Breastfeeding for Beginners

Posted by  in Monday, June 28th 2010   
Topics: Breast Feeding
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5 Comments
Breastfeeding for Beginners

Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful and most natural things you, as a women, can do, yet no one really tells you of the struggles ahead. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions and while many are glorious, it really helps to talk about the issues on breastfeeding with other women, so you are prepared and ready for this exciting and challenging time ahead.

As a business owner I have struggled with balancing working and breastfeeding but I am very pleased to have been able to successfully breastfeed all three of my beautiful daughters. However, I also totally appreciate how hard it can be with issues ranging from a lack of milk supply, to incorrect positioning, sore nipples, flat nipples and mastitis to name a few. Yet the benefits of breastfeeding are so important. Not only are you providing your baby the perfect mix of nutrients but you are also sharing the antibodies of your own immune system with your baby, who as yet has none of their own, thus helping them to stay healthy and strong and giving them the best start possible.

With my first child I definitely found it the hardest. We had to go home from hospital on the day my daughter Aria was born, due to the crowded hospital situation, something I was happy about initially as I was so tired and I just wanted peace and quiet. But without that expert help to ensure I was putting my baby on the breast properly, things quickly deteriorated. I didn’t really have any idea about whether I was meant to feed from one breast then the other, or was it just from one side per feed, and then swap at the next feed. Every book had a different answer. Then my breasts hurt so much, it got to the stage I would cry if my husband would tell me my baby needed to feed. The pain of her latching on was so horrible, and the after pains were so intense I felt like I was in labour all over again. Day four was the day I wanted to give up, it was ten o’clock at night and I had to send my husband out to get those plastic nipple protectors just to get through the next feed. To be honest, I don’t really think they helped me physically, but mentally they did help me get through that night, and the next day it was a little bit better, then the next a little more. It actually took six weeks for it to stop hurting completely, which sounds like an eternity, but time passes quickly.

Choosing the right breastfeeding bra is important too, not only for fit but also for ‘feel-good factor!’. Spoiling oneself with sexy new lingerie can really brighten a woman’s day and can actually give you more confidence and a more positive outlook; all essential in this complex time in your life. But sexiness aside, a good breastfeeding bra has specific requirements too. Look for a bra that :
- Fits well and offers support while still allowing room to move
- Has cotton lining which allows the breast tissue to breathe
and
- One without a harsh seam running across the nipple (yeow!)
- Also strongly recommended is a soft cup bra as an underwire can apply too much pressure to the milk ducts, therefore further increasing the risk of problems arising.

I now have three beautiful daughters and I was fortunate to be able to breastfeed them all. Second and third time around was so much easier. I won’t say it was all smooth sailing, but it really was a great deal easier and this gave me the time to really enjoy the experience and the wonderful closeness it creates with you and your child. I actually found it quite hard to stop with my third child as it was just such a wonderful bond.

The main advice I would offer to people is simply to ask for help. Ask the nurse or midwife to come and check out how you are positioning your baby etc. People are there to help, we just need not be afraid to ask. As rewarding it can be, breastfeeding can also be a tough time in your life, but not one you need to go through alone.

Watch the video related to bra breastfeeding

The Cozy Bra is great for athletes but very handy and comfortable for breast feeding moms too!

Help answer the question about bra breastfeeding

will your breast look ugly if you dont use bra when breastfeeding?
I`m breasfeeding my 4 mth old now and I used to breastfeed all my three children before for around 2 years each.
I use bra everyday, even at night.

Now, I hear that if you dont use bra while breastfeeding, your child will get your whole milk and become full each time you feed him. Then there is no need of frequent feeding like most of breastfeed baby does.

But I`ve seen country people who breastfeed their children and did not use bra all the time, their breast become big until it reaches their stomach.

Any idea about this?

About Author

Lisa Ebbing -
About the Author:

Lisa Ebbing is a director and cofounder of international maternity lingerie sensation – HOTmilk Lingerie.
It was the birth of Lisa’s first child that inspired her with the belief young mothers deserved a better choice than the unexciting lingerie offered by mainstream brands and so HOTmilk Lingerie too was born. http://www.hotmilklingerie.co.nz/

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5 users responded to this post

newmommyof1 said in June 28th, 2010 at 9:18 am    

it is a good idea to pump while you are on maternity leave in order to build up your supply. I would start this process after your milk comes in. You will have more than enough milk to feed your baby, so what i would do is after you feed your baby about 10 minutes minimum on both sides…then pump to get whats left. this way you will keep you supply up so you can pump and build up a supply. After you return to work you should pump every 2 hours..and your employer should allow you a 15 minute break every 2 hours.

Jess said in June 28th, 2010 at 9:36 am    

You shouldn't feel as though you are giving one child better treatment than the other. Firstly, you did the bext you could with the first child and you will do the best you can with this child. Secondly, you did give your firstborn breastmilk — good for you! Pumping isn't easy.

My best advice for you is to talk with the lactation consultant at the hospital. They will usually make time to come and talk to you at least once while you are still in the hospital and they are generally available by phone around the clock.

I breastfed all my babies, but I actually had the hardest time with our second child. Even though I had breastfed before, our second baby was jaundiced at birth which created its own problems for breastfeeding. I called the lactation consultant several times and went in a couple times to her office so she could watch me feed and help me out.

After the first couple weeks, baby & I were pros at it.

So, surround yourself with support and you'll do just fine!

Congrats on your second baby!

bH_Mommyx2 said in June 29th, 2010 at 8:42 am    
My_Amira_Will said in June 30th, 2010 at 2:56 pm    

At 42 I can tell you that it gets harder but there are things you can do to boost your metabolism. First of all, the reason why most people are overweight is because of inactivity – not the amount of food eaten (although this does have a large influence). Kids obesity is a reflection of the inactivity revolvign around computers and sitting around watching TV all day. So, exercise and staying active cannot be overstated with regard to weight loss. After 42 years I have FINALLY found a program that works for me specifcally and it consists of the following: 1 – walking 40-50 minutes 4-6 times a week followed by 2 days of LIGHT weight training with high repititions. 2) eating smaller portions. you can still eat what you want but not as much and not the same types of foods all the time; 3) drinking tea instead of cokes everytime i go out to eat – water is great but tea has antixoidents in it; 4) trying not to snack too much at night; 5) drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, mainly water, and avoid drinks with sugars or carbonated beverages; 6) find a friend to go take a walk with whenver you can – it makes it feel less like a work-out; and 7) get plenty of sleep but not too much sleep – most people know what amount is good for them, but the best sleep and rejuvenation comes when people go to bed at the same time each night and wake up the same time each morning. The one thing I strongly suggest with exercise is this: Start slow but make each workout effective. You want feel like you are exerting some effort, enough to sweat but not to the point where you are about to pass out. Build your way up to increased intensity or duration. The biggest t hing for me was finding an activity I could do on a consistent basis that didn't kill me or bore me but that kept me in shape. For me this is walking. Some days I walk faster than others or longer than others and some days I don't feel like going anymore than 15 minutes. Listen to your body and don't force it. I used to be a runner and felt as if I had to run 5 miles everyday. That's pretty unrealistic and I hated it because some days 5 miles felt more like 10. Its wear and tear on your body when you force it and then easier to give up altogether. So make sure you find somethign that you at least semi-like.

Confused said in July 1st, 2010 at 12:30 am    

EXCECISE PLAN

10 situps
10 V-ups (Touch your hands to your toes, but crunch your body so that they meet midway in the air)
10 lemon squeezers (Position yourself sitting up, put hands at side, and move your torso back into a laying position while extending your legs straight ahead. Now just row your legs to a bend while crunching toward them w/ your torso, then go back to laying position. repeat process)
10 back hypers (lay on stomach, basically a reverse cruncher)
10 Leg lifts (Lay on back, lift straight legs to 45 degree angle, then bring back to ground)
30 seconds of bicycles (Lay on ground, and mimick a bicycle pedal motion w/ your legs)
10 side crunchers each side
10 regular crunchers
30 seconds of flutter kicks (Lay on back, keep both legs straight. Lift them up bairly, now alternate between raising each leg a little bit and brining it back down. This one is tought at first, but after a week it will be easy. Try to think of being a swimmer while doing this one)
10 kick ups (Lay down, bring knees up toward chest, then kick legs upward to become straight in the air.)
10 side double leg lifts (Hard to explain, basically lay on side, and lift both legs simultaneously as high as you can. Will feel weird at first)
10 Scissor Kicks (Lay on back, spread leags apart in air, bring them back to center with one leg above the other, then alternate to mimick a scissor kicking action)
Finish with a bridge for however long you think you can do it.

Once this routine becomes easy, don't up the reps, just do the whole routine twice. I have sick abs and this is basically what I do (Left a few out for explanation's sake)

Then also do your run at night. Cut excessive fat out of your diet, but you can have a little still.

Do it and you will have some abs.

MOST EFFECTIVE IS Squats and lunges
3 sets of 15 each every day.

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