Being able to nurse my babies was such a beautiful part of my life. I am absolutely aware that this isn’t possible for every mother, so I was very grateful that it worked out for me. It is definitely not easy, and I can see why some people are not interested in this path for feeding their baby. There were plenty of times, especially at the very beginning, when I thought this wouldn’t be the path for me either. I am glad I stuck with it though since the beginning is definitely the hardest part. I think something that really helped me was giving myself mini-goals. I would tell myself to just make it through the first 24 hours, the first 3 days, then the first week. Soon I was shooting for the first month, the first 3 months, then 6 months, and found myself making to it one year with both of my girls. I don’t think I would have made it that long if I hadn't set these smaller, more attainable goals. Going back to work is another transition most moms who are breastfeeding have to plan for. I think this article contains very helpful tips on how to prepare for this phase.

If you are interested in breastfeeding, I think it is definitely smart to read up on it while you are pregnant. My friend gave me this book while I was pregnant with my first daughter, and it did help a lot to be somewhat familiar with latching and different breastfeeding positions. However, nursing is definitely one of those learn by doing sort of activities. Something that absolutely amazed me in the hospital was how my babies knew what to do when they were born. It is absolutely mind-blowing to see this tiny baby that was just born knowing exactly what they are supposed to do. When I had my first daughter via c-section, I was not able to do skin-to-skin right away, so my husband was doing that with her and she tried to latch onto his nipple! So, ok, maybe they don’t know EXACTLY what to do ;) But they have a general idea, which is just so amazing to see. My firstborn did not latch correctly during our first try in the post-op room, and I had a huge blister on my left nipple. I was not able to nurse on that side for 2 days after that (I had to pump on that side). Breastfeeding can be painful at first while you are figuring it out. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is honestly all worth it in the end.

Aside from setting mini goals for myself, lactation consultants were another huge factor in my success with breastfeeding. I found their advice to be true, that if you can make it through the first 3 days, you can make it through the first two weeks, and then you are golden. Having their support to help my baby get a good latch was so helpful. Especially when it was 3 AM and I was completely exhausted and just wanted to go to sleep, their guidance and encouragement were really a saving grace. I was also really lucky that after we left the hospital, there was a wellness center right down the street from my house with lactation consultants available for appointments. I went to supplemental appointments there a few times a week for 2-3 weeks after leaving the hospital with my first child. They even noticed my baby preferred certain positions due to being breech. They have truly seen it all and gave really excellent advice. They also introduced me to the Brest Frend pillow, which was my absolute favorite nursing prop. This pillow makes nursing your baby so easy and comfortable, especially after a c-section. I highly recommend it.

I did also pump in the hospital which I found helpful because I had an idea of what to expect when I got home. I had an issue on one side so I needed to pump for a day or two and was giving my baby milk through a syringe. This was actually reassuring for me to know how much milk she was getting. Your breasts are so full those first 48 hours that you almost never feel relief, so I found pumping to be helpful. Although, you have to be sure not to pump too much so your body doesn't think you had twins and produce even more milk! The human body is seriously pretty amazing.

During the first 2-4 days of breastfeeding, you are producing colostrum which is thicker and more yellow than more mature milk. The nurses in the hospital explained that this milk is full of antibodies and white blood cells to protect your baby from infections and help with their digestion. It was really important to me to give my babies this milk (hence my first mini goal being to make it through the first 3 days). Next, your milk changes to transition milk, and your breasts can feel very full and uncomfortable. This milk is still thick and creamy, but less yellow. Regular feeding is important to prevent your milk ducts from getting clogged. After a few weeks, your milk will change to mature milk, which is lighter in color and stays consistent. Something else I find truly amazing is that the composition of your milk changes from day to day to support your baby's needs.

I found it important to make sure I was eating enough calories and staying super hydrated while breastfeeding. I was always hungry and eating much more than usual, but I was still able to shed the pounds I put on during pregnancy pretty quickly and steadily. I actually wasn’t really thinking about my weight during this time, I was more concerned with fueling my body with healthy foods and nutrients that I could pass on to my baby. I had lots of smoothies and oatmeal for breakfast. I ate a lot of sandwiches with baked chips and fruit (and a chocolate chip cookie) for lunch. That was definitely my favorite lunch postpartum. For dinners, we did a lot of takeout, but I would try to choose things with whole grains and veggies like brown rice fajita bowls from Chipotle or we would cook an easy dinner like whole wheat pasta with turkey meat sauce. I definitely ate tons of carbs, especially fruit. I had both of my girls near summer so I had lots of mango, pineapple, and strawberries. Those were also major cravings for me while I was pregnant. Staying hydrated is also so important to be successful with breastfeeding. I had a water bottle with me at all times (I actually always do, even now) and was sure to drink at least 3 (usually 4) 24 oz bottles per day. They sell lactation cookies and special teas in stores, but in my experience, if you are eating enough food, getting all of your macronutrients met, and staying hydrated, you should be set up for success.

I realize I will sound a bit crazy, but I am here to share my honest experience! I found my breast milk to be a little bit magical ;) If my babies ever had a little rash on their skin, I would rub breast milk on it and it would go away. I also found my babies were rarely ever sick. I noticed them getting sick much more once they were no longer nursing. I definitely could tell that there were antibodies being passed on to them through the milk. The absolute best part of breastfeeding was the bond I felt with my babies. I honestly cried once I started to ween them. It can be such a magical time between you and your baby. Your body releases oxytocin, the love hormone, when your milk comes so it’s actually a physiological experience that is happening that is truly special. Breastfeeding was a lot of work in the beginning, but after the first month, it was honestly a breeze.

I absolutely support moms feeding their babies in any way that is best for their bodies, their mental health, their work/life situation, and any other reasons for making this very personal decision. I just wanted to share my experience with anyone who may be on the fence about which way to go if they have a choice. For me, it was a truly special experience that I shared with my babies that I would 100% do all over again. Cracked nipples are temporary (and can totally be prevented! Be sure to be generous with ointment after each feeding!) full breasts are uncomfortable, and being the main parent responsible for every feeding can be exhausting (but also preventable if you pump and save a bottle for some nighttime feedings!). All of this is difficult, but the rewards are the bonding time you get to share with your baby and the immunity you are hopefully passing on to them from sicknesses. As moms, we do a lot of hard work to make sure our babies receive the best that we can offer them. For my own personal journey, I considered this choice to be where my work began.