Breastfeeding: 5 Things To Know Before You Start

As women, breastfeeding is so important. Our bodies produce the perfect type of milk for our babies to thrive in today's environment. Our breast milk doesn't include any of the additives, preservatives or added sugar that formula has, all of which sets baby up for bad eating habits and digestive issues early on. Breastfeeding allows your baby's immune system to strengthen with the help of yours. Anything that you eat, baby gets those nutrients as well. This is the most important considering the high infant mortality rate within the black community. According to a 2008 CDC report, only 58%

of black women chose to breastfeed compared to 75% of white women. There can be so many reasons why many of us choose not to breastfeed or simply cannot breastfeed. One of the major reasons is simply because it is not easy. Breastfeeding can be a huge life change. Not only does it hurt at first, it restricts what you can & cannot eat, and when you can & cannot sleep.

I talked to almost every mother in my family to get advice about motherhood and childbirth and shared questions and concerns with my pregnant peers. I received advice about everything except breastfeeding. This was probably because nobody in my family ever exclusively breastfed. We were all formula babies. When the time came for me to have my son I was prepared in almost every way. I successfully eliminated any fear and felt like I was in complete control of my childbirth until he actually came out and I had to feed him.

There was never a thought about whether I was breastfeeding or not. I just knew I was going to have an exclusively breastfed baby and everything would be smooth sailing. I figured the only real trouble I would have would be getting little to no sleep, but I was so wrong. I honestly felt like nobody (not even myself) prepared me for the other aspects of breastfeeding. So here are some things I wish I would have known before hand and I hope they are a big help to you.

1.) Invest in a nipple cream

I was not prepared for my nipples to have to get use to the constant pressure of breastfeeding. After the first two days I had sore, cracked and cut nipples. I didn't know how I was going to keep breastfeeding with the amount of pain I was in but my nurse told me about using a nipple cream. She suggested Lanolin which worked really well until I looked up the ingredients and found out that it wasn't vegan. I switched over to using coconut oil because of it's antibacterial properties and because I had a lot of it already. I feel like the more moisturized I kept my nipples the better they felt. What I didn't know was that breastfeeding would become easier after the first month or two. After the second month my nipples have adjusted, my milk production has normalized and it's a breeze!

2.) Be prepared for let-down and leaking

Let down refers to the milk in your breast actually coming down to be made available to baby. I was caught off guard by this because my let down is pretty painful. It feels like Charley horses in my boobs and then as soon as the Charley horse feeling subsides my boobs start to leak. At first I thought I had some sort of infection when this happened but after doing some research I learned that a painful let down is common in lots of mothers. I somewhat appreciate it because it is a signal that I am about to start leaking. Being prepared for leaking is essential. I wake up some mornings drenched in milk. Before I got the hang of things I had no control of my milk. I would have to wash my sheets every day because I would wake up in puddles of milk and I was scared to go out because I wasn't sure if my breast pads would stand the test of my leaking breasts. For this I would say invest of some good breast pads and change them frequently to prevent a yeast infection of the nipples.

3.) Beware of clogged milk ducts

After about two weeks of breastfeeding I thought I was getting the hang of things until I found a large lump and lots of little small lumps all in the same breast. My breast was as hard as a rock and sore to touch. No matter how long I pumped or fed my son it never emptied. Once again, I

thought I was dying before doing my research. I found out that I had a clogged milk duct and learned the ways to relieve it. It is important to relieve clogged ducts as soon as possible because they can lead to fever or even mastitis (an infection of breast tissue which causes flu like symptoms). I took long hot showers, constantly massaged the lumps and used a heating pad before breastfeeding all to try to help my ducts dilate. After 24 hours of this the clogged ducts opened up and my breast went back to normal.

4.) Stay Hydrated & Eat Well

The actual act of breastfeeding made me extremely thirsty. I made sure to have a large cup of water right beside me. It makes sense because your body will need extra fluid and fuel to pump out high quality milk. It's important to eat well too because whatever you eat effects your breast milk and then effects your baby. Be aware that some foods contribute to eczema, constipation and gas in babies. Experiment with adding or subtracting certain things to and from your diet to see what works best for you and your baby. If you find yourself with a low milk supply increase your water intake and eat foods high in iron, such as oatmeal. I personally drink a liter of coconut water when my milk supply is low and by the next morning I am overflowing again.

5.) Have a breast pump ready

When my nipples were too sore to actually feed my son the breast pump came in handy. It allowed my to give my nipples a break, empty my boobs some and be able to still have food for him while I healed. You can also get a free breast pump sent right to your house through most insurance plans. During the first three months I used an electric pump. Once I bought a manual pump my life changed for the better. I was able to pump anywhere easily and store right away. I had a Lansinoh hand pump.

If I would have known these five things before beginning my breastfeeding journey the first weeks with baby would have been so much easier. However, now that my baby is 7 weeks old I have gotten the hang of things. My confidence with breastfeeding is through the roof. Just remember that no matter how hard it may seem at first (and trust me it can get hard) practice makes perfect and your body was literally made for this. Congratulations on choosing the best form of nutrition for your baby. Be encouraged!

Here are some inspiring Instagram pages that helped me on my journey and I hope will be of assistance to you!

@blackmomsbreastfeed

@laceinne

@jennpinto

@herholisticpath

Happy Breastfeeding mamas!

Photo cred: http://www.scarymommy.com/black-breastfeeding-week-is-crucial/

https://lansinoh.co.uk/engorgement-blocked-ducts-and-mastitis/