Things moms wish they knew before breastfeeding:
No tool you can buy beats the support of those around you.
There are so many breastfeeding gadgets on the market it can be overwhelming. The truth is, you may not need very many of them to have a successful breastfeeding journey with your baby. The biggest thing you need is your baby, a good latch, and those around you being supportive of your choice to breastfeed. Breastfeeding may come easily, you may need some practice, or you may need a lot of support. There may be great days where the baby latches easily and some days where you need to work a little harder to get a comfortable and effective latch. The people you surround yourself with should be supportive on both types of days. One harder day, or even multiple hard days, doesn't mean you should give up. Your support system should be encouraging and loving during your breastfeeding journey.
There may be some discomfort but breastfeeding shouldn't be painful.
You and your baby are both learning how to breastfeed, which means it may take some practice to get things right! An effective and deep latch should not be painful. While things may be uncomfortable for a bit (you are having your nipples stimulated and sucked on very often) it shouldn't be extremely painful. If you are in constant pain that you don't want to continue to breastfeed, it's time to call a Lactation Consultant to check everything out.
Use a Haakaa.
If you haven't heard of a Haakaa, it’s time to hit that google search! This device attaches to the opposite breast of the one being used to nurse. It catches any let down from the other breast and collects all the extra milk. This can be used for a feeding later with a bottle or to start working on that extra stash!
How much you would need to eat and drink while breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding alone uses about 500-700 calories a day to keep up your supply. This means that you will be hungry and that is a good thing! You want to be taking in nutritious foods that provide plenty of calories, you are making a full supply of meals for another little human. That is hard work! Healthy meals and plenty of snacks will help you keep up your energy. On another note, you want to stay very hydrated as well. Keep water with you as much as possible. *a good rule of thumb, if baby is eating, you should be eating/drinking.
