Prepare for a Positive Birth with THE BIRTH CLASS
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Breastfeeding may be the next natural step after birth but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, many mothers admit that it took them 6 – 8 weeks to establish a good breastfeeding rhythm and often, there’s a lot of hurdles before you get to that easy feeding stage.
Support and persistence is essential but there’s also so much about breastfeeding that may come as a surprise (but is also incredibly charming…perhaps even magical!). This quick guide to breastfeeding may fill in some of your knowledge gaps and will hopefully encourage you to actively prepare for your feeding journey.
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Learn about breastfeeding What prompts your body to make milk, how your baby encourages more milk production, what a good latch looks like and what you can expect in the first days and weeks post-birth.
Understand the benefits of antenatal expressing Most women spend under two hours with their care provider during pregnancy, hence you need to be proactive with your birth education. Many midwives and obstetricians sing the praises of antenatal expressing but it’s not something that often gets discussed. Raise it with them, ask if you’re a suitable candidate and get to know your breasts and nipples while you express.
Find a local lactation consultant (LC) Having the name and phone number of a local and recommended LC on hand for the first few weeks and months of feeding (when problems are most likely to arise) is very comforting.
Organise a basket of breastfeeding essentials For beside the bed and the lounge so they’re within easy reach. Think a water bottle with straw, snacks, a night light, wipes and burping cloths.
Plan for postpartum and breastfeeding Breastfeeding requires perseverance and patience, support and encouragement. Prioritise rest, hydration, warmth and skin on skin daily. And remember: keep distractions and stressors to a minimum.
When your newborn won’t stop feeding (or feeds for 45 minutes, naps for 15minutes, then feeds again), this is called cluster feeding. It’s a normal, healthy and expected stage in your breastfeeding journey.
Cluster feeding is when your baby feeds frequently and for longer periods and they do it for two main reasons:
It’s important to note that breastfeeding isn’t just about feeding; your baby is comforted and soothed by breastmilk because it contains so many settling and calming hormones. Your breast is also a warm place and one they know well; it’s here that they can tune in to the rhythm of your breath and the beat of your heart, just like they did in utero.
When your baby is breastfeeding, her saliva enters your body through the nipple and tells your body exactly what it needs. Breastfeeding is a private conversation between mother and baby where your baby asks and promptly receives what they need. It’s really quite amazing.
The composition of breastmilk changes in response to your baby’s saliva; if pathogens are detected, your body creates antibodies to fight the infection and those antibodies travel through breast milk back into your baby. The same goes for nutritional composition; breastmilk changes every day, according to the specific, individual needs of your baby. Your breastmilk is an ever changing, bespoke recipe that’s guided by your baby’s nutritional and immunological needs.
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Sore, cracked and irritated nipples are a common symptom in the early days of breastfeeding. However, cracked nipples are usually a sign that your baby isn’t latching correctly. Because your baby will feed frequently in the first few days and weeks (expect to feed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period), sore nipples will get progressively worse unless you seek expert advice and guidance. This is vital as nipple pain is one of the reasons why new mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they intended.
Travel is a priority for my Australian/Fijian family. We try to get back to Fiji once a year so the boys can better understand and have a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage. I’m also partial to a margarita by the pool.
If you’re recovering from a caesarean birth (c-section) it’s helpful to remember that your body needs to heal after major abdominal surgery. Caesarean births are common (roughly one in three in Australia) but significant surgery requires adequate recovery time. Here's what you can expect in your caesarean recovery.
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If you had a caesarean birth and you’ve noticed an overhang or a bulge over your scar, we want you to know that it’s completely normal and a natural part of birth recovery. It’s not dependent on whether you had a planned or emergency caesarean nor is it a result of a bad incision or hindered healing process; it’s simply a common side-effect of wound healing.
If you’re in the third trimester you’re no doubt thinking about all that’s to come; labour, birth, and a precious newborn baby. There is so much to look forward to and prepare for. But often, we spend so much time thinking of what our baby needs that we rarely think about ourselves. So, we’re here to gently encourage you (read: implore you!) to start thinking about your post-birth recovery. It’s generally quite a slow process and for many women, especially first-time mothers, it can be quite confronting. We don’t want to scare you but research shows that realistic expectations pave the way for a positive postpartum experience
Engorged breasts are normal and expected in early postpartum. If you’ve just birthed your first baby and you're shocked at the firmness and fullness of your breasts, don’t be alarmed. This is your body doing its job; making and storing breastmilk after birth.
You may have heard some nightmarish stories about mastitis and frankly, it’s not something you want to contend with at any stage of your breastfeeding journey. It’s most common in the first three months postpartum but it can strike at any time, particularly if your baby has reduced their feeds, is starting to sleep for longer periods at night or you’re weaning.