Grace for the Breastfeeding Journey & Family Essentials
Deciding to breastfeed can be a huge transitional journey for a mother. Knowing how much a baby will require of their mother is something that is learned after they are born. One thing that encouraged my decision to breastfeed my children was knowing why I wanted to breastfeed them. Unpacking those reasons helped me navigate the joys and challenges I encountered through my breastfeeding journey. If you desire to breastfeed, this blog will provide information on necessities that may be helpful after your baby is born.
During my first month home, I remember having some nights of frustration or feeling like my daughter was not getting enough of my nutrients because of her weight. It can be intimidating when doctors suggest you need to add additional supplements if they don’t believe the baby is at the weight they desire to see during the first follow-up. For a moment, I felt some guilt and shame for adding formula to the regimen for the first week. Getting my daughter back to her birth weight was something I did not need to stress myself out about as a new mother, yet I did.
My second time around breastfeeding with my son, I trusted what my body was producing and did not work myself up about how quickly he needed to get back to his birth weight. It takes days for a mother’s milk to come in fully so I embraced the journey at home after my second birth and allowed my milk to flow without supplementing. I learned each day to replace my fear of breastfeeding with faith in what my body was able to do.
Breastfeeding After Birth Essentials:
Your baby should be able to breastfeed in the first 24 hours of birth with skin-to-skin contact as long as no complications have to be resolved after the birth of baby. Through the first couple of days after birth, your body will begin to process the baby feeding that will help the mother to produce the milk. Colostrum is what they call the liquid before seeing the full milk produced. Here is a list of breastfeeding essentials that may help the journey of feeding your baby.
Family/Friend Support: Confiding with family and friends who will champion your breastfeeding journey is important to stay encouraged in the process. Identify those who may be a great support from their own journey.
Breast pump: Checking with your insurance company could bring some ease in them covering a breast pump without coming out of pocket. You can check your eligibility for a breast pump and additional essentials on Aeroflow’s website. Sometimes mothers may be selling their breast pump for half the price or organizations in your city may have some to offer for free.
Nursing Pillow: Nursing pillows can be found in almost any local store that provides baby care items. These pillows can be helpful for the comfort of mother and baby—especially during the early phase of learning how to breastfeed.
Nursing pads: Some mothers may leak more heavily and nursing pads can ensure that milk does not leak through a shirt after a feeding session or when the breast is full.
Nipple Cream: Creams are suggested for breastfeeding in case pain occurs or a mother experiences cracked nipples. If these things occur—it could be an indication that you may want to look closer at how the baby is latching on to the nipple.
Maternity Bra: A special bra for breastfeeding is helpful when you are out with your baby and they are ready to get milk that brings comfort to both mom and baby.
Haakaa: Keeping a haakaa around may be helpful for catching extra milk being produced. It also provides an alternative to spending long periods of time getting the breast pump set up.
There is grace for the journey to breastfeeding. Every moment a mother feels weak in her nights or days of breastfeeding; the word of God shares about boasting in our weakness because Christ is our strength. The scripture 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” Christ's strength is enough for you each day of breastfeeding and His wisdom can guide you whenever you believe it is time to transition to something new beyond the journey of breastfeeding.
