Breastfeeding - what I wish I had known!

[noitsachicken]

Hi,

I am after a bit of help please.
I am a peer supporter at my local breastfeeding support group, I am writing a short flyer/leaflet listing all the normal things about breastfeeding that no one tells you about!

Such as cluster feeding, growth spurts, frequent feeding, milk not coming in for a few days.
We have so many mums coming in who are worried because they do not know these things are normal!

Can you help me please?

What do you wish you had know before you started, what would have made you worry less?

Thanks

I think the prevalent 'if there's an issue you top up' attitude amongst the medical profession is very problematic. Dd1 was for no good reason taken away for 4 hours after her birth, then i got told to give her formula because she hasn't breastfed! I'm still furious about that one 6 years on. If a medical professional's first suggestion is 'top up' rather than 'try to solve the issue there is with breastfeeding', be very suspicious.

atthestrokeoftwelve
Thanks, yes I know there is a huge range of normal.
We have lots of mums coming in who don't realise that their babies may feed very frequently, that cluster feeding is common, that milk does not come in immediately following birth. I am not looking to write a scientific document, just to let mums know what they might not be expecting.

let down feels like being struck with a cattle prod

I never felt let down, nor have I ever squirted milk when ds unlatches to have a nose about.

Me neither curly. Although I was told, by an experienced lactation consultant, that the thirst some women experience after latching is their let down.

I have an unused box of nursing pads in the bathroom. DS is 2.2

That some babies feed for hours on end and this doesn't mean something is wrong.

That the pain can be unbearable and although it's not supposed to hurt, there's a lack of expertise available to help

That most hcps are not breast feeding experts and you will get massive amounts of conflicting advice, so do your own research before birth and don't rely on anyone being able to help you in hospital

That sometimes your nipples spray milk after your let down and always in the worst places. Mine sprayed over a lady I just met at a breastfeeding group, worse thing she didn't notice it just sat in her hair and on her shoulder.

How rubbish breast pads are if you have a lot of milk.