I decided to breastfeed my little one even before I gave birth to my son. Before I joined Breastfeeding Pinays on Facebook, I thought breastfeeding is such an easy peasy task a mother would do. I started reading pinned posts and Q & A portions about breastfeeding because I wanted to be well-informed nor more educated than people around me. First thing you must know that breastmilk is the only thing a baby needs for the first six (6) months of his life. As people say, “Mabuti na yung may alam.”
In this post, I will share with you some important things you must know about breastfeeding.
1. Aside from the fact that breastmilk is the only thing your baby needs for his first 6 months of his life, your patience and perseverance is your key to success in breastfeeding your little one. I experienced ups and downs in my own journey but I still keep going to breastfeed as long as my son wants to.
2. Your milk supply is determined by the stimulation that your baby provides while nursing. In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body produces. So, if you seem to be producing less milk than usual, try to feed your baby more often. You also can pump after nursing to help stimulate more milk production.
But remember, you can pump your milk after your first 6 weeks as it may cause an oversupply of milk or worst, mastitis.
3. As much as possible feed your little one by demand. Watch your baby and not the 2-3 hours feeding time. Learn the hunger cues.
4. It is very normal if you find your newborn asking for milk every hour. Breastmilk can be easily digested and your little one’s tummy is as small as a cherry on day 1.
5. Sore and cracked nipples. I am sure every mother who breastfeeds their little ones experienced this. No fret though as there are nipple creams in the market like Lansinoh, Mustela, Pigeon or Motherlove that can soothe and heal your exhausted nipples.
However, if you are in a budget like I do, you may try applying your own breastmilk on the affected part and let it air dry. Others say, let your baby latch as their saliva can help to heal your sore and cracked nipples in no time.
In my case, I bear the excruciating pain and let my little one latch every 30 minutes for 1 hour and my nipples got numb after a week. Whew!
6. To those working mothers, you may start building your stash after the “6 weeks period” as you have established your milk supply. I suggest expressing milk from 12 midnight to 5 am as people say that you have more milk supply during wee hours which I can attest.
You can choose from manual to electric breast pump depends on your lifestyle and of course, your budget. In my case, I chose the Spectra 9+ – a double electric pump since I express milk at my workstation.
For milk storage, there are different kinds available (depending on your budget too) in the market from storage bags, storage cups or storage bottles. You can check them out in all SM or Landmark Department Stores.
8. Maintain a healthy diet or you may also take food supplements like “malunggay” capsules to help to maintain your milk supply.
9. If you are a breastfeeding mom, as much as possible do not take any sort of medicines without your doctor’s prescription. You may also search for Lactmed on the internet to check what are the prescriptions for lactating mothers.
10. Breastfeeding is a wonderful journey with your little one. Even my nipples got sore nor cracked, I continue to breastfeed as it is one way my little one and I get to bond. Also, the fact that you nourished your baby with your own breastmilk that is full of nutrients. It is one of the best things a mother can give it to our child.
Hope you learned something from this and enjoy breastfeeding!
Nice post dear! Follow you on GFC #40. Hope you follow back so we can stay in touch 🙂
pinkrabbitbeauty.blogspot.com
I breastfed my son for only 2 months because I need to take medicine, after that natuyo na. Sayang, sana nagpump pa rin ko. 🙁
This is an awesome post for soon to be Moms! Breastfeeding is always the best for our babies.
I learned soo much as in SOO MUCH from breastfeeding pinay. How i wish i could have done it to my other two kids. ~Pearliza Paguio
Respect for all breastfeeding mothers! It's definitely not easy. I breastfed all 3 kids and it's one of the best decisions I've made.
Wow, I'm proud to say I know quite a few! haha. I've been breastfeeding my son for 1 1/2 year now. Yeah, I have very saggy boobies! But yes, the journey is amazingly wonderful.
Yay!! Another breastfeeding mommy here. I stopped when baby charley was 7months. My work demands affected my supply. 🙁
So so true! When my son was still young, we thrived on following predictable routines but breastfeeding following a schedule never worked; breastfeeding on demand brought better results.
I've done my own share of breastfeeding but only for two months, need to go back to my corporate job, my limiting factor :(. It is nice to see that nowadays, companies are adapting pro-breastfeeding policies.
Breastfeeding is one of the amazing things that never happened to me. I don't know why. Maybe lack of knowledge. I hope I have read this when I am still pregnant.
I envy all of you who successfully breastfed. Unfortunately, I have tried but it only lasted for 3days.
I accepted the fact that I am one of those who have insufficient glandular tissue to provide enough supply.
Or I think my kids has high feeding requirements, "malalaki kasing tao". Lol
Great tips! I remember when I was breastfeeding, I would feel guilty if I feed more frequently than the recommended 3-4 hours interval hehe Can't resist feeding the baby eh…
Thanks dear. Followed you back. 🙂
Awww, I heard this thing about relactation. You may consider it if you just stopped recently.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow! Ang galing mo mommy!
Same here, if without BFP I wouldn't know about these things.
Wow ang galing! I hope I could reach that too! Planning to nurse him as long as he wants.
Awww kaya as much as possible I don't want to get stressed kasi it really affects our milk supply.
I agree, I can attest to that. Until now I nurse my son by demand. 🙂
I agree. Nako, if they don't allow me, I will resign heheh.
Hahaha malalaking tao naman pala. 😀
You can try to breastfeed on your next child if you have plans 🙂
Hehehe same here, actually nursing him somehow soothes me. 🙂
Even I am done with breastfeeding, I learned an additional information. It is important to monitor the expressed milk as well and on how to store them properly.
Thanks for sharing these things about breastfeeding. This will surely help newbie moms out there.
Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter cream is my favorite. You can also use it for rashy cheeks and red bottoms.
I was an Avent manual pump user with my last two boys! Super effective.