Now I’m not trying to discourage any of you out there, by any means. Breastfeeding is a totally awesome thing that you can do for your little one. The satisfaction you feel after your baby is full is beyond words. The bond you share with your baby and all that other butterflies and rainbows kind of fun is amazing. There are just some things that I didn’t know before I started breastfeeding and would like to be a gem and share with all of you.
1. Your milk supply, aka baby nourishment, doesn’t come in right away. After you bring that babe into the world, you expect that milk to come flowing in like a gall dang river, your baby suckles and all is well, but not exactly. Do NOT be alarmed if 2, 3 or even 4 days pass and there is no flow. You’re empty. Every woman is different and milk comes in when it is ready to come in. When it does come, it usually comes!
2. It’s just a boob, ya know…so thinks everyone else around you. People you aren’t used to seeing your breasts are going to be up in your boob business. When you are in the hospital trying to get used to this idea of breastfeeding, there will be nurses, lactation consultants and even your mother or mother-in-law right up in your bosom trying to help get the babe attached to you. Um, Awkward…especially if you are the modest type.
2. Breast Enlargement/Engorgement: After your supply comes in, why yes, your breasts do get larger and luscious looking and even though your significant other may like the way your new chest looks, you also may too…for a little while. Heck, your girls look great in low cut shirts now! Having larger breasts isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Your breasts are larger because they are filled with milk and when they get too full, to put it bluntly, they feel like they could be used as weapons…milk taser guns. Eventually when the milk is gone, it’s almost like someone stuck a pin in them to deflate. What goes up, must come down. And trust, they do when all is said and done.
3. Chapped/Chafed/Cracked Nipples=PAIN: Breastfeeding hurts sometimes! If the baby isn’t properly latched on or you are not properly hooked up to the breast pump, that 24/7 breastfeeding job could be ripping apart your breasts.
4. Which leads me to… Breastfeeding is a JOB in itself. You will feel like it is all you are ever doing. After you get done feeding the baby, he/she falls asleep all cozy on your breast, you realize that you didn’t get that baby fed on the other side. So, you aren’t done yet. Guess what time it is, yo? No, it is not time to pump up the jam while your feet are stompin’….it’s time to hook up that breast pump while your babe is slumbering. Pump it up! Then usually just as you are finishing up with the last breast, it’s time to whip those milk machines out to feed that little cherub. And so begins the cycle.
5. Supply isn’t always great. Some women do have problems with supply and when it seems as if your baby isn’t getting enough, it really is okay to top off your baby with formula to keep him/her satisfied until your well fills up.
Here is my little frustrated monkey who JUST got done eating. Does she look satisfied?
6. Here’s a myth for ya: You will lose weight so quickly! Heck you won’t even have to work out. Those breasts are working out for you! Sure, there are some health benefits for you while you breastfeed, but don’t expect to drop pounds and pounds just because you are breastfeeding. When you are breastfeeding you are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and keep hydrated and to pay extra special attention to your own health and what you consume. THAT alone will also aid in weight loss, not just the act of breastfeeding. You won’t lose it all because your body will actually KEEP a fat reserve on hand
7. Why don’t guys have breasts full of milk again? You are going to question the birds and the bees. You are going to maybe even question why you are the gender that you are.
8. The guilt and selfishness you are going to feel when you decide to quit breastfeeding. Trust me, you are going to feel this feeling no matter what you do and whenever you decide to do it. Don’t let other moms or lactation nurses make you feel like a loser when you decide to quit. You can’t nurse forever. There will be a time when you quit and you’ll most likely feel some sort of sadness because of it.
9. You are probably going to get annoyed with your partner. They are going to wonder why it is taking you so long to nurse. They are going to immediately think because the baby is crying that they are hungry. They are going to pass the baby off to you without saying a word assuming the baby is wanting to nurse. You are going to want to tell your partner to try whipping out their chest to see if the baby starts rooting around.
10. Your breasts will tingle when you hear your baby cry. Yes, an actual physical response to your baby being hungry! I felt this and was kind of creeped out by it.
So there you have it. Ten things they don’t tell you about breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a hard, sometimes painful, exhausting job. If you decide to nourish your baby with your milk, kudos to you. If you decide not to or decide to quit for whatever reason, don’t beat yourself up about it.
I never breastfed. I knew from day one that formula was the way I wanted to go.
Great post and so true! Breastfeeding is not easy! I remember feeling like a cow all the time.
That is so true! And there is more nobody tells you about pregnancy and parenting! I think people just don’t want to make new moms scared ! I know, I’m not telling it ALL to my childless friends LOL 🙂
This is a thorough post! Breastfeeding did not work out for me.
My daughter has decided against breastfeeding for a couple of reasons some of these included but she’s having twins and I think that’s the biggest reason I think it just seems overwhelming to her right now.
I never could breastfeed due to lack of milk, but i have a friend that is going to try, I’ll have to pass this along to her!
I didn’t breast feed. I never even thought about it. But… thank goodness I am OLD and don’t have to think about it now.
Great resource and honest expectations. That’s the number one thing to teach and explain to others. I never thought number 10 was true…and yet…yup!
I am still breastfeeding now and yes, there’s a lot people don’t tell you about it. I wish they had a course in college on it to be honest because it is a job! Those newborns eat every 10 minutes! My son will be two in December and I’m happy to report we’re still going strong. Not sure when we’ll quit but I know that these things work themselves out for the best. Good for your for breastfeeding momma, it really is best if you can manage to get through the rough parts in the beginning.
Been through most of these twice. I could tell stories that would bring you to tears in laughter.
Haha! I got a kick out of reading this! I think I remember my mom saying much the same thing about breast feeding. She loved it, but it also had drawbacks. I was not able to breast feed my kids. I wish I had, but it is what it is.
this is quite very knowledgeable for me – thanks for all those information. I can’t imagine my breast getting larger than it already is though @_@
Great tips. I wish I would have known some of these things when I had my babies.
I gave it a try but I just couldnt’ yes I was so sore and my breast got engorged. My daughter has a rare genetic disorder that caused her to have vpi and everything went up her nose.
Where was this puts when I needed it! You nailed it on things no one will tell you. It is not easy and such a job!
I was reading all of these and thinking YEP, YEP, oh YES!
The best one for me is #9. Man I was so annoyed when my husband would hand the baby to me every time they cried. Dude, they are not always hungry!!!
I didn’t have much guilt when I stopped because I was blessed with children that stopped breastfeeding on their own. Thank goodness. I would have felt bad about making them stop I am sure!
GREAT POST!
They definitely don’t tell you everything about breastfeeding when you leave the hospital. These are things that you usually find out from other moms.
I think many of the things we DO hear and because of that people fear giving it a try. Like the hurting. If it does hurt then see a lactation consultant because it means you may need help getting latch right. But breastfeeding can save money which goes alOng with your blog name 🙂
This is a great post – very “real” and matter-of-fact – I like that! You hear so much about how good it is to breast-feed…and no one really tells you about the nitty-gritty of it! Thank you!
Great info for people who are soon to become mothers!
Well, I was surprised by that list myself! I have yet to get pregnant and have my own little one.. milk coming out of my breasts has always freaked me out a bit..
Been there and done that several times and your list is very accurate. It was well worth it to me and I do think it gets much easier as time goes on.
Yes! To all, Breastfeeding is so amazing. I’m currently breastfeeding my 13mo and I still feel guilty about my older child quitting ON HIS OWN at 14mos…. When it was all his decision!
Definitely agree they don’t tell you everything. Especially that both you and baby need to learn how it works but once you both get it sussed it’s the greatest thing
Breastfeeding was a major challenge for me. I didn’t last long, but I did try.
This is a post that every first time mama should read 🙂
If I could have kids I would totally breastfeed. Most of my friends did. I had a friend who had some problems so she joined a milk group where moms who had extra would donate their milk to moms in need.
I did hate everyone getting in my boob business with my first baby. I was a kid too though, so I was pretty modest. By baby #2 I was long over the modesty. 😉
I didn’t have the option to breastfeed but hearing moms talk about it I think sometimes I got lucky. I know it’s a great bonding experience and wonderful for baby but the horror stories kill me.
Wonderful read for any woman contemplating breast feeding!
I’m a huge breastfeeding advocate. 🙂 The colostrum is the perfect food for that new baby’s tiny tummy…no topping off of formula needed. Babies like to suckle for comfort and that’s completely ok. 🙂
This is great info to put out there for expecting moms because you can’t find a lot of this in books! Soon-to-be mamas need to know what they’re in for 😉
Yep! I do wish someone had told me that the milk doesn’t come in right away! Also that my chest would get so big when the mild comes in that it will be PAINFUL! The one that really got me was “you will lose weight while breastfeeding” PEH-LEASE!! lol
I don’t have kids yet, but I nannied for years and heard mommies say all of these things. I do think they all believed it helped the lose weight. One mommies little boy ate so much, she felt like she could get enough nutrition in her body to keep up. crazy.
My kids are grown, but I did breastfeed both of them. I remember all of this! They were very different ‘feeders’ too and both weaned themselves when they were ready, one at 10 months and one at 18 months. I wouldn’t have changed anything even if I knew these things before I started breastfeeding.
This is a great post about a lot of things that many don’t know about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be very difficult and it is definitely a lot of work.
Oh my goodness- all these tips are so true! Especially the part where it is your job. It certainly feels like you spend all your time doing only this the first few weeks.
Breast feeding is no joke, it hurts like hell! No one told me there would be blood the first few days…
When my girls were young I so wanted to breast feed but unfortunately I couldn’t. I always envied those who did.
AMEN for #2! So true. I didn’t know about the fat storage during feeding…I felt like she ate all my food and there wasn’t any fat left for me (not that I’m complaining!!) 🙂
Really, what a great post. I love the honesty. My son/I was one we had to supplement formula for health issues and I had to stop myself from feeling guilty.
I breastfed past one and felt soooo guilty after stopping. She is 2 now and I wonder all the time- what if I had just kept nursing through all the problems we were having. Its tough! Very great post!