer a comfort and convenience when choosing a bra that you are going to wear 24 hours a day.
It should be easy to use and has flaps to fasten and unfasten.
There is a room of expansion as when the breasts are fuller, it should not be bulging out.
invest in a good nursing bra for a better experience.
Using Haaka – a manual pump
Haakaa is a silicon manual pump, a game-changer for leaking breasts. While nursing from one side, you may notice full milk let down on the other side that is being wasted, and ironically, you cannot nurse baby from both sides at the same time. Therefore, it is very essential to have Haaka manual pump to save your “gold milk” for the next feeding. You can use the one with a lid.
You can save breastmilk for 4 to 6 hours at room temperature and 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator.
Breastfeeding in public
In the US, moms have all the legal rights to breastfeed in public. You may want to use a nursing cover to be more comfortable while breastfeeding in public.
Breastfeeding problems and solutions in a nutshell.
If the breastfeeding battle goes on you may try these solutions.
4. Breast shells for sore and cracked nipples. This will help saving milk from leaking breasts.
5. Tongue-tie is a condition in babies when they are unable to develop a perfect latch because when the tissue under the tongue does not allow the baby’s tongue to form a latch. This may need a doctor’s evaluation so that a minor procedure can be done to solve the issue.
Breastfeeding Position and posture
Once you choose to breastfeed, you should know that a perfect posture plays a vital role in your overall breastfeeding experience, regardless of your birth procedure (vaginal or cesarean).
Elevate baby to your breasts rather than leaning on to your baby. Use pillows for the right amount of support to elevate the baby closer to you. This will help your back and your shoulders stay more relaxed and you would not get tired immediately.
Although these breastfeeding struggles worth so much, still that does not mean you cannot supplement because you will be judged as a bad mom. No, if breastfeeding is taking a toll over your mental health, and giving you more anxiety and stressing you out, you should talk to your doctor about other options like formula or donated breastmilk.
Motherhood is a beautiful journey, yet not so easy to get hold of. When moms give birth, they come across hormones going up and down, postpartum depression, and baby blues.
No matter how you feel emotionally and physically, you have to make it easy for you to take care of a baby and your whole family.
Tips for new moms to make motherhood easy
Motherhood is all about sleepless nights, no shower for days, and sometimes, you cannot even take a pee in peace. You might forget drinking water and the taste of your last meal.
Life seems to be a roller coaster for a short while, your challenges of being a parent are different for every stage so try to keep it easy on yourself. Being a parent is hard, but it shifts your perspective to life altogether and it’s all worth it in the end.
Here are some helpful tips for moms dealing with newborns’ cries, toddlers’ tantrums, or ongoing pregnancy issues to make their motherhood journey easier.
1. DO NOT STRESS
Stress and motherhood go hand-in-hand. Stress is inevitable when you are a parent. But the biggest challenge is how you manage your stress and anxiety with everything else after becoming a mother.
Every mother experiences some tangible and non-tangible burdens. You may find yourself stressing about the baby not latching, or him waking up too often at night and whatnot.
Having said that, these kinds of stressors would do no harm. The best way you can fight such triggers is by educating yourself on what to expect when you become a mom. There is no rule fit for all; every mom has a different parenting experience because not all babies are the same.
Moreover, try to find various groups of moms with similar struggles. Facebook support groups are great in that context and they will never let you feel that you are alone in any of your challenges.
If you are a brand new mom, things will take time to get sane.
Well, bonding with your baby may sound cheesy, but that’s the most important thing to remember. Try to establish a connection with your baby right from the beginning, and try to take care of your baby all by yourself. Accept help for house chores or catching up on your sleep debts – remember, you have the innate sense of understanding your child better than anybody else.
Breastfeeding is the best way to bond with your baby; you will be able to understand your child’s needs and triggers right from the beginning, and you can get your answer to all whys and hows eventually.
Your hands might be full at this point to even think about decluttering, but that’s the best you can give yourself. Stuffing your home with more and more things would increase your stress, you have to maintain and clean up more often, along with taking care of the baby.
If you are pregnant, you should plan what you are going to use with the baby and the rest, just put it on halt. Keep what you need, as in like, REALLY NEED.
Discard what you do not need.
Store what you are going to use in the future.
Sell stuff that could make you money.
Donate if you do not want to use something and it could be beneficial to someone else.
The more you have, the more you have to clean up. Get rid of anything you do not need or whatever causes more stress. Make your space as calm and minimal as much as you possibly can.
Do not get too much baby stuff all at once – more stuff means more clutter and more stress of cleaning up. Embrace the chaos with a minimalistic approach. Buy less to avoid clutter everywhere.
Remember, you have your post-delivery essentials as well, so make sure you have them all nicely organized.
4. Invest in pieces that bring you some kind of mental peace
When you feel stressed out, watch a movie, or listen to some motivational podcasts to distract your mind from worries. Put baby in a stroller or lay her in a bassinet and go for a run around the block.
Wear your baby or put the baby in a stroller; whatever gets you a sense of mental peace.
Getting 4 to 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep is like a dream when you become a mom. Sleep deprivation makes your mind stay awake, and you feel exhausted and frustrated all the time. That’s no fun at all.
Invest in your sleep quality by getting this sound machine, even if you are room sharing or co-sleeping with your baby(kids). I would 100% recommend using the sound machine, as for me, it is a game-changer. We take it everywhere we travel – it’s portable, light-weight and very affordable.
Do not worry if you think you are not going to wake up to baby cries. Trust me, you will!
Having said that, using a sound machine will help your child sleep better, especially if he is a light sleeper. Nevertheless, your sleep quality will improve significantly- you may notice yourself feeling fresh even if you have slept for just 2 hours.
Another biggest favor you would do to yourself as a mom is to accept help for house chores, cooking meals, groceries, or even catching up on sleep. Believe it or not, you feel lucky if you have help from family and friends.
If you do not have anyone around to offer help, you can hire someone. Chores can wait if you cannot afford to pay.
7. Unwind whenever you can
Take time to unwind; even if that is 5 minutes for yourself. Experts advise sleeping when your baby sleeps. This is a perfect idea when you are sleep deprived, especially for the first 6 weeks when you are likely to get into postpartum depression or have negative thoughts about hurting yourself or the baby.
However, you still need to focus on the baby, even if you are emotionally and physically exhausted. You are not too much sleep-deprived, rather you feel more rusted on a mental level. Take some time to unwind at night. When your baby sleeps, you have some golden time to enjoy for yourself only.
Take a walk alone for 5 minutes alone if you can have someone watch your baby. Otherwise, you can always take your baby along. Sit in a car, put on loud music, relax and come back. You do not have to leave your driveway to get a few moments for yourself.
8. Go for a Walk and try to stay active
Healthy eating and an active lifestyle, along with breastfeeding, would help to lose all that post-baby weight. Either you have C-section delivery or vaginal delivery, the best approach is staying active to heal better and faster.
9. Eat healthily and do not forget taking your vitamins
New moms hardly get time to eat healthy, as they are busy adjusting to the baby’s schedule. However, eating healthy food would keep you energized, whether you are breastfeeding or not.
Moreover, do not skip taking your vitamins every day because YOU NEED them. Lack of nutrition could be one of the causes of postpartum depression and baby blues.
Babies love routine and so do your other family members. Try to establish a rock-solid routine for your baby; however, you may have to keep bedtime, bathtime, feeding times, and playtime a little flexible for newborns. As your child grows, he would be on a proper schedule; you can have ample time to figure some side hustles or work-from-home options.
12. Be ready for sick days
Babies tend to get sick during the first year after birth. Having a medicine kit ready for babies beforehand would save you sanity when the baby gets sick.
Nursing bras don’t have to be ugly. Buy some cool nursing bras, pretty looking outfits (that don’t have to be fancy), dry shampoo if you can’t shower for days, and massage your skin with organic oils, as hormones can make your skin dry.
Applying grapeseed oil on your body after a bath, along with your moisturizing lotion, actually helps with skin texture and suppleness. You can find grapeseed oil in the baking section of your grocery store. It has absolutely no smell or stickiness; indeed an amazing product to try.
14. Do not waste money on fancy clothing
When your baby is small, you hardly get a chance to wear fancy clothing- thanks to breastfeeding and post-baby weight. Try not to buy too many expensive clothes that might go to waste.
Use paper plates and disposable cutlery, so you don’t have to worry about loading the dishwasher. Order food if you can’t cook with a fussy baby.
On regular days, instant pot and air fryer are your best friends. The best part of using smart products for cooking is that you don’t have to stand next to them, stirring the pot. Set the timer, and your meal is ready.
I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.
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I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.