Not that i’m an expert, but there are 3 big things I would have to say I highly recommend to any new mom.
#1 – You know your baby best! Thank you, La Leche League, for this wonderful bit of advice that is so true. From the moment your baby is born, YOU know him/her best. You will learn to know his/her habits, patterns, facial expressions, and what they all mean. You are the parent; you decide what is best for your child. Do your own research on baby care, because some of the stuff people tell you isn’t true or comes from poorly done studies (ex: studies on the “dangers of co-sleeping” or what to do about vaccines). So make your own decisions on things like that.
#2 – Commit to being successful at breastfeeding while you are still pregnant. I mean really commit to it. Don’t just say you’re “going to try.” Say you’re going to do it no matter what it takes. And set a time goal, then plan to exceed that goal. For example, I set a goal of at least a year, and I plan on going beyond that. Read books like “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” and attend La Leche League meetings before and after your baby is born.
Yes, your nipples will hurt at first. Mine took about a week to get used to nursing. So when you hear that breastfeeding isn’t supposed to hurt, they mean that if you feel pain in the whole breast, there’s something wrong with the latch-on. I thought the nipple soreness meant we were doing it wrong at first, until my midwife explained that to me. And then I felt a bad latch, so I knew the difference. It may drive you crazy to nurse so much at the beginning, but a little bit of pain on an adult’s part is nothing compared to the benefits of a healthy, happy, content baby.
Oh, and learn to breastfeed while lying down in bed! It is a lifesaver!
Also, see #1 when it comes to other people’s advice on breastfeeding. You will be judged no matter what, it seems. Some people think you’ll be breastfeeding for too long of a time period (even though the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years…) Feed your baby when s/he is hungry. They know when they are hungry, and they will tell you. (The day Patrick was born, he started making mouth movements [which we call Boobie Face] that I knew meant he was hungry, even though I had never seen or read about them before.) You are NOT “spoiling” your baby for either feeding them too often or for too long.
#3 – Make or get a comfortable baby carrier and practice using it all day from the day your baby is born. Wow, I cannot believe how much I’ve gotten done once I started wearing the sling pretty much all day. Yesterday I did YARD WORK with him in the sling. Today I made chili, baked a cake, ate breakfast, and ironed all within a few hours. Before, it would have taken me all day to do that without the sling on! The other thing is that Patrick, like most other babies, are soooo much calmer inside the sling. This morning he was fussing and I put him in it and he pretty much immediately settled down. Oh, and while I’ve been typing this – with BOTH hands, thank you very much, we’ve also been nursing. Huzzah!
Last Monday, Rebecca, Patrick, & I all went to Columbia, MO to see Bowfire on the Mizzou campus. It’s a really great show featuring all different types of violin & fiddle music. Patrick seemed to really get a kick out of all the lights, color, dancing, & music. Rebecca & I loved the show too!
