It's a challenge to get set with your baby and breast feeding. It would be challenging, at times frustrating, and sometimes painful in the beginning.
To begin with, you need to get a comfortable position for you and your baby. You'll need pillows and a place to sit comfortably.
Initially, if your milk flow isn't enough, do talk to your doctor about it, especially the paediatrician to ensure that your baby is getting enough feed. You may need to give top feed for that. Don't feel shy or guilty about it. There are millions of ladies whose milk flow isn't enough for the baby due to various reasons. If you keep feeling shy, your baby will end up being underweight, cranky, and will in turn make your life miserable.
One of the issues that may arise if your milk flow isn't enough is nipple injuries. Your baby might suckle too hard making your nipples sore. If that happens, use nipple covers. Unfortunately, the doctor in the hospital who was helping me with breast feeding did not tell me about it. But one of my sister's friend suggested and it was a great boon for me. Once your baby starts getting enough flow and gets used to suckling properly, you may discard the nipple covers.
Your breasts will start leaking probably since before delivery. But after delivery, definitely for a few weeks they will leak. Use breast pads. You can get good reusable (cotton) pads or even disposable ones. Both are easily available in shops and even online.
In the hospital, the doctors usually tell that feed your baby every two hours. Although it might be true almost always, I really don't know whether babies do get up every two hours for the feed. Some babies, like mine, don't get up every two hours. It is also very tiring to wake them. In such cases, do not worry. I believe that most babies will get up when they are hungry. My doctor eased my concern saying that we should remember the "feed on demand" mantra for the babies. That way it makes their and our lives easy.
Obviously, you have to get up at nights too for feeding. Try and learn the lying down position for feeding. That will help you feed the baby at night while lying on the bed. It will give you the much needed rest for your back and you can also drift off to sleep while your baby enjoys its midnight snack.
Use enough pillows to ensure that your back is supported at all times when you are feeding. Some babies take a long time for feeding and that could mean a stiff back.
You should also be prepared with a few nursing clothes: feeding bras and feeding tops. Feeding tops are any tops that have a front opening, a comfortable opening in the front. Some of the tops I have seen have so small openings that it's really uncomfortable nursing the baby. As one of the items in your preparation before delivery, ensure that you buy at least two such tops. You'll need them when you have to visit the gynaec and the paediatrician after the delivery.
Feeding bras are really uncomfortable. At least I haven't come across a good feeding bra. And in the summer months, they are really too thick to use. But you generally have no choice. Get at least three feeding bras.
You will take some time getting used to your baby suckling at your breast. The first time is a strange feeling. But later you get used to it. If you are a bookworm, no better time to read a book than when you are nursing your baby. As your baby grows, it will start making noises and start responding to you even as it suckles. It's really funny! Some babies like mine are really chatty and make constant cooing sounds to show their excitement and satisfaction as they suckle.
All in all, breast feeding needs to be made a good experience for the baby as well as the mother. Otherwise it's a terrifying experience for both. Do relax and enjoy this time.
To begin with, you need to get a comfortable position for you and your baby. You'll need pillows and a place to sit comfortably.
Initially, if your milk flow isn't enough, do talk to your doctor about it, especially the paediatrician to ensure that your baby is getting enough feed. You may need to give top feed for that. Don't feel shy or guilty about it. There are millions of ladies whose milk flow isn't enough for the baby due to various reasons. If you keep feeling shy, your baby will end up being underweight, cranky, and will in turn make your life miserable.
One of the issues that may arise if your milk flow isn't enough is nipple injuries. Your baby might suckle too hard making your nipples sore. If that happens, use nipple covers. Unfortunately, the doctor in the hospital who was helping me with breast feeding did not tell me about it. But one of my sister's friend suggested and it was a great boon for me. Once your baby starts getting enough flow and gets used to suckling properly, you may discard the nipple covers.
Your breasts will start leaking probably since before delivery. But after delivery, definitely for a few weeks they will leak. Use breast pads. You can get good reusable (cotton) pads or even disposable ones. Both are easily available in shops and even online.
In the hospital, the doctors usually tell that feed your baby every two hours. Although it might be true almost always, I really don't know whether babies do get up every two hours for the feed. Some babies, like mine, don't get up every two hours. It is also very tiring to wake them. In such cases, do not worry. I believe that most babies will get up when they are hungry. My doctor eased my concern saying that we should remember the "feed on demand" mantra for the babies. That way it makes their and our lives easy.
Obviously, you have to get up at nights too for feeding. Try and learn the lying down position for feeding. That will help you feed the baby at night while lying on the bed. It will give you the much needed rest for your back and you can also drift off to sleep while your baby enjoys its midnight snack.
Use enough pillows to ensure that your back is supported at all times when you are feeding. Some babies take a long time for feeding and that could mean a stiff back.
You should also be prepared with a few nursing clothes: feeding bras and feeding tops. Feeding tops are any tops that have a front opening, a comfortable opening in the front. Some of the tops I have seen have so small openings that it's really uncomfortable nursing the baby. As one of the items in your preparation before delivery, ensure that you buy at least two such tops. You'll need them when you have to visit the gynaec and the paediatrician after the delivery.
Feeding bras are really uncomfortable. At least I haven't come across a good feeding bra. And in the summer months, they are really too thick to use. But you generally have no choice. Get at least three feeding bras.
You will take some time getting used to your baby suckling at your breast. The first time is a strange feeling. But later you get used to it. If you are a bookworm, no better time to read a book than when you are nursing your baby. As your baby grows, it will start making noises and start responding to you even as it suckles. It's really funny! Some babies like mine are really chatty and make constant cooing sounds to show their excitement and satisfaction as they suckle.
All in all, breast feeding needs to be made a good experience for the baby as well as the mother. Otherwise it's a terrifying experience for both. Do relax and enjoy this time.
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