I wish I'd known THESE things when I was preparing to breastfeed

I did everything I could possibly think of when I was preparing to breastfeed for the first time.

I read books. Binged videos. And I did a breastfeeding session as part of my wider antenatal course. It had tonnes of information in it, and was probably super informative - but I had forgotten 99% of what they told me after about a week.

I remembered the overriding messages though - that breastfeeding was natural, that my baby would instinctively know what to do, and that they would feed every 2-3 hours. That it would be tiring but instinctive. And that the midwives would give me all the help I needed.

I didn’t really understand how my baby would latch on or how a deep latch would look/feel, because we’d practiced with dolls and knitted boobs.

Unsurprisingly, I struggled. And with the lack of NHS support (apart from one amazing exception) I didn’t really know where to turn. It was a really tough time.

Of all the information I was told about breastfeeding, THESE are the things I wish I'd understood and remembered:

• What a deep latch looked like

• How to know if my baby was getting enough milk (top tip - the volume of wet and dirty nappies, and weight gain, are the two true signs of how much milk your baby is getting)

• What normal newborn behaviour looks like (and that when my baby woke up immediately every single time I put her in the moses basket it was normal - and didn't mean she was hungry because I didn't have enough milk)

• Where to get support (and this one is KEY because it can be hard to remember the other things, especially when you're sleep deprived and your baby isn't doing what the babies in all those videos did).

  
  

And also:

• That breastfeeding is natural like walking, not natural like breathing! Both you and your baby need to learn what to do, and it can take time and perseverance.

I muddled through, but this is why I've spent the past three years building up knowledge and expertise in breastfeeding, why I trained as a doula, and why I offer my ‘in your pocket’ support package (with breastfeeding support available in-person if you’re local). Because having someone to reach out to in those first few days who can help guide you, signpost you to reliable, digestible information, listen to you, and reassure you, can make a huge difference ❤️

If you'd like to find out more about how I can support you with the early days of breastfeeding, helping you feel reassured and confident, have a look here.

And if you're the kind of person who thinks ahead, if you've heard stories about breastfeeding challenges and you want to go into parenthood feeling as prepared as possible for any early challenges, then my free guide 'My baby hasn't breastfed yet - now what?' is for you. Download it here to feel prepared and nor powerless in those first few days.

Katie x