Mommy Guilt

There’s so much information online about breastfeeding and pumping. So many dos and don’ts… how do we know what to follow and what to ignore? And don’t even get started on the unsolicited advice from our family (although they mean well). When I had my first son, I tried to do everything exactly how I read and was told by the lactation consultant. Here’s what I learned!

5 things you shouldn’t be doing when breastfeeding!

1. Don’t focus on the amount of breast milk baby is getting before your milk supply arrives!

Once you deliver you have to amazing golden hour where you get to cuddle with your little one and most times the baby latches right on to feed. It’s almost magical! Then you’re whisked off to your postpartum unit and you can’t latch again…it’s so easy to get discouraged as you’re probably sleep deprived and anxious, in general. But guess what? Your milk supply is on it way! In the meantime, consistency is key. Every 2-3 hours feed baby. Every attempt count so keep trying, which brings me to numero dos!

2. Don’t forget to ask for help!

You’ve never breast fed and even if you have… every baby is different. The hospital or pediatrician should be able to hook you up with a licensed lactation consultant. They are amazing! So knowledgeable. I had a clogged milk duct after failing at fixing it myself…. I called up a local lactation consultant she talked me off the ledge and helped me clear up that clog. Even if you have random questions, they can help. They are up to date on all the latest evidence based research.

3. Don’t rush to formula feed (unless medically necessary)

When I came home from the hospital, I had a plan for my breastfeeding journey. I planned on exclusively breastfeeding and pumping after the recommended 4 weeks. After two days, my family started planting seeds of doubt…. Why is he crying? Maybe he’s not eating enough. You probably don’t have enough milk. Feed that baby…. As if I didn’t have enough anxiety. So I did what anyone would do, I pumped to see what I was actually producing. A whopping 1 ounce. I almost threw myself off the ledge! Had I been starving the baby? Should I supplement? Nope, according to an article published August 9, 2023 on the National Geographic website, only about 5 – 10% of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed. So that means the odds are in our favor. Even if you were formula feeding, the newborn would most likely only take about an ounce per feed anyway. So step away from the ledge…. Baby may be crying for other reasons.

4. Don’t forget to stay hydrated

While I was breastfeeding, caring for baby, washing baby clothes, and whatever else I was tasked with, I often forgot to drink fluids. If you can, try to drink teas, waters, whatever. The days days I didn’t drink much, I saw how it affected my breast milk production, which is the opposite of our desired outcome. I would check with your lactation consultant and/or medial doctor before trying supplements geared to increasing milk production. Some things work wonders and others, I didn’t see much difference. I tried everything. If you want to discuss some things I found, leave me a comment below. Happy to share…

5. Don’t forget to enjoy this journey!

Each breastfeeding journey is different. I have latched exclusively and pumped while away from baby and then I exclusively pumped because my son hated the boobie. Both have their pros and cons. The most important thing is baby was fed! So however that looks, it’s absolutely okay. May you have continued success. Boobies up!