When you were pregnant, you probably read every baby-creating book you could get your hands on. As your due date approached, you scoured the web for tips on surviving labor, and became an expert on all the things that delivering your baby might bring. In those last few days of pregnancy and the first few hours of new Mommydom, you likely read about caring for a newborn.

Then the nurse brings you a hungry baby to nurse.

Uh-oh…

In all the “big picture” things to read about, you might have skipped over the parts about the ins and outs of breastfeeding. Sure, you probably got the basics covered, but there is a lot more to it than most people ever even know about.

Here are a few of those minor breastfeeding details that seem like such huge obstacles for a breastfeeding rookie:

The First Feeding

It’s tough sometimes, to get a brand new baby latched onto a nipple. There is nothing wrong with this, and it does not mean that you will have trouble breastfeeding! It just means that you have a newborn that has never done this before, and needs a little practice. Hospitals have nurses and specially trained lactation experts who can give you some pointers.

Arming yourself with the proper supplies can keep you on a smooth track to breastfeeding success. A good breast pump, comfy pillows, and easy to manage nursing bras and clothes are lifesavers for rookie nursers.

Sore Boobs

When your milk finally comes in, sometimes it seems that your breasts are trying to make up for lost time. Meaning they get really, really full. This sometimes causes pain and hardness as they attempt to hold way too much liquid than is comfortable.

Letting the baby feed as often as he or she wants to will help. So will nursing equally from both breasts, even in the same feeding. If the baby’s tiny tummy just won’t hold enough, a breast pump and a hot shower or heat pad can be your best friends.

Once breastfeeding is underway and you’re beginning to feel like an old pro, the cosmos sometimes decide to throw you a breastfeeding curveball. After the initial soreness of tender nipples that have never fed a baby fades away, you sometimes have to deal with tired, sore, and chapped nipples that feel a little overworked.

This is a pain, both literally and figuratively, but it’s not usually a lasting problem. Check to make sure the baby is latching on well, that can be the culprit. Once this is ruled out, some lanolin and braless breathing time can help. Soon, your nipples will become accustomed to their new role, and the irritation and soreness will go away.

Filling That Tiny Tummy

Speaking of that little thing, they are so very tiny that it just doesn’t take much for a newborn to feel full. This means lots of frequent small meals. For the first few days, when your actual milk hasn’t come in yet, you’re actually feeding the baby a kind of “starter milk” called colostrum. It’s not as filling as the real thing, so the baby will have to eat more often.

When you do start making the good stuff, they’ll stay full a bit longer. All those extra feedings do come with a bonus, though…extra practice for you, and a healthy supply of milk when it comes in. The more you nurse, the more milk you make.

The other possible challenge with tiny tummy filling is the opposite worry… is my baby eating enough? For the first few days, don’t panic. Babies actually lose a few ounces before they begin gaining weight. As long as that weight gain does start and begin to climb, there shouldn’t be any worries as long as you’re nursing often.

If the doctor seems concerned about weight gain, then you could meet with a breastfeeding consultant or knowledgeable nurse for extra latching-on tips. If worse comes to worst, you can always add a bit of formula to the baby’s diet just till things pick up a bit. No need to panic!

Nurse, Sleep, Eat, and Repeat.

Nothing is quite so exhausting as taking care of a newborn…except taking care of a newborn that you are also nursing round-the-clock.

Make this your mantra…”This won’t last forever.”

It won’t even last for weeks or months. As your baby grows, the need to nurse every couple of hours will taper off into a much more manageable schedule. When you get there, you’ll be so proud of you!

In the meantime, just be sure you nap when the baby is sleeping, even if the dishes aren’t done and the laundry can be considered a small mountain. Keep the baby and the nursing supplies close to your bed so that you don’t have to get up and trek across the house every time the baby wakes up. Pump some breast milk and enlist the baby’s daddy or any idle family member or friend to feed the baby when you can.

In fact, send those loved ones off to do all those other things you need done. Relax and just be a new mommy while someone else makes sure that the rest of the household has clothes to wear and cooked food to eat!

No matter how exhausting and yucky those first few weeks are, just remember that it will get better and better. Take cute pictures while the baby is still tiny and squishy, make sure you eat and sleep, and the rest of the world can just wait for you.

If you get stuck on some detail, just chat with your favorite nurse or doctor for advice or reassurance.

After giving it an honest effort, and you discover that for some reason nursing just doesn’t work out for you, don’t get down about it. Nursing isn’t for everyone, and there are lots and lots of formula-fed babies out there that thrive. There is no reason to be upset.

Related Articles:

> Breastfeeding Rookie: When Baby Does Everything BUT Eat
> Breastfeeding Rookie: Clogged What!?

Products You Might  Need:

Lansinoh Affinity Breast Pump	Simple Wishes Breastpump Bra