I have nursed both of my boys one for 2 months and currently nursing my 16 month old. Along both journeys I learned and taught myself quite a bit of information. The proper latching techniques, proper nursing schedules, and so much more. Did you know one breast makes more milk then the other? Neither did I until an IBCLC told me. Their are many different issues that can raise from breastfeeding. Mastitis, clogged duct, oversupply, low supply, etc. Here is a list of tips I found helpful during my journeys.
Lots of skin to skin! Also called the kangaroo hold. Its very soothing for mother and baby to be so close to each other. It helps temperature leveling and bonding.
Pumping before 6 weeks is not good unless absolutely necessary. For example if baby is in NICU then pumping is very beneficial. If you are latching baby then that is good enough to help regulate your supply.
Nurse every 2 to 3 hours during the day and 3 to 4 at night. Manage this type of schedule until baby is at birth right. If not by this schedule then every time baby is rooting. Which sometimes is every 30 minutes which is called cluster feeding. That is what builds your supply. You will seem like your doing nothing but nursing and that's okay.
Check for lip and tongue ties immediately after birth and get them addressed. This can safe so much stress doing this from the beginning. Lip and tongue ties can really hurt a nursing mothers breast. It can lead to crack bleeding nipples, and low weight gain.
Trust your mother instincts and enjoy all the baby cuddles. Time really does go by fast and the late nights will not last long.
If you have any issues contact a lactation consultant, an IBCLC, or a La Leche League leader.
Keep track of weight gain and diaper counts. That is what indicates how your supply is. Not by how full your breast feels.
Normalize breastfeeding because breast were made for feeding of children.
Luke 11:27
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
