I’ve been breastfeeding my girl for the past 22 months, and while it almost looks natural right now, it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.
My mom Gloria passed on a few years before I welcomed my first child, a beautiful baby girl we nicknamed Latte. During my pregnancy, I thought to myself several times how hard it would be to be a mother when I didn’t have my own mom to lean on. I often found myself daydreaming about a life when Mama would be around helping me take care of my little bundle of joy, with no judgments on my parenting style, only pure and unconditional love.
But this is my reality now. With no mother to ask for first-hand information and tips on breastfeeding, I started researching the dos and don’ts while still heavy with a child in my tummy. I joined support groups to acquire more knowledge about how to give Latte my liquid gold to protect her from many illnesses.
Our breastfeeding journey started pretty smoothly. My good girl latched and sucked without a problem. And just when I thought I was winging this breastfeeding thing, I suddenly felt confused, overwhelmed, angry, exhausted, and in pain—sometimes all at the same time! Then there came the realization: I wish I knew certain things before I started breastfeeding. I’m sharing my list so that fellow breastfeeding moms can be reminded of them and new mamas planning to nurse can learn from my experience.
Every mom’s breastfeeding journey is different. This phase looks different for every mama, so do not compare yours with others. This is something new to you, something you are experiencing for the first time, so it’s okay if there are things you are not sure of. There’s always learning happening along the way.
It will hurt in the early stages. I’ve read a lot of articles that said breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful. So I was frustrated during my first few days of nursing my girl because my nipples hurt. I later found out that it was because my breast and nipples were still adjusting to someone aggressively sucking them, and that it would get better with time.
Mama Apple with her baby Latte and supportive partner Roldan Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Some nursing moms swear by the effectiveness of lactation supplements and boosters, and that's okay if these help with your milk supply. My experience showed me though that I just need to drink lots of fluids, eat healthy food, and trust my body because that confidence also impacts my supply.
Carefully plan which nursing gears and accessories to buy. Yes, they were created to make breastfeeding more comfortable for us and our babies. But with all the expenses on a newborn, you might want to reassess your spending plan so you can use that budget for other essentials.
Invest in good nursing wear. When shopping, we tend to focus on the baby’s needs and forget our own. It helps to have a top or dress that is designed specifically for breastfeeding. Nowadays, most of them come in stylish designs so you could still use them even when you are not nursing your baby.
Breastfeeding is hard, and sometimes it can feel lonely. I read about the challenges of breastfeeding. But I didn’t realize how hard it was really until I experienced it myself. When the house is quiet and everyone’s asleep, that’s when loneliness creeps in.
Hence, it’s important to have a strong support system. Everyone—from your partner to the child’s grandparents as well as your friends—plays an important role in our breastfeeding journey. A simple help, such as taking the baby to let us get some sleep, goes a long way.
It’s possible to take care of yourself even when the baby is your priority. And it’s a must because we can’t pour from an empty cup. Plus, the secret to a happy baby is a happy mama!
Happy Breastfeeding Awareness Month, nursing mamas!
Apple Gargallo is a full-time homemaker and mom to a bubbly girl. She is the wind beneath her entrepreneur husband's wings.
