Breastfeeding in the First Year
Breastfeeding in the first year is like a rollercoaster. There are ups and downs, twists, turns, and even has some wild curves.
Breastfeeding is described as this “natural” act and we (as mothers) are suppose to step into that “natural” act as if we know exactly what to do. But how do you know anything about something you’ve never done before? Limited education. An abundance of resources. Not to mention all the unsolicited advice that worked for this person and that person.
So where does it start?
It starts with the first latch. Feeling confident about nursing positions, understand not only what a good latch looks like but how it feels as well. A good latch can be determined simply by baby’s body position. Make sure you (mama) are in a comfortable position and then you can adjust to make sure baby is latching correctly. Lining up baby’s chin, shoulders, and hips. Great way to keep baby in check for a good latch. A baby feels most comfortable when they are held with their head higher than their feet!
Ok, you have a good latch, but you want to know how to establish a milk supply..
this can be answered short and sweet. The more frequently milk is removed, the more frequently it can be replaced. Babies should be eating every 2-3 hours especially until they are up birth weight! Fun fact: Many premature babies have issues with jaundice. By nursing more frequently, It helps to decrease jaundice levels. HOWEVER, a jaundice baby can be difficult to wake. Do your best to wake the baby!!
After you have established the nursing aspect, what about pumping?
Pumping is not necessary.. depending on your breastfeeding goals and overall supply. If you plan to be home with baby full time, pumping most likely isn’t necessary. If you need to be away from baby, pumping 1 hour after their feeding allows for your breast to replenish and space out after baby is done feeding, but before the next feeding. Pumping after every feeding can create a significant oversupply and therefore create other issues like clogs, mastitis, etc. Pumping “when you get up” and “when you go to bed” can create a great routine.. this also “empties” your breasts. I put these in quotes because in the early days of motherhood, there never seems to be awake and asleep. It can feel like you are always awake!!! These are great ways to start to establish a routine and make the nights not feel so long!
Many people recommend pumping at night. I recommend working with me to find what is right with you. I am totally for mamas getting sleep.. if your baby is sleeping you should be too. HOWEVER, some mamas need that night time pump to maximize her supply. Pumping in the middle of the night also tells your body to produce that larger amount of milk in the night and once your baby starts sleeping you have to wean/reduce that time to avoid complications (clogs, mastitis, etc). Let’s talk about what would work for you.
You’ve now created a supply by pumping, but how do you store it?
Freshly pumped milk can be kept out for 4 hours, then needs to be refrigerated. It can then be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days. Once that 5 days comes, your milk must be stored in a freezer. Milk kept in the freezer of a fridge/freezer combo lasts 6 months, once in a deep freezer it can be in there for 12 months. BUT after that 12 months are over, you DO NOT have to throw it away. Your milk can be used after 12 months, but it may lose some nutritional value. Use this for baths, jewelry, soaps/lotions, etc. The possibilities are limitless!
I want everyone to pause for a moment before reading the next couple of sentences. I’m gonna bring up a really sensitive topic and it will happen to us all!
Spilled milk!!
There, I said it. Spilled milk is not wasted. All that milk goes to the beautiful angel babies who need fed too.
A supply has been established and a schedule of sorts, but now when does my baby eat food?
Between the ages of 4-6 months is when purées are introduced. Depending on baby readiness. At 6 month of age, babies can begin to have more solid foods and small amounts of water! Six months is a very important age. Babies are sitting up and beginning to have abdominal support. This is important to reduce risk of choking! BUT when do we start to feed baby actual food until the day? Typically, baby should get milk/formula and then an hour later their food. This allows for baby to consume their primary source of nutrition and then eat more to fill them! Eating solids can be for fun, however, they also teach our littles about textures, flavors, handling different sizes solids, etc. Sooo many skills are learned through eating and all before the age of 1!
Now I want to address three other things that will most likely arise in the first year of nursing/pumping.
The first is clogs.
Clogs happen to use all and for different reasons. A clog is just what you think.. like any clog It blocks the milk duct from allowing milk to flow. Clogs can be removed with gentle massage from the top of the breast toward the nipple. I stress GENTLE! Being too rough and forceful is not only painful, but can harmful to the milk duct! Clogs can also be removed by gentle massage during pumping or massaging in a warm shower!
The second thing I want to address is teeth!
Teeth are so painful when a baby bites down. BUT an affective tool to use is one releasing baby from breast and sitting them up. Saying “no no no”. And each time doing this when they bite. Sometimes switching sides/position can help as well.
The third and final topic I want to discuss is weaning!
Weaning is such a hard subject because there isn’t an age for this.. weaning is done with you and baby are ready. This could be at 2 weeks, 9 months, or 2 years! Weaning is done by slowly reducing the number of feedings/pumps a day in a paced manner, without causing issues with clogs/mastitis/etc. Weaning not only has the physical obstacles, but also the mental! Most people have a “typical” amount of milk they produce a day and as that number decreases (like it’s suppose to) we begin to panic!! But remember, you are weaning. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SAY.. “That’s crazy. Why would anyone be upset?” And quite simply, I don’t have an answer for you! Mine reason was that my daughter and I had something that no one else could with her. That bond we were now stopping. I thought my daughter would be mad or love me less or forget that I was her mom.. BUT here we are.. she is 24 months old and doesn’t leave my side!
This post is not only about the nursing/pumping journey, but to remind you that no one’s journey is the same and that these “standards” for everything are NOT for everyone!! Every person is unique and therefore, the mold society creates for us all is unrealistic!