Top 10 things I wish parents knew about breastfeeding

Aug 3

1. Breastfeeding is a learned skill—for both you and your baby.

It's normal if it doesn't feel natural at first. Positioning, latch, milk supply, and baby's feeding skills often improve with time and support. Struggling doesn't mean you're failing. Having extra support at home after the baby arrives is vital so you and baby can just focus on practicing.

2. Pain is common—but it is NOT normal.

Some tenderness in the first few days can happen, but cracked nipples, severe pain, or toe-curling feeds usually mean something needs to be evaluated. Early help can prevent bigger problems.

Possible causes include:

Poor latch
Tongue tie or oral restrictions
Muscle tension
Positioning issues
Nipple damage or infection

3. Your milk changes to meet your baby's needs.

As babies grow:

Fat content adjusts
Immune factors continue
Calories remain valuable
Antibodies increase when your child is sick

After the first 6 weeks, babies continue to take about the same amount of milk each week and month until they start weaning. You do not have to keep “making more” after that point, your milk adjusts to provide the right amount of calories, fat, etc. Your milk continues providing nutrition and immune protection well into toddlerhood when they are eating solids as well.

4. Feeding isn't just about food.

Breastfeeding provides:

Comfort
Co-regulation
Pain relief
Hydration
Immune protection
Connection

Sometimes babies nurse because they're hungry.
Sometimes they nurse because they're overwhelmed, scared, teething, or simply need you.

5. The pump, bottle, and pacifier you use matters

To keep breastfeeding successful for you and baby, you will need an efficient pump that is strong enough and fitted correctly to remove milk when you are away from baby. Sometimes the handy wearable pumps don’t cut it, especially if you are having to do a lot of pumping and supply may be in issue. Also if you will be away from your baby and they will need a bottle, the flow and shape of the nipple is very important to keep as similar to the breast as possible to not create a bottle preference or impact their oral motor skills. A gradually sloped “triangle” shaped bottle nipple and the slowest flow is generally the best option. The pacifier should be the same rounded shape.

6. Learn Hand Expression

You never know when you might need it! Especially useful in the first days to remove colostrum, but it also may be needed if there is a natural disaster and there’s no electricity, if you forgot your pump at home and you’re at work, if you forgot to pump the morning before you went to an amusement park.

7. It doesn’t have to be “All or Nothing.”

Some families:

Exclusively breastfeed.
Pump exclusively.
Combination feed. (ex: Breastfeed when home, pump and bottles when at work.)
Have low milk supply and supplement with formula.
Breastfeed for months.
Breastfeed for years.

Success isn't measured by exclusivity—it's measured by meeting your family's goals. Goals can also change with time. There are always benefits no matter how much breastfeeding or breastmilk was provided.

8. Breastfeeding changes after the first year.

Toddlers typically nurse:

Less frequently
More efficiently
Mostly around sleep or comfort
During illness
During big developmental changes

Breastfeeding after 1 year looks very different than at 1 month. You can “adjust” the breastfeeding to your needs as well at this point. Such as only nursing morning, nap, and bedtime. Nursing on demand when home but not when out. Your breastmilk will adjust and you won’t need to pump (at work or out) unless you want to. It may take a little time to wean your breastmilk though at first.

9. Extended breastfeeding has benefits for both Mom and child.

Current American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations support breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond, as mutually desired by parent and child.

Potential benefits include: