Breastfeeding Support: First-Feedings
Natural But Not Necessarily Easy
One of the major advantages to choosing to breastfeed is that it’s simple. Once you and your baby have worked out the challenges, it’s all good. You don’t need anything other than yourself and your baby. However, getting breastfeeding established, and preventing and resolving challenges can more complicated for some people. Just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean breastfeeding is always easy.
Until now, the best options to prepare for breastfeeding before birth have been a generic class where you learn the basics of latch and breastfeeding positions. Then, if you struggle after the birth, you have to scramble to find a lactation consultant and go through the hassle of working through the problems. It’s mechanical and the focus is so limited it reduces motherhood to milk production.
You deserve so much more. Your breastfeeding relationship can be successful and you can feel supported in all the aspects of motherhood.
We’ve got you! We have paired education with coaching both prenatally and in the early postpartum. One stop, all the resources.
This article is your introduction to our trusted colleague and breastfeeding coach, Brianna Krall @first_feedings
A message from @first_feedings
Written by Brianna Krall, CCC-SLP, CLC with First Feedings
@first_feedings on Instagram or
contact via email at firstfeedings.bk@gmail.com
A primary factor to long-term breastfeeding success is relaxation and lack of stress of the mother (1). Stress undermines mental health, physical health, sleep, nutrition, and milk production. However, the early postpartum period isn’t usually described as relaxing and low stress for the new mom. That’s why it’s so important to set up a support system that will help you prepare and reduce potential sources of stress.
What’s Important to You?
Wouldn’t it be amazing if becoming a mom didn’t mean your world shrinks to just your responsibilities as a new mom? Shouldn’t your support system take the “whole you” into consideration? @First_Feedings will help you identify some of the factors that are highly impactful to you in your daily life: good nutrition, clean environment, time for hobbies, alone time… Once you have identified the most important ways to reduce stress in your individual life, they will help you communicate your needs to your partner and loved ones so they know how to prioritize their support.
Pump or No Pump?
When you reflect on your goals for breastfeeding, do you see yourself offering an occasional bottle so you can go out, or do you plan on returning to work outside the home? We can help you come up with a strategy so you can breastfeed and also introduce an occasional bottle for some mom-life balance.
You’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits of using a breastpump. But you’ve probably heard much about the drawbacks of pumping. Pumping can affect the volume and composition of your milk. Most of the time, milk is made in just the right proportion for your baby at each stage of their growth. Pumping convinces your body that you need to make more milk - or maybe the your baby is older than it is. Overproduction of milk can be it’s own challenge.
You do not need to pump unless under the direction of a lactation counselor for a specific purpose. Passive milk collection through the use of a haakaa or ladybug will give you the advantage of storing milk without any of the disadvantages of pumping. We recommend that you gather supplies you may need prior to birth so you can have them on-hand.
There is a good time for pumping. Once breastfeeding is established (usually after the 4th week after birth, but this can vary for each dyad), you can begin replacing one feed a day with a pumping session. Typically, the first feed in the morning will produce the highest volume and you can store the surplus for the future.
Many insurance plans will cover the cost of a pump. Webistes like Aeroflow will check your insurance for you, and help you choose a pump that will be partially or completely covered. Purchasing a pump through your insurance can take many weeks to process, and an additional week or two for the pump to ship. Prior to birth, choosing which pump you would like to have, can ensure that you are prepared for whatever postpartum has to offer.
Some additional supplies that can be helpful to have on hand are:
your preferred brand of nipple cream/butter,
reusable or disposable nipple pads, and
breastmilk storage bags.
Silverettes are nice to have too as they can help with healing if your nipples get damaged.
At the bottom of this article, I will link the ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’ of potential breastfeeding purchases.
Predicting Challenges
It is impossible to anticipate how your breastfeeding experience will go, but there are some factors that may contribute to potential challenges. Two commonly recognized issues associated with breastfeeding outcomes include 1) breast implants, and 2) fertility challenges. There are other conditions that you may not be aware of their impact on breastfeeding, such as autoimmune disorders, thyroid imbalance, diabetes, and even mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. It’s important that you discuss your entire medical history with your lactation provider so they can help you understand the potential impact your medical history may have on breastfeeding, and also give you steps you can take to mitigate it.
Lactation Education
Over the generations, women learned to breastfeed by seeing other women in the community breastfeed. They would have been in the presence of their mothers, aunts, sisters and neighbors. Back in the day, by the time the new mom had her baby, she already had observed a variety of techniques and understood the issues women encounter and possible solutions to resolve problems.
In the 1960’s and 1970s, the American Academy of Pediatricians teamed up with nutritionists and physicians to develop milk substitutes to solve the provide options for women as they entered the work force in greater numbers, By 1970, fewer than 25% of women breastfed their babies. Soon, breastfeeding was an uncommon, socially awkward choice. As society has pushed breastfeeding mothers into corners, closets, and under blankets we are no longer exposed to the experiences of others.
There was a big push to promote breastfeeding again in the 1990s. But, the by then women had little knowledge. From that point forward, women learned the art of breastfeeding from skilled childbirth educators and lactation counselors.
Breastfeeding Education
Breastfeeding educators continue to be the people who share the important basics of skin-to-skin, the golden hour, and the art of the latch to pregnant women today. Learning the basics before attempting them can make all the difference in knowing where to start, what is typical, and when to ask for help.
Bundled Breastfeeding Support
Education is essential. But, taking a page from history, we have created an innovative option to support modern breastfeeding moms even better.
Bundled Support: @First_Feedings has created an innovative option to help moms prevent and solve breastfeeding challenges.
What’s Included:
1) Attend a prenatal class to learn everything you need to know to breastfeed successfully. Build a connection with your educator who will continue to support you after the birth of your baby.
2) Identify your priorities and support needs utilizing tools from @First_Feedings provided in the classes and in follow-up communication.
3) You or your midwife (with your consent) notify @First_Feedings when you have your baby, creating an automatic home visit in your early postpartum for immediate support and problem solving.
4) Schedule a 2nd breastfeeding coaching and support session after your milk comes in.
Do’s ~ Don’ts ~ Pumping
Pumps
You do want a double pump that plugs in to the wall such as the Spectra or Motif.
You don’t want to buy a portable pump initially. Electric portable pumps are known to be less effective than those that plug in to the wall. That can be a later purchase if necessary.
In addition, don’t measure your nipples for the correct flange size until after birth. Your nipples can and will likely change size.
Breastfeeding Accessories
Do purchase a Haakaa or ladybug for passive collection.
Do purchase reusable nipple pads.
Do identify your preferred brand of nipple butter/cream. Here is one that I prefer.
Don’t buy a bunch of nursing bras until your milk comes in. You can have one or two handy for immediately after birth, but your breasts will change shape and size once your milk has “come in”.
Pacifiers
Pacifiers in general are not recommended until after breastfeeding is established and parents are very familiar with their baby’s feeding cues. However, if you choose to use a pacifier, there are known benefits for babies up to 6 months of age. If you decide to use a pacifier, choose one that is soft and has a round nipple. It is evidence based to remove pacifiers from naps at 6 months of age, and completely before 12 months.
Do not introduce a pacifier until breastfeeding is established. If you choose to use a pacifier, do not use any with a hard outer shell, or with a flat nipple shape.
Do not use pacifiers after one year of age as continued use can have a significant impact on oral motor development, dentition, and speech/language development.
Milk Enhancing Supplements
Do prioritize good nutrition and hydration. These are the known factors to contribute to milk supply.
Do feed frequently. The primary way to increase supply is to increase the frequency of feeds. If you are having feeding challenges, and feel that your supply is low, you can work with a lactation counselor for modifications specific to your needs.
Don’t buy milk enhancing supplements. There have been many studies on milk enhancing supplements (galactagogues) and there is no conclusive evidence to support their use. If eating a milk cookie, drinking a milk tea, or having a beer at night sounds fun to you, go for it! Just know that it will not ‘make or break’ your milk supply. In addition, some of the common herbal supplements such as fenugreek have some significant contraindications.
Don’t take a supplement except under the guidance of your medical provider or lactation counselor with a complete record of your medical history.
Written by Brianna Krall, CCC-SLP, CLC with First Feedings
@first_feedings on Instagram or contact via email at firstfeedings.bk@gmail.com
Helpful Resources - Links:
Aeroflow Breastpump - Insurance
Earth Mama Lanolin-Free Nipple Butter
Citations
(1) Nasrabadi, M., Vahedian-Shahroodi, M., Esmaily, H., Tehrani, H., & Gholian-Aval, M. (2019). Factors affecting Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of birth: An Exploratory-Descriptive Study. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, 7(3), 1759-1774. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2018.27330.1297
(2) Keister, D., Roberts, K. T., & Werner, S. L. (2008). Strategies for Breastfeeding Success. American Family Physician, 78(2), 225–232. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2008/0715/p225.html#:~:text=Providing%20maternal%20support%20and%20structured,shown%20to%20improve%20breastfeeding%20outcomes.
