Prepare Yourself For Breastfeeding Before Your Little One Is Born

You must be really excited given the fact that very soon you’re going to be able to cuddle the precious little child who’s currently in your womb. If you’d like to transition to the postpartum phase more smoothly, you should prepare from now on. But don’t worry, that’s not going to be anything massive. You just need to take care of a few things. One of the most important aspects is to prepare yourself for breastfeeding in advance. If you do that, the task won’t seem intimidating to you later on. 

But how to do that? In this article, we’re going to elaborate on how to prepare yourself for breastfeeding prior to the arrival of your child. So, keep reading if you want smooth sailing. 

 

1. Attend a Breastfeeding Class

Yes, you read it right and it shouldn’t be considered as anything ridiculous. We take classes to teach ourselves new and important things. So, why should breastfeeding be any different? In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization also recommend attending breastfeeding classes. It gives you valuable insights regarding the do’s and don’ts of breastfeeding. 

You can attend breastfeeding classes at hospitals and birth centers. Some lactation consultants also offer breastfeeding classes. If you want to avoid going out for this, you can take up some online classes as well. Note down important information during the class and you’ll be good to go.

 

2. Choose a Nursing Space

Even at our home, some places suit our moods better than the others. For the initial few weeks of breastfeeding, try to stick to a comfortable place where you can breastfeed your little one. Once you get a hang of it, you will be able to breastfeed the baby anywhere you want. But before that, opt for a comfortable seat where you can sit comfortably. Also, make sure your essentials are not hard to reach from that space. So, keep your bottle of water, phone or anything you may need close to that space.

 

3. Purchase Breastfeeding Supplies in Advance

Meticulous planning is the way to conquer any new task. So, jot down what items you may need in your breastfeeding journey. Some of the essentials are- nursing bras, pads, and comfortable clothing like maxi. Other than that, you may also purchase a nursing pillow. It’ll soothe your discomfort during breastfeeding. Besides, with its help, you can experiment various  breastfeeding positions until you figure out the one that works the best for you.

If you’re a working woman, you may consider buying a breast pump as well. Once the maternity leave is over, it’ll help you and the baby immensely. Moreover, some babies prefer to be bottle-fed to breastfed. If your child turns out to be one of them, a breastpump can be your savior. 

 

4. Talk to Experienced Friends, Acquaintances and Your Doctor

Chat up with your mom friends to get some recommendations regarding breastfeeding. If you don’t have any such friend or acquaintance, you may join a breastfeed support group if you want to on social media.

Most importantly, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Don’t start taking any supplements without their advice. If you underwent any breast surgery before, tell that to your doctor to know if it’s going to have any repercussions in your breastfeeding journey.

 

5. Familiarize Yourself with Different Latch Techniques 

Most of the times, new moms find themselves having trouble with making the baby latch on her nipple propely. To ease this frustration, surf through the internet and read up different articles or watch videos on latching techniques. Even though there’s this notion that latch comes naturally, there’s no harm in researching, right? Save the videos or articles you deem to be resourceful and you can go through them later if you ever face problems with breastfeeding. 

 

So, these are some of the things to consider to prepare yourself well for breastfeeding before your baby arrives. Breastfeeding is a natural process. But like any other natural task, it can be quite daunting. So, prepare yourself well while you await the baby. A little bit of planning goes a long way and so the preparations will most likely help you greatly.

 

References:

1.https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/learning-breastfeed/preparing-breastfeed

2.https://warmandrosy.com/5-ways-prepare-breastfeeding-baby-arrives/

3.https://breastfeedingconfidential.com/essential-ways-to-prepare-for-breastfeeding-while-pregnant/

4.https://justsimplymom.com/2021/01/09/how-to-prepare-yourself-for-nursing-your-newborn/

5.https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/tips-to-prepare-for-breastfeeding-before-delivery/