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Today I’m sharing my top breastfeeding tips for new moms who are facing challenges and dealing with common breastfeeding problems.
If you haven’t given much thought to how you will feed your baby once they arrive, there’s no time like the present!
You have to decide whether you want to feed your baby formula or breast milk.
There are many reasons why some moms prefer formula right off the bat.
Regardless of whether you intend to start with breast milk or not, following are my top 5 breastfeeding tips for new moms — all things that I’ve learned firsthand, after having 3 children.
#1 – Your Emotions Can Affect Your Success
Breastfeeding is not just a physical thing — it’s an emotional experience too.
Your emotions can affect milk production.
Women who experience traumatic birthing experiences and those who do not feel very connected or bonded with their babies often have a more challenging time getting their milk production where it needs to be during the first few weeks after delivery.
So even though you may fully intend on breastfeeding your baby, your own body might prevent it.
#2 – There Is Some Discomfort
Many women claim that breastfeeding isn’t painful. But for some women it is.
Nipple sensitivity is a big issues for some new mamas.
Babies have to suckle and suck hard on the nipple in order to draw the milk out of the breast.
Since newborns tend to stick to their moms like velcro during the first few months, this can increase the amount of discomfort you’ll have to endure if you suffer from nipple sensitivity.
Also, when you take into consideration that this is also the time period where dry and cracked nipples are most likely to occur, it’s not surprising that some new moms give up and resort to formula feeding.
#3 – Support Really Helps
There is so much involved in breastfeeding that you will need support at times — no matter how long you decide to breastfeed.
Sometimes you’ll feel like there is no separation between you and baby, and other times you may feel emotionally drained and ready to throw in the towel.
Having a family member (or several) that you can talk during those times to get encouragement can really make a difference.
#4 – Your Diet Is Important
Breastfeeding burns calories, but that doesn’t give you a license to eat anything and everything you want.
You have to remember that what you eat your baby also eats.
So try to maintain a diet that includes various fruits, veggies, and the proper supplements. Avoid alcohol, large doses of caffeine, and other harmful substances.
Stay hydrated. You’ll need to drink more fluids to help keep your milk supply up. A good way to remember to drink fluids is to drink a glass of water at the start of each breastfeeding session.
#5 – Rest Is Necessary
Breastfeeding takes a lot from you.
To others, it may look as if you are relaxing or being lazy when you’re feeding your baby.
However, breastfeeding — especially during the early months — can be exhausting.
You’ll need to get lots of rest to maintain your milk supply.
My Experience With Breastfeeding
The 5 breastfeeding tips above are all things that I learned from my own experience after breastfeeding 3 children.
Due to a lack of support and knowledge, I did not breastfeed my firstborn past 1 week. I was exhausted and frustrated.
I still occasionally feel guilty about it — since I breastfed my toddler for almost 3 years and I’m currently breastfeeding my youngest who is less than a year old. However, due to certain issues, I also have to supplement her with formula.
No matter how easy or challenging your breastfeeding journey may seem, the best piece of advice I can offer you is to keep going. Don’t give up. The road may be rocky, but the bond and the sense of accomplishment you get from your efforts are well worth it and invaluable.
Even if you have to resort to using baby formula, at least you know that you gave it your all. And at the end of the day, your baby is still being feed and satisfied.
Need Help Getting Started With Breastfeeding?
Everyone can’t do it on their own. Like I said, I lacked support and knowledge about breastfeeding with my first baby.
Stacey Stewart is a Certified Lactation Educator, mother of 3, and the founder of Milkology. She has taught lactation to thousands of women and she can help you too!
Her mission is to educate and empower you to breastfeed and pump with less stress and more confidence — so you can have a beautiful and rewarding breastfeeding experience with your baby.
Stacey is offering her Ultimate Breastfeeding Course online now — so you can breastfeed like a pro in 90 minutes!
In addition to exploring all of the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby, she really helps you understand the process of lactation and mastering your milk supply.
The best part about Stacey is she teaches you the techniques for latching, positioning, expressing, and storing breast milk. And… she helps you better understand what you can expect in terms of diapers and output — especially during those first 2 months!
Basically, she becomes your support network and is there to help you succeed every step along the way.
This breastfeeding course also includes: a helpful troubleshooting guide for common breastfeeding issues, Stacey’s little black book of breastfeeding secrets, and free printable breastfeeding photo cards for photographing your baby’s milestones.
The support and guidance you receive from Stacey will make your breastfeeding experience as a new mom trouble-free.
Other Breastfeeding Tips For New Moms + Supplies To Solve Common Breastfeeding Problems
If you’re a new mom and you’re trying breastfeeding on your own but having some difficulty, here are some additional resources that might be helpful:
- 68 Breastfeeding Myths Dispelled
- Top 10 Breastfeeding Problems Solved
- How To Begin Breastfeeding As A New Mom
- 39 Breastfeeding Tips For New Moms
- How To Choose The Best Nursing Pillow
- Breastfeeding Pillows On Amazon
- Common Breastfeeding Problems
- 15 Breastfeeding Problems And How To Solve Them
- Helpful Breastfeeding Supplies For First Time Moms
If you found this post helpful, it would mean the world to me if you would share it with others on Pinterest:
I’m a stay-at-home mom and writer. Having experienced the joys and discomforts of pregnancy 3 times, I have a lot of advice to offer expecting mothers. I’m committed to providing new moms with an in-depth and honest view on pregnancy, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect and a good feel for what pregnancy is really like.
