What advice would you share with a new mother learning to breastfeed in the early days?
What questions do you have about those first feedings in the hospital or at home?
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Limit visitors in the hospital and the early days at home. You cannot learn to nurse while covering up or feeling embarrased/anxious!
- Ask for help from your nurses and the LCs in the hospital. If you aren't getting the help you need, ask for another staff member or ask to speak to a supervisor.
- Keep a water bottle with a straw on a small table next to where you nurse. Your hands will be busy, and a straw helps you get those quick sips of water to keep you hydrated.
- Be kind to yourself. You are recovering from delivery, your body is trying to heal, your hormones are transitioning, you haven't slept in days, your body is making milk to sustain a whole other person, and this little one has never breastfed before. Maybe, neither have you. Give yourself some grace. Say nice things to yourself. You got this momma. (You, and all those who are in your support system!)
What tips do you have? What are you wanting to know?