Want to know what the best advice I heard when I had my newborn and was breastfeeding? The nurses at the hospital told us that when the baby is around 2 weeks old, to start feeding him by bottle once a day. This way babies learn to take both the bottle and the breast, and you can get a little break whenever you need it to go on a date. If nothing else it gives your sore nipples a much needed break.
If I could give anyone one piece of advice when it comes to feeding baby by breast, it would be to make sure you are consistent in giving the baby the bottle every day. If you don’t do it every day, your baby will likely stop taking the bottle completely.
This happened to us. We were traveling away from home and I just neglected it while my husband just completely forgot, as he is prone to do.
Sure enough after a days of inconsistently giving baby the bottle, he stopped taking it and would scream bloody murder whenever we tried to give him the bottle. It isn’t the end of the world if this happens, but it is quite inconvenient. I couldn’t go out at night when after he went to bed, because if he woke up hungry, he would need me.
Baby Bites When Feeding
Speaking of problems when you breastfeed, does your baby have teeth now? Watch out! He very well may start biting your nipples… Ouch is right. It is extremely painful and you want him to learn that he shouldn’t do it.
Here is how I was able to get him to start biting. I started doing these things as not long after the first bite and he hasn’t bitten barely at all since, maybe once or twice when he was distracted or startled.
First, make a huge drama when he does it the first two times. Even cry if you can (it won’t be hard) and let him know that it hurts you. Let him know that it is a big deal and that mommy doesn’t like it. Second, stop the feeding immediately and tell him that you are stopping because he bit you. That is it. Pretty simple really, but it proved very powerful for me.
Don’t think that babies can’t understand things like this. They are very smart.
Tips For Pain And More…
Understand that breastfeeding is not always easy or convenient. Here are some extra tips for you to have a smooth experience:
- Be patient. Your body takes around 2 or 3 days to start producing milk after your baby is born. Just keep trying until your milk comes.
- When you first start, make sure your whole nipple is in baby’s mouth. This will prevent bruises.
- If you get bruises just put some of your own milk on them and let it dry. I promise it works better than nipple butter.
- “Squeeze” your breast a little (like you would do with a big burger) so that it is easier for baby to put his mouth around it.
- Set long term goals, but take them little by little, step by step, and feel proud of yourself for every day, week and month that you breastfeed.
- Trust your body. Your body created your baby and now it can create food for him too. There are people who have trouble breastfeeding but I promise you this is not the rule.
- Don’t let anyone tell you your milk is just water. There is nothing like it on the planet. It alone sustains your child.
- You can do this 💪🏼
I hope all of these tips work for you as well as they worked for me. Btw my baby’s teeth don’t really look like they do in this photo. Thanks photo shop 😉