What It Feels Like To Learn How To Breastfeed
For any expectant mom, breastfeeding her newborn is definitely on top of her wishlist. It was no different for me as well. So, when I very enthusiastically enrolled myself for free prenatal classes during my pregnancy, my husband wasn’t surprised at all. In fact, he encouraged me all the way. He would often take time out from his busy schedule to drop and pick me up from our hospital where the classes were being conducted. He would also not miss those classes where his presence was required. Yes, the staff did involve spouses in their breastfeeding training sessions! But more about that later. First, let me share my own experience at those training sessions.
The first breastfeeding training class was very encouraging. The ambiance, which had an entire room filled with pregnant women in various stages of gestation, made me feel that I was not alone in it. The sense of a shared goal gave a boost to my confidence. There was a lactation expert who conducted these classes along with the nursing professionals of the hospital. They used props like baby-sized dolls to demonstrate different types of breastfeeding positions. We were made aware of the different types of pregnancy/nursing pillows we can opt for and the various ways they can be helpful.
And then, there were sessions which dealt exclusively about nipple care. It was recommended that we start using some of the nipple care butter cremes a month before our actual due date. This way the nipples will be well moisturized by the time we are ready to breastfeed the little ones. Likewise, each session covered varied topics like latching techniques, ways of pumping milk, benefits of breastfeeding, and how to deal with mastitis or clogged breasts.
By the end of these sessions, my confidence had soared. I felt I was completely prepared to take on this role once my baby arrived. Then came the D-Day when we welcomed our son into this whole new world. Soon, it was time for a reality check. Will my newly found knowledge and training in breastfeeding hold me in good stead? As it turned out, it was far from what I thought it would turn out to be.
Right at the onset, I realized that holding a doll to your breast and holding your baby are two different things altogether. Newborn babies are mighty wriggly, unlike those motionless dolls. And what’s more? They’re slippery too. So, more than feeding the baby, I would be scared I might drop him. Next came the sore, engorged nipples. Yes, despite moisturizing those titbits for nearly a month, it seemed as though they too were not prepared for hours of sucking. The only saving grace was my knowledge of the breast pumps which came in handy at this time. However, I was a mess when it came to storing breast milk safely. How come I didn’t remember to ask such questions in the prenatal classes? It’s simply because I didn’t know about it. But despite all these hurdles, I didn’t give up. I stuck to my guns that I’ll continue feeding my baby as long as I could.
I tried all the breastfeeding positions I was taught until I finally found one that suited me and my baby the best. That done, the next step was to deal with the engorged nipples. I mixed it up a bit. I went with breastfeeding twice a day – morning and night. The rest of the time, I used a bottle to feed the pumped breast milk. Since storage was a big mystery for me, I stuck to feeding freshly pumped milk which was an hour or two old. I’d pump soon after the baby would finish the stock. This way, by the time the baby slept, I pumped the golden liquid and kept it ready for the wake-up time.
In all, my experience with learning breastfeeding was like learning to drive without having a car. No matter how much you prepare yourself in theory, things will always be different when you face it practically. Having said that, though, we can always apply whatever we learn to our advantage. Because some knowledge is better than complete ignorance. And by being at it and not giving up, you’ll surely gain success in your endeavor to breastfeed your baby.
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