The Things I Never Knew About Breastfeeding

by Rebecca Carter

I am a bran new mother for a one-month old baby boy named Joshua. I knew that I would be breastfeeding before I even gave birth because of all the benefits if provides a new born baby. A mother's milk is highly nutritious and builds the infant's immune system.

I really didn't think there would be much to it. Just plop my nipple in his mouth and that would be that. I should have done some research or asked some questions about nursing.

There are so many things I wasn't aware of and some of these things are apparently basic issues. I was just unprepared.

The first thing I was not prepared for was the fact that when my son would be nursing off of one breast, the other breast would start to leak...a lot.

I heard stories from women who said they were leaky when they were full, but I didn't realize the vast extent to which I would leak. I felt like I perpetually smelled of old and sour milk. I leaked when Joshua was nursing, I leaked when I was pumping and I leaked during the night.

At first I began to find towels or whatever was nearby to place on my leaky boob while I was nursing. Pretty soon, all of my laundry began to reek of mother's milk.

Breast pads, invest in them, they are a life saver. However, because you have no time to clean or do anything for your self, you constantly find discarded breast pads all over the house.

I had no idea how thirsty you would become as soon as you begin to nurse or pump. You think this might be all in your head, but it most assuredly is not. As soon as your little one begins to nurse or as soon as you begin to pump you immediately picture a tall glass of cool ice water in your hands. The immediate thirst you feel is slightly unbelievable, but it is evidently nature's way of getting you to replace those lost fluids. Plan to have a glass of water nearby when you nurse, you will be happy you did.

Every nurse and doctor told me that babies need to feed 8-12 times a day. Whatever, more like 30! My son isn't happy unless he has a nipple in his mouth. I can't believe how much he eats!

If you thought you had no life when you were pregnant, wait until you begin nursing. You and your breasts will become slaves to the demand of a hungry newborn. There is no escape.

I had no idea that my nipple would become so gigantic! I use to have nice little erect nipples. I thought they were perfect, and always would be so.

So this is why so many women I know have large and pointy nipples. It wasn't genetics, it was motherhood.

To make things worse, I have one large breast with a giant nipple while my other one is much smaller with a normal nipple. For some reason, my newborn only likes my left breast. I have been pumping the right one to try and keep it as large as the right. But I still looks lopsided.

For mothers to be, you should absolutely invest in a breast pump if you plan on breastfeeding. If you are a wealthy sort, go for the expensive pumps just because you can. But if you are a real person, like me, don't worry. You don't have to drop $300. I found a cheap pump at a department store for $35 and it works just fine. And you will want to get one just so you can pump bottles so that your husband can feed your newborn from time to time to give you a break.

As far as purchases, you will also want to stock up on nursing pads and perhaps a few nursing bras. You are going to need to buy new bras anyhow since you are about to look like another version of Dolly Parton. Your old bras won't fit.

For the next few months, or how ever long you are planning to nurse, your life is going to change. All you will be doing is nursing, pumping, cleaning your clothes, burping, rubbing, patting, loving, rocking, cooing, cuddling, kissing and changing diapers.

And even though you will lose all knowledge of your existence pre-baby, you will absolutely love it.

BIO:
Rebecca Carter is a bran new mom and online guru. She is the owner of www.advicediva.com which allows her the ability to work from home while raising her new family.