Newly Nursing Mummies: Tips From Real Breastfeeding Mums

They say hindsight is 20/20, if only I’d known this when I was a new nursing mama!

If you’re a new mother and you’ve only just embarked on your breastfeeding journey, the correct support is so, so important, I can’t even begin to stress it enough. Lack of support and incorrect advice ended my journey a lot earlier than I’d planned, and I’m still pretty sore about it all to be honest – I know a lot of mums feel the same way.

We had a chat with the mummies over in our community group and asked them; what advice would you give to any new breastfeeding mum to help them on their journey? These are all things I wish I’d known back then, too. I hope that this helps at least one mummy and baby to continue on their beautiful breastfeeding journey at a time where they’re close to ending!

Real Breastfeeding Tips From Real Mums…

Me: Mine would be… Don’t listen to advice from people who are skewed against breastfeeding and who don’t have a clue what they’re talking about because guaranteed, your journey will be over very quickly. Seek out local and online support groups. Make friends who breastfeed when you’re pregnant! I had some seriously bad advice about my son’s Cows Milk Protein Allergy that led to us ending our journey way before I wanted to. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH; the cluster feeding took me by surprise!

Bethany Collings: Keep at it. People say breastfeeding isn’t painful, sometimes yes they’re right. But the actual act of sucking your boob is sometimes painful, even more so when your child has a tie issue. If you’re sore, get seen to ASAP. Do not allow anyone to mess you around. Stock up on nipple cream, put a bowl of cold water and breast pads in the fridge for relief and try steer from shields. Shields can cause nipple confusion so be mindful if or how often you use them x

Lia Angel: If you’re one of the lucky mamas who’s baby takes to it amazingly, congratulations That’s so fantastic. If you and your baby are happy to breastfeed, don’t listen to people who tell you there’s a age to stop. Follow your babies lead and do it as long as possible (I wish I could of done it longer so think it’s amazing that some people can). Follow your own instinct because YOU know your baby and your body better than anyone else in the world. You got this mama!

Madison Jones: Mine would be to stay calm and try not to get too stressed when first starting, it’s hard at first having a baby rely on you for milk about every hour. But it does get easier and it’s totally worth it.

Lenny Bradney: The first few days are HARD. my first latched straight away but my milk still didn’t come in properly until the day after I came home, it was horrendous, I almost gave up- but now im so glad I didn’t and we are still going strong at 2 years 2 months even with my new little one feeding too.

Melissa Hill: Lansinoh nipple cream was a god send for me! The first couple of days/weeks are hard, seriously hard. When people say it shouldn’t hurt I have to disagree for the first few days at least – unless your nipple is used to being constantly sucked for hours at a time its bound to hurt. Of course get latch checked and face to face support is so so important. Also cluster feeding, don’t think your running out of milk or baby isn’t getting enough, baby’s just putting their order in for how much milk they want next

Ashley Benton: Take time to get breastfeeding established. I didn’t allow any family over apart from very close members to help. I sat on the sofa for about 4 weeks with my boobs out and it really helped my journey. We had a traumatic birth, tongue tie, persistent weight loss and dealt with top ups so if I had family members over then I don’t think we would be 6 months ebf tomorrow. Don’t let people who have never breastfed make you doubt yourself as long as baby has enough wet and dirty nappies and weight gain is good then they are getting enough. The first 4-8 weeks will be tough and baby will be on you 24/7 but again they’re just upping your supply and regulating it.

Aimee O’Connell: It is perfectly normal to doubt yourself but don’t punish yourself. I remember 1 day 3 weeks after my daughter was born, my partner had gone back to work and my family had all gone home, my partner came home to me, baby and the dog all crying… 10 minutes, cup of tea and bar of chocolate in hand and all was calm…. the dog peeing on the floor in protest of the 4 hour feeding session and the first poonami had all been a little too much for me.

So, if you’re sat on the sofa with a baby on your boob, feeling like you’re floundering… You’re not alone, it DOES get better, and you’re doing amazingly.