The BASICS of Breastfeeding: What We Want All of Our Clients to Know
It’s World Breastfeeding Week! Yay! Originally started as a public awareness campaign, this is a week designed to inform and engage people on breastfeeding related issues, as well as celebrate those breastfeeding wins.
We understand that the decision how to feed your baby is a deeply personal one - only you know what is best for your family - but if that choice involves breastfeeding, for any amount of time, we want you to know the B.A.S.I.C.S.
So what are the B.A.S.I.C.S?
Be Patient
Establishing breastfeeding is hard work. You might have heard how “natural” breastfeeding is, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally. If we’re comparing things that come naturally, breastfeeding would be closer to walking, than to breathing.
When we’re learning to walk, we stumble, we fall, we try and try again, and it takes a lot of time to get comfortable with it. Breastfeeding is the same.
So be patient with yourself and with your new baby - you are both learning a brand new skill.
If the latch is shallow or painful, break the latch and try again. If baby is getting upset, take a few deep breaths and offer comfort or hand baby off to your partner to do a little comforting before trying again. Approach each feeding as more practice and remember - practice makes perfect.
Affirmations
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying: mind over matter. Having a positive mindset is so important when it comes to getting breastfeeding started. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated - you’re not sleeping very much, you’re putting a baby to the breast all.the.time, and you’re not even sure if you’re doing things right.
So prepare some positive affirmations that you can tell yourself before you sit down for each feeding.
I believe in my body’s ability to make milk for my baby
I will teach my baby the skills they need to learn how to breastfeed
I am providing comfort, soothing, and nourishment to my baby
I am doing the best that I can to feed my baby
No matter what affirmations you tell yourself, just remember to be kind to yourself. We know that plants grow better with sunlight, water, and kind words. Imagine how well you could do if you treated yourself the same way.
Soothe Your Breasts
Be prepared for some soreness and uncomfortable-ness as your body adjusts to this new functionality. Sore nipples can be very common as you adjust baby’s latch and continue to work on a nice, deep latch. (Toe-curling nipple pain and damage, on the other hand, is not normal and is something you should definitely reach out to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for help with.) As your milk transitions from colostrum to mature milk, it is also common to struggle with engorgement, which can be painful at times.
Have a nipple balm or cream on hand to soothe sore nipples. Even something like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil can be comforting for sore nipples.
Alternating hot and cold compresses can also be soothing for sore breasts. A hot compress or gel pad applied for a few minutes before the start of a feed can ease discomfort as well as help get milk flowing. If you find cool to be soothing, a cold compress or ice pack after a feeding is nice.
Information
One of the best things you can do to reach your breastfeeding goals is surround yourself with education, support, and information.
Reading some helpful breastfeeding books can get you off to a great start. One of our favorites is the book Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett. Taking a prenatal breastfeeding or infant feeding class is also a great idea to help you feel prepared for your breastfeeding journey. Doulas of Raleigh’s Infant Feeding 101 Class will teach you everything you need to know to get breastfeeding established, as well as provide you with education on pumping, bottle-feeding, and formula so that if you need to change your original plan, you will have a Plan B or C ready to go. Our Infant Feeding Specialists are also available for private, in-home consults to get you off to the right start.
It’s also smart to have an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (“IBCLC”) lined up before you encounter any feeding difficulties. IBCLCs are the gold standard of lactation support and can identify any breastfeeding issues as well as give you a diagnosis and plan to get your feeding goals back on track. If you’re in the Triangle Area, we highly recommend Nicola Singletary of Harmony Lactation.
And for some other great tips to help you with those early breastfeeding struggles, check out last year’s World Breastfeeding Week blog here.
Comfort
Establishing a milk supply is A LOT of work in the early days and weeks. You will be putting your baby to the breast 8-12 times a day, at a minimum, and that’s a lot of time spent breastfeeding. So make sure you are comfortable!
Find your favorite place in the house and make it your very own nursing spot. It should be a nice, relaxing place like your couch, overstuffed chair, or even your bed. Keep a well-stocked nursing station nearby with plenty of burp clothes, nipple cream, breast pads, and anything else that you would like on hand - snacks, water, your iPad, or some magazines.
You’re going to be spending a lot of time breastfeeding - you should be comfortable!
Serenity
And finally, keep your space and your mindset serene. One of the most important breastfeeding hormones is oxytocin, the love hormone. Your body needs oxytocin flowing freely. What it doesn’t need is stress - those stress hormones can block oxytocin and complicate your breastfeeding journey.
So tune in to what you normally do to relieve stress. Do you listen to guided meditations? Have a favorite candle or aromatherapy? Is there a spot in your house that you find most peaceful? (That should be your “Comfort” spot from above.)
Take a deep breath. Drop your shoulders. Close your eyes and count back from ten slowly. Reduce stress and increase serenity.