I Want to Breastfeed, Now What?

Whether you plan to breastfeed exclusively, or breastfeed and supplement with formula, the reality of making a plan is that, just like in labor and delivery, things may not go the way you want them to. Learning as much as possible about breastfeeding will help you be as prepared as possible when baby finally arrives. While there isn’t a secret formula to a seamless breastfeeding experience, we’ve found following these simple “rules” can help (a lot!).

No. 1: Tell Yourself Pressure Has No Place Here, and Repeat

Let us know if this sounds familiar: “Can you believe she didn’t breastfeed?” “Can you believe she only breastfed for two months?” “Can you believe she breastfed for over a year?” How can anyone win?

The expectations people thrust on you about breastfeeding can make you feel like a failure before you’ve even begun! And this tends to be nothing compared to the expectations we place on ourselves. That stranger on the street who told you “breast is best” won’t be doing those 3 AM feedings, so what he or she thinks really doesn’t matter. Do yourself a gigantic favor and don’t feel guilty about the choices you make. Whether you breastfeed exclusively, supplement with formula, or go straight to formula, the decision is yours alone, based on the needs of your unique experience.

No. 2: Realize It’s Going to Be a Pain in the Boob

Ok, ladies, we’re going to give it to you straight. There’s a common misconception that because breastfeeding is a natural process, it should follow that you’ll figure it out quickly and it’ll be effortless right away. The truth is, when baby latches to your breast, the first 30 to 60 seconds are pretty uncomfortable. Throw in chapped nipples, and you may begin to wonder why anyone opts in for this. What you need to know is you can get help for these things (see rule no. 3), and the discomfort won’t last forever. Your success with breastfeeding will depend on whether you get to the point where the pain is lessening.

How long does it take for breastfeeding to feel effortless? Just about two months. We know, that sounds like a long time. But it gets better and better every day and for some lucky people sooner than that.

No. 3: Keep an Expert on Speed Dial

There is one certainty when it comes to breastfeeding, says Rosie: you just don’t know how it’s going to go before you do it. Taking classes beforehand, and reading books on the subject will help you wrap your head around the basics, as well as what some of the common obstacles are (a poor latch, engorgement, supply and chapped nipples to name some) and how to avoid them. But the very best thing you can do for yourself is put a support network in place ahead of time so that if you do need help, you’ll be able to get it quickly.

While hospitals have lactation consultants, we believe it’s worth seeing your own after having your baby if you can find someone you really like. Find one before your due date and keep them on-call for the big day. Knowing that person will come to your room 24 hours after delivery to help you over and/or avoid any hurdles can be a really reassuring thing. To find a lactation consultant whose philosophy best works for you, ask friends and get references. If one you like can’t make a trip to the hospital, ask if you can Skype or FaceTime.

No. 4: Stock Up on the Essentials

Say hello to your breasts’ new best friends:

• Good nursing bras
• Nursing pads
• Soothing Nipple Cream like Lanolin (enough that you can apply liberally and repeat)
• A breast pump (you can rent a hospital grade pump on a month-by-month basis if you want to see how it goes), get one through your health Insurance or purchase one,  in case baby struggles to take the boob, you can’t be there to breast feed all the time, someone else is going to do one or a few of the feedings, your nipples need a little break, help with supply or you want to stockpile a milk supply.
• And don’t forget, Collustrum that first comes out before milk is great at helping sooth nipples in those early hours and days.  Nature’s very own remedy!

Take a deeper dive into the breastfeeding experience with our post on breastfeeding tips and pitfalls , and a conversation with Rosie on five common booby traps.