Breastfeeding Secrets

Breastfeeding is a most fulfilling experience, and moms are always excited to hear advice about how they can be better at it. Here, four moms reveal the best breastfeeding advice they’ve ever received and given.
Abbie Yabot, breastfeeding advocate, La Leche League Leader, Breastfeeding Club Founder
Best advice received
Don’t bring bottles to the hospital. The temptation to give a bottle during the early days is highest because mommy and baby are still learning to latch. Instead bring a list of phone numbers of friends who have successfully breastfed and breastfeeding professionals.
Best advice given
Think happy thoughts! As my husband puts it, breastfeeding is 99 percent mind work and one percent body work. But if a mom feels doubtful about her milk supply or if she has negative feelings, the breast milk, no matter how bountiful, wouldn’t flow out. If mom feels anything negative, all she has to do is close her eyes, take a few deep breaths, think happy thoughts, and the milk will flow freely.

Buding Dee, LATCH President and Co-founder
Best advice received
Our body is amazing! Visualize your breasts as a factory as opposed to a dam, warehouse, or storage facility. We can and do produce milk on demand. So long as the baby needs it, we will keep producing it. This empowered me and gave me the confidence to understand the whole concept of supply and demand.
Best advice given
The goal of breastfeeding is sufficiency, such a beautiful thing. As much as there is the concern of not producing enough milk, overproduction needs to be managed as well. There are many women concerned with making milk that is more than what her baby needs and sometimes, this false expectation is a barrier to breastfeeding success.

Pat Kho, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Best advice received
Drink when your baby drinks and sleep when your baby sleeps. Master the art of breastfeeding lying down; this breastfeeding position is definitely a lifesaver!
Best advice given
In the first few days of your baby’s life, you will not see your milk even if you squeeze your breasts. If your baby poops and pees regularly (at least three bowel movements per day and at least five urine outputs a day once your baby is five days old), has active alert periods, and breastfeeds frequently, he’s doing fine.

Bubbles Salvador, Writer and Editor
Best advice received
Don’t stress over it and don’t be pressured. Hot compress works!
Best advice given
Breastfeeding works differently for each mom. Don’t feel bad if you can’t breastfeed. It doesn’t make you less of a mom and it doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. Don’t allow others to judge you if you can’t breastfeed.

This story first appeared in Urban Mom.