Breastfeeding: Notes From a Real Mom By Brie Latini • If you can, invest in a few good nursing bras and tanks. I tried to be cheap and buy the inexpensive ones. It did not turn our well. Quality pieces will last the duration of your breastfeeding experience and can even be passed on to another mom after! • When you have a newborn, everyone wants to help! If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family who can offer an extra set of hands, take them up on it! As a nursing mother, all of the feeding will be in your hands (…and boobs). Take your breaks when you can get them. • Enjoy the time with your baby while you are nursing. It is an opportunity to bond and to be close to your infant uninterrupted. • That said, sometimes it can be a little lonely to spend time with someone who doesn’t speak. You will spend a lot of time nursing, and a lot of time bonding. It’s okay to use some of the time to catch up on your DVR’ed episodes of “Scandal” or read a book.
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hen we found out I was pregnant with my son, I knew immediately that we would choose breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and widely considered the “best” feeding choice for infants and toddlers. There would be a minimal amount of bottles to fill, wash, and pack. As long as my body cooperated, we would never run out, eliminating the need for a late-night run to the store for formula. Happily, we were able to nurse successfully, but it was a tough start while we both tried to figure out what we were doing! During that time, I reached out to anyone I could for advice, and found that the most useful information came from other nursing mothers. Here’s a list of the ten best tips I received: • Watch out for flailing baby hands because if one of those flying fists of death happens to get a grip on your milky bits, it will bring 16 | Nov/Dec 2018
tears to your eyes! Try looking online for nursing or teething jewelry, which can help keep the hands of your little one occupied while you nurse. • If you plan of going back to work and do not want to wear your little one, speak with your employer before you go out on maternity leave. Make sure there are clear expectations concerning how often you will need a break to pump, if there is a place to store your collected breast milk, and if there is a clean, comfortable, private place to pump. “The Milk Memos” by Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette is a fantastic read for any working, breastfeeding mama! • Speaking of pumping, if you plan on utilizing a breast pump, do some research. If you only plan on pumping occasionally, you may not need the same heavy-duty pump as someone who will pump several times a day. Read reviews, ask other nursing mothers, and choose a pump based on your needs. This may not be the trendiest or most expensive pump.
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• While you are still in the hospital, utilize the services of a lactation consultant, and ask for a list of support services to use when you are home. Consider joining the La Leche League, an organization that promotes breast feeding and offers support to nursing mothers. • Be sure to take care of yourself. Keeping another human alive with your body is serious work. Do your best to eat well, stay hydrated, and be rested. • My last bit of advice is the most importanttry to stay relaxed! While I was pregnant, I stressed myself out, worrying that breast feeding might not work out. I was very lucky- after a few days, my son and I took to nursing like champs. But, had it not worked out, I would have been upset. It can be so easy to lose your mind trying to be a “perfect” mother, but is a mother who nurses better than a mother who formula feeds? Nope. Feeding your baby in a manner that works for you and leaves your baby full and healthy is the most important thing. There are any number of great choice to make when it comes to raising your children. Pick the ones that work and go! www.southjerseymom.com