Confidence: Most important, have confidence in yourself that you can do this, if you have trouble call a lactation consultant, don’t wait! I wouldn’t have been able to get through the first week without one. They are great, they come with a suitcase (literally, she had one with wheels!) full of tricks and a scale to see how much the baby is eating and they don’t leave until everything is going ok, they are worth their weight in gold. Friends who are breastfeeding are great support but there is nothing like a professional when you’re having a problem. Usually the hospital has one and the pediatrician’s office sometimes does too. If not look up your local Le Leche League, they always know one.
The Magic Number: Six Weeks is an important amount of time if you are struggling with breastfeeding. Everyone always says it gets so much better after six weeks, they are right. I mean there’s no magic breastfeeding fairy that comes and makes it easy or anything but it gets way better. I could feel it getting better between week 5 and 6, it really did make a difference to know that I had to give it at least six weeks to know how I felt about it. And to breastfeed for six weeks to see if it felt better by then.
Final Word: I’ve now been breastfeeding for 3.5 months and just last week I felt like I got the hang of it. Everyone is different. Hopefully you’ll be a natural and it will be easy for you and you won’t need any of this advice. But, if not, don’t worry. You can do it! And it will get easier!
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