Tuesday Tips!

yellingbanana

Heard some amazing advice for pregnancy back pain? Secret newborn tips? Share it all here!

mrosek91

Ignore everyone who tells you that breastfeeding comes naturally, and is so easy. Is it beautiful and fulfilling? Yes. Is it easy to figure out what you're doing and get started? No.
I breastfed all three of mine for 10-12 months, and even with my third the start was a little rocky, and took time.

mkc3888

@mrosek91 omg! yes!! after the first 2 months it became easy and natural feeling, but not while we were still figuring out what we were doing!

yellingbanana

Have a stash of fruit ready for after you give birth. Or assign a relative or friend to bring you a bunch of fruit, or a bowl of fruit ready to eat for your first food after having baby. 

Here is why: you are going to be ravenous once everything is settled down, most hospitals have certain times that you can order food but it might not be when you need it. Also, regardless of your birth experience, it is hard on your body and you need good quality stuff in your body. Last, and most importantly, your first poop after you have baby is terrifying (even with a c-section). Most women become constipated and it takes several days to have your first post-birth BM. So the more fiber you can get in you, the better. Fruit is your friend! 

My amazing sister always brings me a giant bowl of fruit after I am out of surgery (and allowed to eat). Nothing in my life has ever tasted better than fruit after I have a baby. And that is saying a lot, because I love food!

mkc3888

@yellingbanana
all the berries will be in season! might be too early for peaches and watermelon, but berries will be plentiful in may!

gusgus14

Tip #1: Every person, birth experience, newborn stage, etc is different! Soak up all of the advice you can/want to but keep in mind that some of it might not apply to you.

Tip #2: Contractions may or may not feel like what you think they will. Mine definitely didn't feel like anything described in the birthing class I took or anything I read; they just felt like gas pains. (Big giant disclaimer: I don't think my experience was common and my nurse and I surmised that I'm just used to pain in my lower abdomen because I've always had really severe cramping with my periods).The only reason I even went to the hospital was because I realized they seemed to be happening at a regular interval and I told the woman at check in "I feel really silly saying this but I think I might be in labor? But I'm not sure." Yeah. I was 8cm and fully effaced. Also this kind of just feels like a giant humble brag (oh look at me I had a unicorn labor!) but I promise I just want to put it out there because it would have been nice to know before hand and to have been more confident in my decision to go get checked. 

ckmb_1250

@gusgus14 😂 that’s amazing! They didn’t feel the way I expected either. They felt like menstrual cramps until like an hour after my water broke when I was in transition. Then they got intense, but still not in the way I imagined.

nbcarlson

I agree on breastfeeding, the first month with my first born was treacherous. Once you get the hang of it though it's so rewarding. I load up on lanolin, and the lansinoh soothies that I leave in the fridge and put on after nursing. The hakka pumps are also amazing for catching extra milk when you let down. 

littlelibelula

@mrosek91 Wow, best advice ever. I wish someone told me and I listened. Yes, my body was created for breastfeeding, but that doesn't mean my baby will automatically latch on it's own and milk will come flooding out. I had heard of different type of nipples, but I just assumed mine would be normal. 

Find out if you have inverted, flat, etc nipples BEFORE you give birth and strategies for whatever type you have. My first experience with breastfeeding was a nurse telling me to twist my nipples like a nut on a screw. That was the most confusing and frustrating advice ever. Didn't work and didn't get the reason. A massage or even imagining the gentle motion of milking a cow is useful, not twisting your nipple. I found the manual pump suction was really helpful and there are nipple exactor devices you can use the week before if you really feel the need. Nipple stimulation can induce labour, don't start too early. 

Also, I always assumed my baby would just see the nipple, smell it and latch. At least until 4-6 months I had to insert my breast into his mouth every time. Never used a nursing shield because I couldn't latch him with a blanket smothering his head. 

mkc3888

@littlelibelula I'm so sorry you had that experience! I also have/had flat nipples and worried about being able to nurse and my OB said it wouldn't be an issue and when in the hospital the lactation consultant helped me so much.I hope you are able to get the help you need to reach your goals this time!

littlelibelula

@mkc3888 I was so starry eyed with breastfeeding. Hopefully not TMI, but now my nipples are so stretchy, like pulling on a cow udder or a baby bottle, its a big difference from the first days when there was no stretch and very short. I'll probably be doing tandem feeding, a whole other set of learning curves, so my nipples will still be soft and supple. But I'll have to be patient and teach the new baby. Definitely excited to see the difference. 

Liga de leche (La Leche League International), was amazing for me. Without them I would've never reached my goals. They're even supporting me with my tandem goals. Definitely reach out to them, join a breastfeeding group when you're pregnant. Even if you get great lactaction consultants in the hospital, haing a breast-feeding support community is really helpful if that's your goal. 

yellingbanana

I used to have an inverted nipple. When my first was born and the lactation consultant was showing me how to ‘hold your boob like a big burger’, that helped a lot. It is kinda weird having some organ your boob and insert it into your baby’s mouth though 🤣

Also, it did take about a month for me to get reasonably comfortable with breastfeeding. It hurt like hell for a while and especially the letdowns. But with my 2nd and 3rd, it was way easier. 

I HIGHLY recommend Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. It will actually heal your nipples instead of just creating a barrier like lanolin. Also, it’s more natural and doesn’t come from sheep fur oil.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Non-GMO-Natural-Nipple-Butter-Nursing-Cream-Lanolin-Free-2-Ounce/123937179?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101032860&&adid=22222222228121498292&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=441823841490&wl4=pla-384588477534&wl5=9033408&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=252682151&wl11=online&wl12=123937179&veh=sem

mkc3888

@littlelibelula I'm glad you were able to still breastfeed.  Hopefully this time will be easier.