Ready to Give Up on Breastfeeding? Read these Tips First!

You’ve done all the research, read all the books – and you know all the reasons why “breast is best.” You dream of bonding with your precious one, gazing into each other’s eyes in wonderment – as she gets all the sustenance she needs from you alone. You imagine yourself happy and fulfilled as a mother, knowing you are giving your child the best possible start to a healthy life. Surely you know of other mothers who nursed their little ones for 6 months, 12 months, and even 2-3 years. There is no reason you can conceive for why you would not do the same. After all, you owe it to your baby and to yourself – right? This is going to be an amazing experience!

Then comes that little wake-up call in the form of a squirmy, screaming 8-lb little person. You never knew a love so strong and that runs so deep could even exist. The feelings are so intense it’s as if you are holding your very own heart in your arms. You were right – it is amazing beyond words! You get settled into your hospital bed, and finally it’s time to feed your precious baby. But, things aren’t exactly as you dreamed they would be…

There are varying reasons why so many moms feel like giving up, and sending their husband to Sam’s Club for a big jar of formula within the first 6-8 weeks of bringing home baby. They just weren’t prepared for the obstacles they would face in the early weeks of breastfeeding, and they are miserable. They are exhausted and feel like all they do is nurse. Their nipples are cracked, breasts are swollen, and nursing is so painful they don’t think they can take another minute of it.

Below are 6 tips for breastfeeding success. Don’t give up on your dreams of nursing bliss, it can still happen!

1) Make yourself comfortable. If you can – set up a special nursing area with a comfy chair, pillows, your Boppy, a stool to prop your feet on, your favorite magazine or the TV remote, and a bottle of water.

2) Make sure baby is latched on properly. This is the most important tip for breastfeeding success. The best way to be certain you are getting a good latch-on is to schedule an appointment with a lactation consultant, or attend a local La Leche League meeting – where someone can actually show you the proper latch, rather than just tell you.

It is just as important for baby to be comfortable as it for mom. So, bring him up to the level of your breast using pillows or a Boppy. Rule #1 for breastfeeding – baby comes to the breast, not breast to the baby. This will help save you from a sore back and sore, bleeding nipples.

Cradle baby in your arm so that his neck rests in the bend of your elbow, his back along your forearm and his bottom in your hand. Turn him on his side, so that you are tummy to tummy and pull him in close to you. His head should be aligned with the rest of his body. Baby should not have to strain at all or turn his head to reach your nipple.

Cup your breast in your hand, four fingers underneath and thumb on top. When the nipple touches his lips, he will open his mouth wide. You want to get your nipple into his mouth when it is opened to it’s widest point, to make sure he is not just sucking on the tip of your nipple. As he is latching on, pull him to you – don’t lean in to him. If he latches on to just the tip, take him off and try again.

Once latched on, baby’s lips should each be turned out like a fish. If they are pulled in, just gently pull them out with your finger.

3) Take care of yourself. It is just as important to take care of yourself while nursing as it was while you were pregnant. Remember that everything you take into your body comes out in your breast milk, and remember to keep taking your prenatal vitamins. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, this will help keep your milk supply up and keep you from feeling sluggish. You need your mind and body to be more alert than ever! Limit your caffeine intake, just as you did during pregnancy, unless you want a fussy and sleepless baby! Do what you can to get as much rest as possible, even if it’s in ten-minute increments here and there. Being well rested, eating right, and drinking plenty of water will help you to stay energized and will help to keep you from getting breast infections.

4) Don’t use a bottle or pacifier for the first 4 weeks. Your baby uses two different sucking motions to nurse and to suck on a bottle or pacifier. When you switch between the two during the first few weeks of breastfeeding, your baby can become confused and your nipples will pay the consequences! Daddy and grandma can still get lots of cuddle time in when the baby isn’t hungry, no matter how badly they want to give her a bottle don’t let them.

5) Don’t let yourself suffer. There are several products out there to help you through the pain of cracked nipples, engorged breasts and infections. One must- have for every breastfeeding mother is Lansinoh Cream. When your nipples are cracked and bleeding, keep a thick layer of Lansinoh on them. It is perfectly safe for your baby to ingest, and will soothe and heal your nipples. When your breasts are engorged, or you have a clogged milk duct the best thing you can do is nurse your baby or use a breast pump. Warm washcloths or a hot shower also help to soothe your breasts, and get the milk flowing. If you can’t find any relief on your own – then ask for help! It could be an infection that requires antibiotics. Your lactation consultant or OB/GYN can determine what the problem is, and help you to get it cleared up.

6) Don’t Give Up! If you can hang in there for the first 6 weeks, you will have made it past the most difficult phase. It does get better! You will be able to relax and enjoy your nursing baby just like you dreamed. And remember that you are not alone – there is a huge network of moms going through the same things you are. Simply do an online search for “breastfeeding moms” and you will find several online message boards. Also check out www.lalecheleague.org for a list of local support groups near you.