I find it extremely interesting that many new moms to be and dads today have never been around a new baby. There are some that have never even really been up close to a new baby or will even hold one until the one they have on the inside makes it way to the outside....
My husband and I were both very blessed to have been around enough babies before we had our own and I think it made a huge difference in our comfort zone of bringing a new baby home.
My point being here is that if you find yourself in the position of being pregnant--go find a baby to hold, change some diapers, talk to other young parents and see how they carry and position their baby.
In my job of helping new mothers learn to breastfeed, I see mom's not only struggling with maneuvering their breasts, and being extremely uncomfortable doing that but also being uncomfortable with positioning their baby. I try to relate everything I teach, to something we already know or are familiar with...
So when you think about positioning a baby at a breast to breastfeed, then think about the position not only you are in, but also the position of the baby.
You are going to be sitting there for awhile, especially in the first couple of weeks when everyone is learning what to do and so your comfort level is of extreme importance. I hear and see mom's every
day sitting in very uncomfortable positions and when I say, "let's get you comfortable," they look at me with a combo look of, "there is no way I am going to move, because I just got this baby latched on..." and/or "I don't care if it hurts or is uncomfortable, my baby was starving and now he/she is eating and you are not going to interrupt this...".
There are a couple of faults with those thoughts:
1. If you are so tense and sitting in an unnatural position, not only will you have to go see the chiropractor next week, but your tenseness, anxiousness, discomfort or whatever you would like to call it, all affects your milk supply, your let down and even the emotional bond you are having or not having with your baby.
2. Most of the time, if you are uncomfortable, your baby is uncomfortable also and usually is not getting much milk. Have you ever been sucking a big thick milkshake through a straw and the end of the straw gets squished together? Pretty frustrating--you don't get much milkshake and you end up with a mutilated straw end. Well, that's what it is like for you and baby, if baby is not latched on correctly. Your nipple is going to come out of baby's mouth kinda mutilated looking and baby is going to be pretty frustrated because he/she felt like they were sucking a milkshake out of a straw and the straw got squeezed together. So in the long run, no one benefited. You got cracked, sore, bleeding nipples and a frustrated baby.
3. If baby is latched correctly, then you will be able to move around and change positions.
Henceforth, the importance of good positioning, relaxation and feeling comfortable holding a baby. So go to church, offer to keep the nursery, spend a day or two with a friend who has a newborn, Babysit....the least you could do is go to the store and buy a baby doll to practice holding.
Next entry....breastfeeding from the baby's perspective....
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