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Breastfeeding as you probably know is one of the best things you can do for your baby. However it is not easy. Plain and simple, it’s work. And it hurts at times and can be awkward and people judge you if you do it or don’t do it. But… THE BENEFITS GREATLY OUTWAY ALL THE NEGETIVES SO IF YOU CAN DO IT, DO IT!!

There’s my soapbox… As you can already see I’m definitely on the pro breastfeeding side of the fence and advocate for doing it as long as you can (although I realize many factors can and do limit many mom’s ability to breastfeed and I strongly believe those who do not/ can not breast feed should not be judged. Parenting is hard enough without judging each other). I have always been in favor, knowing how greatly it can impact a baby’s health and even the mother’s health, so of course I was ready and not a bit bashful to begin breast feeding when my baby was born. I had no idea how absolutely crazy breastfeeding would be. 

Although it’s so natural and biological, nothing has ever made me feel more like an animal while also making me feel like in some way I ruled the world. Suddenly this little being is feeding off of me… My daughter latched on right away (although she had some latch issues that prevented her from getting enough milk), which made things easier. But I remember finally being home sitting there dazed from 38 hours of labor, epidural drugs and a two day hospital stay and this beautiful little miracle I carried and waited for for so long is down there just feeding off me. I was her source of food! Now this may seem like “duh” and “hello, you were her source of food for 9 months.” But for me the reality of it all was and is just so bizarre. The circle of life suddenly felt so alien-like now that I held this new life in my arms that I somehow created.

Once I got over the initial shock of it all and quit being so cerebral about it, there was this pressure. I was her source of food, but what if I wasn’t making enough? What if it wasn’t fortifying enough? What if I forget to wake her every 2-3 hours to eat? What if I had a dentist appointment (which I did a few days after we brought her home) and my husband had to feed her?

I quickly realized how important my own nutrition and drinking plenty of water was. If I was going to make high quality milk, I had to have proper nutrition, even when I was too tired to eat or didn’t feel like chugging water I had to for her. Fenugreek became my best friend, right along with the lactation consultant where I delivered. Fenugreek is an herb that is said to increase milk supply. It is available in various forms; tea, seeds, pills, powder or tinctures. I got them all. I was also given lactation cookies which have many ingredients that are thought to promote lactation such as brewer’s yeast and oats (if you like chocolate chip cookies and are breast feeding, these are for you! It was a great treat to have around because it settled my chocolate cravings and supported milk production. Win, win!)

Now, I wasn’t just downing funny tea and cookies for fun (although I didn’t mind any of it) my daughter wasn’t gaining weight at first, so my doctor recommended both supplementing with formula and trying some of the things I mentioned.

Aside from all the supplements etc. I had to start pumping as well. This was an adventure in itself… I wanted to rely on formula as little as possible and in fact the first time I had to leave her with my husband for a few hours we hadn’t even started the formula yet. I had a dental procedure that had to be taken care of which I had to put off until after the baby was born. So the pumping began.

When I started pumping, nursing suddenly felt normal. I had no idea what to expect. It feels really weird at first and kind of hurts to put the pump on its highest. (Soon that was fine and  I could crank it up.) Pumping is a great way to store milk, see about how much you are producing and for babies who have a hard time latching it can be the difference of getting them the unparalleled nutrition that breast milk delivers. Before purchasing a pump, be sure to check with your insurance as most plans cover them. It is advised you do not share pumps and especially not the tubing and parts for sanitation reasons.

Supplementing with formula was sort of sad for me as I really was committed to breast feeding only for at least the first 6 months. However after multiple appointments and little weight gain, I knew I had to do what was ultimately best for my daughter. Her well being took precedence over my six month plan. I researched formulas and asked many of my health conscious friends and found formula that seemed to have good, organic ingredients that my husband and I were okay giving our daughter. Once we started the formula, I worried that she wouldn’t want my  milk, but that was definitely not the case. She drank both interchangeably and still really seemed to prefer the breast. The hardest part became really forcing myself to pump when I knew she had another source of food (it really wasn’t that hard) and knowing that even if I only pumped 4-8 ounces per session, that was 4-8 ounces of liquid gold I was giving to my sweet baby.

Now that I’m 18 months into breast feeding, there are some things that I feel really helped me.

1. Don’t stress. At some point I just made myself stop feeling pressure about how much milk. No matter how much I worried it was not going to make a difference… In fact worrying probably decreases milk supply due to the stress on your body.
2. Drink water. I would see a noticeable difference when I’d have enough water throughout the day. Tip: keep a few full water bottles or glasses around the house or your workspace so it’s always at your fingertips.
3. Drink Mother’s Milk Tea. I love drinking tea so this was an easy one. Even if you don’t like drinking tea, I recommend trying this tea if you aren’t producing enough milk. Once I realized I liked it and it liked me I bought a case on Amazon which saved money and made it easy to have plenty at home and work
4. Eat well. Fruits vegetables and lots and lots of protein.
5. Establish a good relationship with your doctor and don’t be afraid to get the help of a lactation consultant. I spent lots of time with a lactation consultant and also got a lot of great advice from my doctor (who had just had a baby as well). The consultant was covered by my insurance and they were able to spend a lot more time with my baby and me than my actual doctor. They were able to tell me exactly how much milk my daughter was averaging per feeding session, gave me tips about positioning, nutrition to support milk supply, issues with her latch and overall new mom support. I highly recommend seeing a lactation specialist if you have any questions or doubts about breast feeding.