Congrats mama!  You’re expecting a squishy bundle of adorable human, and you’ve made the choice to give your baby one of the greatest gifts you can – your biologically perfect breastmilk, and the comfort and connection that come from a nursing relationship.  Yay for you both!

Breastmilk is fucking amazing, so much so, that I’ll likely create an entirely new blog post to how freaking cool it is, and why it’s proof that we’re not running the show around here (Hey God, it’s me, Katie.  Nicely done).  If you’ve decided to breastfeed, you are likely spun up on the benefits, but in summary, breastmilk is everything that your baby needs from day one.  No need to supplement before your milk comes in, so tell that Labor & Delivery nurse she can formula feed her ass – colostrum is a concentrated miracle food and your baby’s belly will be the size of a marble at birth.  And no need to supplement after your milk comes in unless you are one of the very unlucky few who do not produce enough.  But again, there are very few.

If you are one of the mamas who does have medical issues that prevent you from breastfeeding, I’m sending you a big hug.  This post is not meant to knock you or tell you you’re not trying hard enough.  Shit happens, and I’m sorry you got dealt the shitty breastfeeding hand.  The below is intended to encourage new moms, and set them up for success assuming that all is well in the hormonal and glandular tissue areas.

Here are the 5 things that you should have before baby arrives to ensure that your breastfeeding journey is as successful as possible.

1. A Breastfeeding Support System

I could really stop the post right here.  This is the only thing that you absolutely need for a successful breastfeeding journey.  A supportive partner, physician, midwife, group of friends, or a breastfeeding group…  Surround yourself with people who will be encouraging when breastfeeding gets tough, and who will listen to your worries, doubts and complaints about how your nips are chapped.  YOU NEED THIS.

If you don’t feel like you have this already, make like a new mom’s nipple and get crackin (just kidding, that doesn’t happen to everyone).  A great place to start is your local La Leche League.  Attend a monthly meeting so that you can meet nursing moms, their supportive partners and family members, and check out their cute, tiny people while you rub your growing belly.  Each local group usually has a Facebook page too, so you can ask those pressing 4am questions, and get suggestions, encouragement, and support any time you need help.  My local LLL has been SO helpful in answering questions, and making me feel like everything that’s happening with my baby and my body is normal.  I can’t recommend them enough.

DO NOT let your OB, pediatrician, or well meaning friends and family make you feel like your milk is not enough.  None of these people are experts.  I repeat, NONE of these people are experts when it comes to breastfeeding unless they also hold the title of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.  Your pediatrician, your OB, the hospital lactation consultant….unless they are an IBCLC, they should not be recommending that you supplement with formula, cereal, none of that.  Period.  End of story.  Thanks for stopping by.  GFY.

2. Confidence & Determination

This shit is hard.  No one tells you that.  I’m here to tell you, it’s hard work.  The one thing that really pushed me through this tough time when my nipples felt like frayed denim, and I was getting an average of 12 minutes of sleep a night, was the confidence that was instilled in me by my midwife, Cindi.  “You will breastfeed, ” she told me.  “My moms have a 100% success rate, and it’s a requirement if you’re going to have your baby here”.

This might seem like a lot of pressure, but it wasn’t.  I never questioned my ability to breastfeed because she told me I’d do it.  See above requirement for a support system.  You CAN do this mama.  It will be hard, you will be tired, you will wonder if it’s possible if that cute little leech is really nursing AGAIN.  But I promise you, you can do it.

3. A Netflix Account or Other Source of Entertainment

I’m pretty sure that I (ignorantly) nursed through tongue or lips ties because nursing caused me a lot of pain.  One of the only things that saved me was that a new season of Orange is the New Black was released on Netflix.  Taystee, Red, and Suzanne got me through some tough times. In all seriousness, sometimes you just need a distraction.  A TV show, some good music, a conversation with visiting friends.  Allow yourself to relax, sit back, and distract.  Also snacks.  Snacks, snacks, more snacks, and tons of water!  Gotta fuel those milk factories in your sweater.

4. Phone Numbers for Your Local IBCLCs

Hunt these down before baby comes in like an adorable wrecking ball, and hang them on your fridge.  Show them to your partner, your mom, your best friend.  This can be your SOS, white flag flying, break glass in case of emergency number.   If you’ve got some extra funds, it’s a GREAT idea to establish a relationship with an IBCLC before baby is born, and schedule a home visit or two for when baby arrives.  She can assess baby’s latch, check for tongue or lip ties, do a weighted feed, and give you some pro tips.  Visits can be a couple hundred dollars depending on where you live,  but insurance companies often reimburse for these visits.  If you’re military, there are often IBCLCs available free of charge on base.  Check with your local La Leche League’s Facebook page for recommendations on which IBCLCs are best and which have missed the mark. 

Please note that the IBCLC credential is important.  Anyone can call themselves a Lactation Consultant, even with limited hours of training, but IBCLCs are the real deal and best of the best.  A lot of questions and best practices can absolutely be handled by an LC or a CLEC, but an IBCLC is the top qualification.

5. A Cozy Nursing Spot

This isn’t a must, because you can nurse anywhere, anytime, but it’s a nice to have, especially while you and baby are perfecting your latch.  Set yourself up a glider or a recliner and keep lots of water, snacks, some nipple cream, nipple pads, burp clothes, and your nursing pillow readily available.  Being relaxed contributes to being able to have a “let down”, in which your breast ejects milk for your tiny nursling.  Do what you can beforehand to prep a a comfy, zen spot if you have the time and the means.  If not, no worries – one of the benefits of breastfeeding is that you can do it anywhere.

Para concluir

You got this mama!  Remember that your body was made to do this, and women have been nursing since the beginning of human existence.  You’re giving your baby life, antibodies, the most perfect food for her teeny, tiny baby belly.  You. Are. Amazing!