- As a lactation educator counselor
for the past almost 10 years,
I do a lot of talking about breasts and breastfeeding.
I often speak to women who have trouble breastfeeding.
I speak to women who have trouble
getting their baby latched on.
I speak to women who love breastfeeding
and I speak to women who don't always love breastfeeding.
You know what's amazing?
Nearly all problems that new moms have with nursing
can be solved over the phone,
with a little information and a lot of encouragement.
Here are my six tips for new nursing moms.
Before we get to them, I'd like to thank
the amazing company out of Switzerland Ardo
for sponsoring this video.
They make an incredible, portable pump
called the Calypso-to-Go.
Uh, it sounds tropical, let's see what it looks like.
Uh, it is tropical.
Pumping is a huge part of nursing for a lot of moms
especially moms with babies with special needs
or working moms.
This one is light, it's quiet, it's portable.
You can operate it in you car with the optional car charger.
There's no internal battery, it will never die on you.
You can also use the manual pump which is so comfortable,
it has three different positions, wow!
The best thing about the Calypso-to-Go though,
is that it's an entirely closed system.
If you've never used a pump,
you have no idea what I'm talking about.
If you have used a pump, that will make you very excited
because it means that milk cannot get into the tubing
so you don't need to clean the tubing!
It's amazing, thank you Ardo.
Don't forget, subscribe to my channel,
hit the bell to get notifications,
like this page if you like it, share it with your friends,
let's talk breasts and breastfeeding.
Number one, newborns nurse a lot.
And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.
Now I don't wanna go freaking out any of you new moms
or women who have never had kids,
but it is not unusual for a newborn
to want to nurse every two hours.
It's actually a normal and totally necessary amount
of nipple and breast stimulation
in order to signal the brain to make more milk.
It feels nuts for the first weeks,
it feels like you're losing your mind
or you kinda feel like a milk factory.
But it is not forever.
For the first three months especially,
let your baby nurse as frequently as they want to,
for nice, long stretches.
Number two, look to poop and pee
to decide how much milk your baby is getting.
So many women think their baby is not getting enough milk
or that they don't have enough milk.
It's one of the most common theories that I hear about,
do not freak out!
Your body is made to make milk
and chances are, very, very good
that you have the ability to produce
the right amount of milk for your baby.
The only way a baby can soil a diaper
is from milk going in, that's how it works.
Milk goes in, pee and poop comes out.
If your baby is making six to 12
wet or poopy diapers in a day, you're probably doing great.
Check with your pediatrician
but that's what you wanna aim for.
Number three, sometimes breastfeeding hurts.
In my training, I was taught that breastfeeding
shouldn't hurt and that's totally true.
My experience with both of my sons
was that sometimes breastfeeding does hurt.
Everyone has different levels of sensitivity,
everyone has a different pain tolerance.
Pain generally goes away after the first few weeks.
Pain when a baby is latching on,
which then lessens throughout the feeding is more typical.
If you have pain throughout the feeding,
speak to a lactation counselor,
educator, or your pediatrician.
Discomfort can be helped by putting ice on your breasts
before a feeding, yes, you heard that right.
Or even using these little like Soothe packets
that you keep in the freezer
and then you can use 'em in-between feedings.
They feel really good.
This will not last forever, your body will adjust
to this new level of stimulation, the pain will go away.
If it persists, get help right away.
Number four, get clear about pumping.
It takes about four or five days
for colostrum to turn into the milk that we think of
when we think of breast milk.
You do not need to supplement in that time.
Your body is designed to produce colostrum
and then milk after four of five days.
But for women with babies in the NICU
or babies with special needs,
something like the Ardo hospital pump
is gonna be your best friend.
You can use a pump to get
the colostrum out and into the baby.
If you're not planning on going back to work right away,
you actually don't need to start pumping right away.
Pumping can kind of toy with your body's
natural supply and demand system,
especially as you're establishing your milk supply.
Pumping can also introduce anxiety
about how much milk your baby's getting, when generally,
your baby is the best extractor of milk from your body.
If you can hold off even six weeks
before you decide to start pumping, that's great.
And when you do, make sure that you're using
the right size flange for the pump
and also make sure to speak to a lactation educator
or counselor to help guide you in your pumping.
Number five, you can't spoil a baby.
A lot of people think that constantly
breastfeeding a baby will spoil them,
or that you can overfeed them.
Almost all of the things that people say
regarding don't spoil a baby are things
that actually increase bonding hormones
and encourage you to establish a healthy milk supply.
Things like holding your baby near you,
sleeping safely near your baby and wearing them in a sling
encourage your brain to make more milk.
We all know not to give in to a six-year old
who is screaming for ice cream.
That's an elaborate cognitive power struggle
between parents and child.
But a six-year old is not the same
as a helpless mammal baby.
A baby needs to get their needs met
and it's your job to meet those needs.
Number six, nothing is forever.
The hormones of new motherhood
are designed to make you vigilant and attentive,
and oriented towards the well-being of your baby.
This is not your permanent hormonal profile,
this is just for now.
It is so important to remember that
the way that you're feeling now,
the frustration, the exhaustion,
the resentment possibly towards your partner,
possibly towards God who made you
the one who had to go through this.
That will not last forever.
The first six weeks after having a baby
are kind of a train wreck in my experience.
But it gets much better after that.
If you can make it through the first three months
with your sanity, you're gonna be okay.
You're already a great mom, it's going to be fine.
Rest, get help when you need it,
eat good food, drink a lot of water, breathe.
You can do this.
Thank you again to Ardo for sponsoring this video.
And Ardo pumps are available in the U.S.
and they're free through most insurance carriers.
And by the way, Ardo's pumps are all made
in-house in Switzerland, you know,
the home of those fantastic watches and delicious chocolate.
And they're internationally compatible,
I know you were wondering, so European voltage won't fry it.
Thanks again for watching.
Head over to groknation.com for more
on breastfeeding and me and we'll see you next time.