Even though women have been doing it since the beginning of time, breastfeeding can come with its own challenges. It’s important that you get all the information you can before embarking on your wonderful journey with your new baby. Here’s the beginning of everything you need to know about breastfeeding. Use these tips to further your research and ask the right questions.
A - Assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Some women feel unwomanly or like bad mothers if they need help, but it’s perfectly fine to ask your mom, sister, friend, or lactation consultant.
B – Bonding: Nursing is a powerful bonding experience for both mom and baby.
C - Colostrum: The first milk your breasts produce during the early days of breastfeeding designed to pass along loads of carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies.
D - Ducts: One of the challenges of nursing are plugged milk ducts. They can be painful and prevent you from breastfeeding well.
E - Ear infections: Breastfeeding can help prevent ear infections by helping pass immunities along to your baby early in life.
F – Football Hold: This is one of the nursing positions lactation consultants recommend for the mom who's had a C-section and also for mothers with large breasts or small babies. This is also popular with mothers of twins who want to feed the babies at the same time.
A - Assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Some women feel unwomanly or like bad mothers if they need help, but it’s perfectly fine to ask your mom, sister, friend, or lactation consultant.
B – Bonding: Nursing is a powerful bonding experience for both mom and baby.
C - Colostrum: The first milk your breasts produce during the early days of breastfeeding designed to pass along loads of carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies.
D - Ducts: One of the challenges of nursing are plugged milk ducts. They can be painful and prevent you from breastfeeding well.
E - Ear infections: Breastfeeding can help prevent ear infections by helping pass immunities along to your baby early in life.
F – Football Hold: This is one of the nursing positions lactation consultants recommend for the mom who's had a C-section and also for mothers with large breasts or small babies. This is also popular with mothers of twins who want to feed the babies at the same time.
G – Government Involvement: The government has passed laws regarding breastfeeding and mother’s rights. Make sure you know your rights to topics like breastfeeding in public and workplace rights. Your insurance may also cover the cost of your breast pump.
H – Healthy mom and baby: Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits to both mom and baby.
I - Immune properties: Breastfeeding passes along the mother’s immune system properties to the baby during the first few weeks.
J – Just relax: Babies pick up on mama’s stress, so try to create a relaxing environment to breastfeed.
K – Keep it up: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.
L - Latch: Learn how to achieve a proper latch so your baby gets plenty of milk. Some moms struggle with this, so you may have to speak with a lactation consultant.
M – Menstrual Cycle: Your cycle typically does not start back up until after you are done breastfeeding. Another nursing bonus!
N - Nursing Bra: Use a quality nursing bra to make it more comfortable. You want something convenient, ideally with a secret pocket for securing warm or cool packs.
O – Oxytocin: Oxytocin is a feel-good chemical released during the brain during all the fun parts of life: hugging, touching, sex, excitement, and you guessed it… breastfeeding.
P – Pumping: You may have to pump milk to keep your supply going or for use while you are at work. Not all pumps are of the same quality so choose a pump that fits your specific needs and your lifestyle.
Q – Quick weight loss: Breastfeeding burns tons of calories. It’s a great way to get back to your pre-pregnancy body.
R – Routine: It’s important that you find a way to work breastfeeding into your regular routine since you will be doing it often.
S - Save money: Families who follow optimal breastfeeding practices can save $1,200 - $1,500 on formula.
T – Time saver: There’s no need to mix and warm formula because breast milk is ready on demand.
U – Underwire: Until your milk comes in and your breast size quits fluctuating, choose a nursing bra without an underwire to prevent plugged ducts and mastitis.
V – Veterans: Reach out to veteran nursing moms who have successfully breastfed for advice. Sometimes the best tips come from peers who have been through similar circumstances.
W - Wrap: If you're shy about exposing your breast in public, use a nursing wrap/cover. But you should not let other people’s ridicule for feeding your child in public stop you. Do what is best for you and your baby.
X – X-legged: Sitting cross legged with a nursing pillow for support is one position that you may find the most comfortable, but there are many. Experiment to see what works best for you and baby.
Y – You can do it: Breastfeeding may be tricky at first, but stick with it and you can succeed. Don’t be discouraged early on; the benefits of pushing through are worth it.
Z –ZZZ’s: Being well-rested may help with milk supply, and it definitely helps keep you relaxed when things don’t go as planned.
H – Healthy mom and baby: Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits to both mom and baby.
I - Immune properties: Breastfeeding passes along the mother’s immune system properties to the baby during the first few weeks.
J – Just relax: Babies pick up on mama’s stress, so try to create a relaxing environment to breastfeed.
K – Keep it up: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.
L - Latch: Learn how to achieve a proper latch so your baby gets plenty of milk. Some moms struggle with this, so you may have to speak with a lactation consultant.
M – Menstrual Cycle: Your cycle typically does not start back up until after you are done breastfeeding. Another nursing bonus!
N - Nursing Bra: Use a quality nursing bra to make it more comfortable. You want something convenient, ideally with a secret pocket for securing warm or cool packs.
O – Oxytocin: Oxytocin is a feel-good chemical released during the brain during all the fun parts of life: hugging, touching, sex, excitement, and you guessed it… breastfeeding.
P – Pumping: You may have to pump milk to keep your supply going or for use while you are at work. Not all pumps are of the same quality so choose a pump that fits your specific needs and your lifestyle.
Q – Quick weight loss: Breastfeeding burns tons of calories. It’s a great way to get back to your pre-pregnancy body.
R – Routine: It’s important that you find a way to work breastfeeding into your regular routine since you will be doing it often.
S - Save money: Families who follow optimal breastfeeding practices can save $1,200 - $1,500 on formula.
T – Time saver: There’s no need to mix and warm formula because breast milk is ready on demand.
U – Underwire: Until your milk comes in and your breast size quits fluctuating, choose a nursing bra without an underwire to prevent plugged ducts and mastitis.
V – Veterans: Reach out to veteran nursing moms who have successfully breastfed for advice. Sometimes the best tips come from peers who have been through similar circumstances.
W - Wrap: If you're shy about exposing your breast in public, use a nursing wrap/cover. But you should not let other people’s ridicule for feeding your child in public stop you. Do what is best for you and your baby.
X – X-legged: Sitting cross legged with a nursing pillow for support is one position that you may find the most comfortable, but there are many. Experiment to see what works best for you and baby.
Y – You can do it: Breastfeeding may be tricky at first, but stick with it and you can succeed. Don’t be discouraged early on; the benefits of pushing through are worth it.
Z –ZZZ’s: Being well-rested may help with milk supply, and it definitely helps keep you relaxed when things don’t go as planned.
Written by Nicole Zoellner from NizoWear.com. Interested in writing a guest blog for Nizo Wear? Send your topic idea to Customerservice@nizowear.com. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Nizo Wear makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, current-ness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
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