I scheduled this post before my baby arrived. If you are reading this while nursing, rest assured that I am also either unsnapping my nursing bra or just snapping it back up. Or maybe feeling too lazy to bother clicking it back in place.
As such, I’ve collected the combined wisdom of many rookie moms to create a nursing cheat sheet for myself. Feel free to use it.
We live in Berkeley where breastfeeding isn’t so much a “choice” or a “lifestyle” but a “requirement.” I can only say that comfortably in hindsight.
I know there are many parts of the world where you feel this same assumption and there are others where the expectation is the opposite. If I remember correctly, Whitney was a breastfed California baby and I was a formula-fed Ohio baby. Of course in the seventies, we probably both had whole milk and even ice cream before we turned one. (And by “remember” I’m going by what my mama told me, not the actual memory of not nursing)
Our experience aside, breastfeeding is a very personal, individual choice. And once you make your decision to do it (or even not to do it), you are likely to face challenges. I’m talking about your milk supply, your modesty, your baby’s knack for nursing (or taking a bottle), your willingness to pump, other people’s support or criticism and on and on.
The most helpful book that guided me on the path to breastfeeding success was The Nursing Mother’s Companion. Between two different nursing babies, I had nearly every obstacle listed (mastitis, infection, blisters, etc.). Each of my dramas was dealt with in a straightforward manner in the book. And I plan to keep it handy again.
Here are several fantastic online breastfeeding resources from our guest blogger, PhD in Parenting.
Here are a few related rookie mom posts/tips/activities:
- Whip ’em out (funny and supportive video)
- Tips for nursing in public
- Tips for pumping and our community pumping project
- Think with your melons (exercise your super power!)
- DIY nursing bra from a regular bra (with tutorial)
- Cut up your bra (helpful tip)
- Yoga moves to ease back strain from nursing
Any other advice or tips to share with me? I’ll take ’em.
Breastfeeding is very supported here in BC. My daughter didn’t like to nurse in public past about 6 months (to distractable) and when ladies would see me nursing in public bathrooms they would be horrified. I got many pep talks about how I should not be ashamed to nurse out in public! It was kind of funny.
I’m in salt lake, and although nursing is very supported, doing is publicly is another thing! I’m on the go often, that’s how I roll, so tough for them š thanks for the links, very helpful!
Smoking Crayolas Blogspot
I think in my first six weeks of nursing for the first time, I googled “sore nipples” every few hours around the clock. It was such a shock and each day I wondered if I was crazy to endure the pain. I couldn’t believe that so many women in such high numbers were doing the same thing. And NO I was not *doing it wrong.* Some folks are just very sensitive!
I may have been a little *too* comfortable nursing in public … I just didn’t care …To me, breasts equaled nutrients; they were far from anything even remotely sexual. Luckily, I could always count on friends – and the the occasional stranger – to remind me to put my boob away after the babe was burped.
(And yes, being in Berkeley helped.)
i was 19 when i got pregnant with my first child, i knew i wanted to nurse (i still dont like the term BREASTfeeding! lol) its more healthy for you and the baby. anyways with my first i had blood blisters and bad mastitis and plugged ducts, even tho it hurt like a fergerberger i did it for a year….okay it was more like almost a year, 2 days before his first birthday he wanted a sippy of milk rather than the boob and i was okay with that. my second was harder to wean, he nursed for 13 months but no problems like i had with my first. now i’m nursing baby number 3, and she’s 6 months and already 18lbs! she’s definately a chunk of a girl but i’m happy to know that she’s being nurished by me and not some company that could recall their formula at a moments notice. 6 more months to go then she can stay with a sitter lol
I’m currently nursing my third baby and love it. It was definitely hard the first few weeks with all three babies, but I stuck it out (with the third, I got mastitis and then thrush…yuck!) and things are/went great. I totally don’t mind nursing in public and will NOT nurse in a bathroom! I have also never been able to get the hang of using a cover, so I just don’t…it drives me nuts when I can’t see what I’m doing or the baby is so hot from being covered (even with a light muslin blanket!). I live in MN and don’t really feel any pressure one way or another to breastfeed. In public, I just don’t pay attention to what others think! I saw a page on facebook that said something like ‘you try eating with a blanket over your head!’…so we nurse as discreetly as possible without being covered up!
Here in Denmark breastfeeding is also extremely common and well-supported (for the baby’s first 6-8 months anyway). I don’t think twice about feeding in public – and covers aren’t used either. In fact the only place I paused to consider covering up was in the waiting room at the American Embassy yesterday! (I didn’t.) Thanks for the links!
There are probably 50+ ethnicities represented in our small community, and opinions about feeding a baby in public vary widely. Personally, I’m a rather modest person but I don’t really care what people think, if my baby’s hungry. But at two months old, he’s still having some latching issues, so it’s rather awkward (physically) to nurse in public just yet. I still would much rather be in a comfy spot at home. My first child didn’t have these issues for very long, but was so distractable that it was annoying feeding him in public too.
Where I live both sides feel very strongly about their way. So it left me in a very awkward position when I was physically incapable of producing enough milk. My max production after months and months of building my supply was 10 ounces per DAY. So it left me in an awkward shadow, beneath the breastfeeders who didn’t believe it was possible to not make enough, and the formula feeders who didn’t understand why I cared so much and didn’t just wean completely.
I strongly support breastfeeding and honestly at this point still harbor bitter feelings towards women who take the gift I wanted so badly, and just shove it to the wayside. I know it’s not “right” to feel this way, but I’m being honest.
This made me tear up. I too had to use an SNS with Isabella she just wouldn’t latch and my milk sulppy decreased dramatically. I ended up pumping exclusively but for a while I had to use the SNS to help her get nutrition. Such a beautiful image. Thanks for sharing Stacie.