If you haven’t heard this before, let me be the first to break it to you – breastfeeding is NOT a walk in the park and it does NOT come naturally.
According to a study in paediatrics, 60% of women give up breastfeeding earlier than they want to because of a common reason: “I didn’t have enough milk.”
Looking back, I would definitely tell myself (and what I strongly recommend mummies-to-be) to learn as much as you can about breastfeeding before baby is born!
Here are some basic things you can do from the beginning to help get your breastfeeding journey off to a good start:
1. Breastfeed early
Put baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth, when their sucking instincts are the strongest. Most of the time, the nurses are always eager to get baby’s weight and height taken, so inform them in advance. Emphasise to them that skin-to-skin is important to you.
Even if baby doesn’t latch on during their first minutes, they still get a chance to nuzzle, smell and nibble on the nipple which will help with establishing a supply later on.
2. Nurse often
The basis of establishing a good milk supply stems from this theory:
Your milk supply relies on a supply and demand concept – the more you nurse, the more milk you get as your body is trying to keep up with baby’s demand.
Try not to follow a strict schedule. Feed baby on demand, especially in the first few weeks of establishing your supply. Try to learn and recognise their feeding cues (smacking or licking of lips, sucking on hands, signs of rooting, squirming, etc.). It’s always easier to nurse baby before they start their hunger cries.
“I was literally glued to the sofa the first few weeks after my baby was born. She wanted to be nursed all the time! Having a bottle of water, some snacks and of course my handphone within reach helped make it more bearable.” – Low Shu Hui
3. Eat up!
To build up your milk supply, you need to get about 300 to 500 extra calories a day. Don’t worry about packing on the pounds as you’re also losing the weight as you feed! Which is why some mothers tend to get hungry faster whenever they nurse or pump. The best diet for a nursing mum is simply a normal, healthy, balanced diet, that’s rich in fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
“I noticed a drop in my supply whenever I miss a meal. Eating regularly helps a lot!” – Melissa Lim
4. Stay hydrated all the time
Nursing and pumping will make you dehydrated so you have to drink up! That said, drinking extra water does not increase your supply, but you’ll need to replenish the fluids that you’ve lost through feeding.
5. Relax and don’t stress!
Stress can certainly slow the flow. Some studies show that physical and mental stress can slow the release of oxytocin (a type of hormone that has a calming effect) into the bloodstream of the mother. If you’re producing less milk because of oxytocin is in short supply, relaxation is key.
When nursing or pumping, avoid thinking of your supply and negative thoughts. Channel that feeling into the joy of motherhood and how you managed to house a tiny being in you for 9 months! That alone is already an accomplishment!
6. Consider pumping to empty breasts
Adding pumping sessions after or between nursing sessions can be very helpful. It is also an important step if baby is not nursing efficiently or frequently enough. Your aim in pumping is to remove more milk form the breasts and increase the frequency when breasts are empty. The reason for doing so goes back to the supply and demand theory mentioned earlier.
“My baby always had short nursing sessions. About 10 minutes on only one side of my boob. So after nursing I add in a quick pump session for about 10-15 minutes on both boobs just to clear as much as I can. It’s a lot of work, but it’s only a matter of getting used to!” – Rachel Lok
Tips For Mummies
“My breastfeeding journey did not start off too well. Baby was fussy all the time and did not want to latch on. I dreaded feeding time. Things only started getting better after 5 months!” – Wong Ai Lin
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