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Breastfeeding advice for new moms

Breastfeeding is probably the most difficult and rewarding things you can do for your baby. It’s also a personal decision and no woman should feel like she is any less of a mom if this is something she can’t do or decides it’s something she doesn’t want to do. Breastfeeding is a huge commitment and for me it didn’t come naturally. I spent a lot of time crying because my nipples were blistered and bleeding and baby was hungry and wasn’t cooperating. I was the sole food source for this helpless mini-me and I had very few moments for myself, most of which was concentrating sleep.

• Ask to breastfeed your baby directly after you give birth. This is a good way to bond with your baby and to use your baby’s natural born instincts to suck. This is important because this will help your baby learn to breastfeed and it will help establish your milk.
• Use the lactation specialists provided by the hospital. They helped me and the baby latch correctly and answered any questions I had. I felt a little embarrassed at first to have another woman maneuvering my breast but it was all for the benefit of the baby. Take their names and numbers down and don’t be afraid to call.
• 20 minutes of nursing time is enough time to feed baby, any longer and you could increase the possibility of damaging your nipples.
• It is completely normal for it to take 2-5 days for your breast milk to come in.
• If needed you (or ask the nursing staff) can cup feed your baby formula to help keep the baby full until your breast milk comes in and you don’t have to worry about nipple confusion
• Nipple shield. These are great to help prevent nipple damage or even give you nipples time to heal. Also, some baby’s have a hard time latching on and the nipple shield helps the baby latch on correctly. You can buy these at the store or you can request one from the nursing staff.
• Buy several comfortable nursing bras, which I preferred something without under wires. I also highly recommend getting nursing tanks. http://glamourmom.com/ has a lot of nice options but they are pretty expensive. I went to Target and bought a couple for less than $20 a piece.
• Mastitis - Mastitis means that the breast is inflamed, and there is swelling, redness, tenderness and pain. There may be an infection, so it is wise to consult your doctor. I can speak from experience if you are experiencing pain don’t stop breastfeeding. In fact, try to have the baby feed first from the breast you are having pain with. Use cold compresses if need.
• Engorgement – Hot compresses, hot showers, hot baths will all help. Immediately after try to feed baby, hand express or use a pump to give your self some relief.
• Damaged nipples – first make sure baby is latching on correctly. Use a nipple shield to help nipples to heal; there are also breast pads with medicine that will help. ALSO, let your “girl’s” breath. I spent the first few weeks after my daughter was born completely topless. Other than creating puddles of milk in various places around the house it was very convenient.

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5 Tips to Relieve Baby’s Gas

Gas

Baby will initially have some gas. It will take some time for baby to get used to eating breast milk or formula. You may want to consider laying off spicy food and excessive amounts of chocolate/coffee (anything with caffeine) until baby’s digestive system acclimates.

Here are a few suggestions that may help relieve gas pain for your baby.

• Simethicone – active ingredient like the name brand “mylicon ”. This is almost the miracle cure.
• Lay baby on tummy. Pressure on the tummy helps relieves gas pressure.
• Tummy massage. Massage tummy using lotion in a circle “C” motion. Create the “c” shape around the belly button. This follows the digestive track and helps push the gas and poopy out.
• Patting the bottom. Put baby over your shoulder and pat baby on the bottom in rhythmic time.
• Food culprits. If baby is having a lot of gas you may want to investigate any new food they are eating or if you are breast feeding you may want to cut back on any food that could be causing excess gas. Occasionally diary products can cause gas discomfort so you may need to cut down on eating diary if you are breast feeding

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Birth and Hospital Guide

1. Yes, get the epidural. It took several tries to get the epidural in correctly but once it was in it was a great relief. My husband said after the epidural it was like a really nice “date” for the two of us. We took a nap, talked and watch some TV together. Maybe the best quality time we’ve had together since the birth of our first child. Be warned you will have to get a catheter to prevent you from peeing all over yourself. Also, getting an epidural doesn’t mean you will be pain-free. It only helps dull the pain.
2. Pushing. When its time to push pretend like you are taking an enormous poop. Sounds gross but that is essentially what you need to do AND most likely in addition to giving birth to a beautiful baby you may also give birth to a small poopy. Birth isn’t exactly as beautiful as everyone claims.
3. There are several things that will go on after the baby comes out. While the baby is getting cleaned up and measured you will be giving birth to placenta and your doctor will be stitching you up. This is probably a good segment to talk about a few things you can do to help with the impending damage that will occur to your vajayjay.
   1. Kegle exercises. These are important before and after you have the baby.
   2. Perineum massage. You can do this starting 6 weeks before baby is due and can also request that the doctor administer during birth. Essentially the doctor will massage the vaginal opening while you are pushing to help relax the muscle and help the skin stretch naturally. I did this with both kids and had very little damage with the first and no stitches for the second.
4. To tear or an episiotomy neither choice is appealing. I always talked with my doctors prior to birth to let them know my preference in regards to how I would like my vaginal birth to go. My feelings are that I would rather tear naturally than to have a doctor prematurely cut me but this is something that everyone has an opinion on so I would suggest doing some research, talk it over with your doctor and decide before you go to the hospital what you’d like to do.
5. Keep on ice pack on your vajayjay for the first 24 hours after birth.
6. If needed ask for some sort of numbing spray for your vajayjay region. Yes, it exists.
7. Use a bottle of warm water to spray on your vajayjay when you are using the toilet. These make things a little less painful and it helps reduce the risk of infection.
8. Allow the nursing staff to take the baby to allow you to rest. YOU NEED YOUR REST.
9. Take the pain killers offered
10. Take the laxatives offered
11. Use the lactation specialist. They are very helpful!
12. The hospital will probably put you in a nursing gown. If possible, snag it for use at home. It is ugly BUT it does the job.
13. You will bleed heavily for almost 2 weeks. Plan accordingly.
14. Ask the nursing staff to show you how to use the bulb syringe “booger sucker outer”. The baby will be congested for the first few days and this is helpful.
15. If you plan to do a circumcision on baby ask to do this before you go home.

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