Breastfeeding for Beginners
Shared by Lisa Ebbing from HOTmilk
Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful and most natural
things you, as a women, can do, yet no one really tells you of the
struggles ahead. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions and while
many are glorious, it really helps to talk about the issues on
breastfeeding with other women, so you are prepared and ready for
this exciting and challenging time ahead.
As a business owner I have struggled with balancing working and
breastfeeding but I am very pleased to have been able to
successfully breastfeed all three of my beautiful daughters.
However, I also totally appreciate how hard it can be with issues
ranging from a lack of milk supply, to incorrect positioning, sore
nipples, flat nipples and mastitis to name a few. Yet the benefits
of breastfeeding are so important. Not only are you providing your
baby the perfect mix of nutrients but you are also sharing the
antibodies of your own immune system with your baby, who as yet has
none of their own, thus helping them to stay healthy and strong and
giving them the best start possible.
With my first child I definitely found it the hardest. We had to
go home from hospital on the day my daughter Aria was born, due to
the crowded hospital situation, something I was happy about
initially as I was so tired and I just wanted peace and quiet. But
without that expert help to ensure I was putting my baby on the
breast properly, things quickly deteriorated. I didn't really have
any idea about whether I was meant to feed from one breast then the
other, or was it just from one side per feed, and then swap at the
next feed. Every book had a different answer. Then my breasts hurt
so much, it got to the stage I would cry if my husband would tell
me my baby needed to feed. The pain of her latching on was so
horrible, and the after pains were so intense I felt like I was in
labour all over again. Day four was the day I wanted to give up, it
was ten o'clock at night and I had to send my husband out to get
those plastic nipple protectors just to get through the next feed.
To be honest, I don't really think they helped me physically, but
mentally they did help me get through that night, and the next day
it was a little bit better, then the next a little more. It
actually took six weeks for it to stop hurting completely, which
sounds like an eternity, but time passes quickly.
Choosing the right breastfeeding bra is important too, not only
for fit but also for 'feel-good factor!'. Spoiling oneself with
sexy new lingerie can really brighten a woman's day and can
actually give you more confidence and a more positive outlook; all
essential in this complex time in your life. But sexiness aside, a
good breastfeeding bra has specific requirements too. Look for a
bra that :
- Fits well and offers support while still allowing room to
move
- Has cotton lining which allows the breast tissue to
breathe
- and
- One without a harsh seam running across the nipple (yeow!)
- Also strongly recommended is a soft cup bra as an underwire can
apply too much pressure to the milk ducts, therefore further
increasing the risk of problems arising.
I now have three beautiful daughters and I was fortunate to be
able to breastfeed them all. Second and third time around was so
much easier. I won't say it was all smooth sailing, but it really
was a great deal easier and this gave me the time to really enjoy
the experience and the wonderful closeness it creates with you and
your child. I actually found it quite hard to stop with my third
child as it was just such a wonderful bond.
The main advice I would offer to people is simply to ask for help.
Ask the nurse or midwife to come and check out how you are
positioning your baby etc. People are there to help, we just need
not be afraid to ask. As rewarding it can be, breastfeeding can
also be a tough time in your life, but not one you need to go
through alone.
Lisa Ebbing is a director and cofounder of
international maternity lingerie sensation - HOTmilk Lingerie. It was the birth of Lisa's first
child that inspired her with the belief young mothers deserved a
better choice than the unexciting lingerie offered by mainstream
brands and so HOTmilk Lingerie too was born.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
- Breastfeeding for Beginners