While breastfeeding is the way nature intended we feed our offspring, it does not mean it will necessarily go smoothly, or be easy. If only it did, maybe all women would breastfeed.

Some women are lucky to have a good experience breastfeeding from the start. Their newborn baby latches on well, the milk comes in with no problems, and they experience relatively no pain. But not all women are so lucky. For a successful, relaxing nursing experience, you may need time to practice or get used to nursing, it may take your body some time to learn your baby’s needs (how much he eats and how often, etc.), etc. For a positive breastfeeding experience, it is suggested you start breastfeeding right after giving birth, and seek help from a lactation consultant while still in the hospital if needed.

Difficulties you may experience include:

Nipple soreness is common with first time moms. After all, you never had a baby feeding from your breasts before. This can last for a few weeks and if soreness doesn’t disappear, speak to a lactation consultant to see if your baby is latching on correctly or not, baby’s position while breastfeeding may need to be adjusted, or you may need to care for your nipples with creams.

Engorgement, or breast fullness, can be painful and if not treated can lead to infection. Engorgement is caused by congested blood vessels and milk buildup in the breast. The breasts feel swollen, hard to the touch, and painful. This fullness also leads to difficulties for your baby to feed, since the milk is not letting down, which can be frustrating for the both of you.

To overcome engorgement, try a warm bath or shower, and express milk yourself to relieve the fullness. To avoid it, try feeding more often or pumping out milk. If it is caused by difficulties nursing, try different breastfeeding positions and learn to relax while doing so.

Plugged milk duck is caused by milk buildup (which can happen if your baby is not feeding well or you are weaning). Symptoms include tenderness, heat and redness on the breast or a lump close to the surface of your skin. To relive the discomfort, massage your breast with mild pressure.

Mastitis is a breast infection. Its symptoms include fever, muscle aches, redness and tenderness on one breast. If you suspect you are suffering from mastitis, speak to your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Causes for mastitis include: stress and exhaustion, cracked nipples, plugged milk ducts or engorgement, wearing constricting bra.

To treat mastitis your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. Use warm compresses on the infected breast, rest and wear a comfortable bra. Continue breastfeeding from both breasts. The infected breast will heal faster if you keep nursing, or pump if you prefer. It is safe for your baby.

Thrush is a common yeast infection that can be passed between mom and baby through nursing. This type of an infection is hard to cure, but it largely uncommon. Symptoms include tender, deep pink nipples right after nursing, white patches and redness in baby’s mouth. If you suspect you may have thrush, contact your healthcare provider immediately for antifungal medication.

Your breasts will change throughout your pregnancy and again after childbirth, when your milk comes in. If you are planning to breastfeed and want to purchase a nursing bra, wait until about a week after you deliver. Until this time your bra size will be continuously changing.

If during pregnancy you outgrow your pre pregnancy bra, get a good, supportive bra to get you through your pregnancy, but not a nursing bra. Save your money until after birth for that. In the meantime, make sure you have good support, without underwire.

When you are ready to purchase your nursing bra, take the trip to the store. You want to try it on and get the expert help of the sales people. Before deciding on the size you will need, consider whether you will be using nursing pads. Nursing pads will affect your bra size.

Nursing bras are designed with cups that open for easy nursing, while the rest of the bra stays in place. Here’s what to look for when you shop:

• The flaps should easily open with one hand and preferably refasten with one hand. After all, you’ll be holding your hungry baby (or a sleeping baby after a feeding) in one hand. For discreet nursing in public (yea, that may happen unless you want to run to the nearest restroom every time you plan to nurse), choose a bra with fasteners that you can open without looking at them.
• The bra should support the breast from beneath even when the cup is open. That will make feeding more comfortable and reclosing the bra, less of a struggle.
• Avoid bras that open completely at the front for feeding. This design makes it harder to refasten your bra easily and discretely after a feeding.
• A nursing bra should fit comfortably. A bra that is too tight can lead to plugged ducts and breast infections.
• Avoid bras with underwire, especially in the early postpartum weeks. The breast’s milk-producing tissue extends all the way back to your rib cage and up into your armpit. An underwire may obstruct the milk ducts in this area.
• Get at least two day time bras and two night time bras. The night time ones are made completely of fabric and are less supportive, and will not leave you with a feeling that you slept with your bra on, when you wake up. At the same time, night time bra fabric is elastic and will allow easy access for nursing, when needed. There are also night time bra types that have a special pocket for the nursing pads, to keep them in place through the night.

While for some new moms deciding how long to breastfeed for is a non issue, as they are planning to breastfeed for as long as they physically can, or for as long as their little one is interested, other new moms may be facing a harder time with the concept of breastfeeding and providing their baby with the best possible nutrition.

You may find that your plans are harder to execute than you anticipated, your child has their own will, or that your body has issues you may not have been aware of before. If you are interested in breastfeeding, don’t get discouraged by difficulties. You can get assistance from a lactation consultant or speak to your doctor and see what can be done. If for any reason your breastfeeding experience is cut short, try to accept the situation. It may be different with your next child.

Some reasons that may lead to an early termination of your breastfeeding experience may include:

You may have plans to be nursing your baby for x number of months or years, but your baby has his own thoughts in the matter. Some babies wean themselves at some point, while others have a harder time. If your baby looses interest in the breast, he may be ready to wean himself. It may be harder for you to accept if you had your heart set to nurse for a while longer, but as long as your baby is happy and gets the nutrition he needs from other sources, there is no need to worry. You can continue to express (pump) your milk and bottle feed it to your baby if you wish.

Some women experience dry spells, especially when returning to work. When you stop breastfeeding on a regular basis your milk supply may decrease. Also the added stress in balancing your new lifestyle, leaving your baby for longer periods of time and other emotional factors as well as fatigue, all add up and may influence your milk supply.

If you are experiencing a dry spell but wish to continue breastfeeding, don’t give up! There are ways to help your body produce more milk such as fenugreek supplements, mother’s milk tea and more. Speak to a lactation consultant to see what will be best for you.

Some new moms find that a medical condition prevents them from breastfeeding or continuing to breastfeed. If you suffer from a chronicle condition that requires you to take medication that is not safe for your baby, you may have to stop breastfeeding.

Women who have had breast enlargement or reduction may experience difficulties breastfeeding as well. This depends on the type of surgery you had. Speak to your doctor or a lactation consultant about any questions or concerns you may have.

Remember, although breastfeeding is a great way to both provide your baby with good nutrition and bonding time, there are other ways and solutions. If you find that you cannot breastfeed, it is NOT the end of the world. Remember, you may have a different experience with you next pregnancy/child.

For some new moms deciding how long to breastfeed is a non issue, as they are planning to breastfeed for as long as they physically can, or for as long as their little one is interested, while other new moms may be facing a harder time with the concept of breastfeeding and providing their baby with the best possible nutrition.

Even if you plan to breastfeeding for a while, you may be forced to stop for different reasons. Here are a few of those:

You may have plans to be nursing you baby for ‘x’ number of months or years, but your baby has his own thoughts in the matter. Some babies wean themselves at some point, while others have a harder time. If your baby loses interest in the breast, he may be ready to wean himself. It may be harder for you to accept this hint if you had your heart set to nurse for a while longer, but as long as your baby is happy and gets the nutrition he needs from other sources, there is no need to worry.

Some women experience dry spells, especially when returning to work. When you stop breastfeeding on a regular basis your milk supply may decrease. Also the added stress in balancing your new lifestyle, leaving your baby for longer periods of time and other emotional factors including fatigue, all add up and may influence your milk supply.

If you are experiencing a dry spell but wish to continue breastfeeding, don’t give up! There are ways to help your body produce more milk such as fenugreek supplements, mother’s milk tea and more. Speek to a lactation consultant to see what will be best for you.

If you have certain chronic illnesses, you may be required to return to taking medications you could not consume during your pregnancy. These medications may be harmful for your baby and you will be forced to stop breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor before resuming any medication while breastfeeding. There may be supplements to your medication, but not all medications have alternatives that will allow you to keep breastfeeding.

Mastitis is a nasty breast infection that can infect breastfeeding moms. When infected, you will have to cease breastfeeding during treatment, which may lead to weaning altogether even if it is not your intention.

It is important to remember, that no matter what happens, you have done your best and whether you breastfeed your baby for a couple of months or a couple of years, it will not affect your relationship with your child or dictate how good a mother you are. Don’t be hard on yourself and seek medical (or other) help when needed to assure the health of both yourself and your little one.

After breastfeeding your baby for a few months, the time may come when you want to wean your baby from breast milk. Your baby is teething, the biting has become too painful, you want your breasts back to yourself, or maybe your baby is growing older and you just think it is time- no matter what the reason may be, you should take charge and make the decision. You do not need to wait for your baby / toddler to wean himself/herself, which can take much longer than you are willing to allow for.

Think before you act. If you are ready to wean your baby, try to start gradually and replace breast feedings with the bottle or solids depending on your baby’s age and current diet. Once you are left with one or two breast feedings a day, you may be ready to stop all together.

Depending on your baby’s nature and attachment to the breast, it can be a tough transition for the both of you. You may find your baby having a harder time falling asleep as he has become accustomed to breastfeeding before bed, or it might take longer to calm him down as he has grown used to expecting the breast for comfort. You should expect to face a few challenging days, even weeks, before your baby will accept this change. Make sure to offer the bottle instead and do not be discouraged if he refuses to take it. With time he will change his ways.

While your baby adapts to the changes, your body will take a little while to adjust as well. It usually takes about two weeks for your breast milk to dry out completely, and it can be quit painful for a while. Your milk production will continue in the beginning, not knowing about your decision to stop breastfeeding.

To relieve the pain and get you through this phase, here are some suggestions: wear a sports bra that is one or two sizes smaller, cold cabbage leaves in your bra will both help stop milk production and relieve the pain, you can also take Motrin if the pain is overwhelming. Do not stimulate your breasts- shower with your back to the water stream and try not to get any water on your breasts. Avoid anyone touching your breasts as they are sensitive during this phase. Lastly, do not pump, unless you want to keep your milk supply running. And stick to your decision.

If you break the weaning mid-process, it will be that much harder to wean your baby the second time around.  So before you wean, make sure you are ready for it!

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Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed babies. Breast milk is designed to provide a baby with all its needs right from the start. Right after birth and for the first 3-5 days after, your body produces colostrum, which is a thick yellow fluid, rich in protein, low in fat, and high in carbohydrate, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Within the first week after birth, your milk will come in, replacing the colostrum, and it will change in content with your baby’s growth.

Creating a solid basis for breastfeeding is important for a good mutual nursing experience for both you and your baby. The key to breastfeeding successfully is a proper latch. When there is a good latch, the baby will get the milk or colostrums needed to grow and get stronger, while simultaneously stimulating your body to produce more milk.

A poor latch can lead to a malnourished and frustrated baby, which in turn may discourage Mom. More so, a poor latch can cause the Mother nipple pain – if not cracking and bleeding. If the baby does not get milk, you may experience engorgement, which is painful and will make it even harder for your baby to breastfeed.

A good nursing position is important in achieving a proper latch. You can start practicing right in the delivery room, minutes after your baby was born. Skin to skin contact is important, and tummy to tummy positioning with easy access to the breast is crucial. If you have doubt or any questions, you should ask to see a lactation consultant in the hospital.

Where there is demand, there is milk. If you wait for your milk to come in before you start breastfeeding, you will miss out on the breastfeeding experience. Almost all mothers can breastfeed, but you have to stimulate your body to do so. All you need to do is allow your baby to do what is natural, for your body to get the signal. It is that simple.

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Breastfeeding is a very personal and intimate activity between you and your baby, and deciding to wean your baby, and when can (but doesn’t have to) be a bit tricky, if not painful process for the both of you.

It is really up to you to decide when is a good time to quit ‘the boob’, or when you have just had enough (which is a normal  – do not beat yourself up. You have given your baby a lot already just giving him colostrum). There is no right or wrong (or magic) age for weaning, so go with your gut feeling. Of course you want to make sure your baby has supplements (formula or solids, depending on both age and weather he has teethes). You can try those before or during the time you choose to wean your baby.

It is recommended to wean gradually, and not just stop breastfeeding altogether one day. The later way will certainly be more painful for the both of you. It can potentially be traumatic for your baby, and you will be facing engorgement and may risk getting mastitis (a breast infection). Instead, start by skipping a feeding, and replace it with formula or solids. This way your body will learn to gradually produce less milk.

Don’t be discouraged if your baby denies other foods, but try other options. For example, if your baby refuses formula, try warming it up a bit. Breast milk is at body temperature, formula refusal may be due to too many changes (both in taste, smell and temperature).

Some babies wean themselves when they are ready (even if you may not be), which saves you from having to do it for them. But if you are ready before your baby is, start slowly and together you will reach the goal!

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If you plan to breastfeed, you should be prepared to face a lot of challenges. Although you may already be concerned about the actual act of breastfeeding and weather or not it will hurt – there are a few other issues awaiting your discovery. Once you will have your baby, get some breastfeeding experience under your belt, and are finally ready to take your baby out in public – you may encounter new issues that you may have not thought of yet.

The first time you will have to nurse in public may be a bit challenging. First, it is a very private and personal thing that it isn’t always the most comfortable for brand new moms. Your best bet is to try and find a semi-private area of the park / a booth at the restaurant (rather than table), and/or a changing room at a store.

After a couple times you will find the best places to nurse and what clothing may work best for nursing out in public (a nursing top or apron) and you will learn quickly whether or not you are even feel comfortable with the whole experience of nursing in public. If you discover that it’s too uncomfortable for you -  you can always pump and bring a bottle with you when you are out of the comfort of your own home.

The one thing you can not control, if you choose to breastfeed in public, are people’s reactions – so be prepared for anything. Some moms may nod at you, as if you shared something in common, some people will stare with disapproval or make a comment or even ask you to go somewhere else. You should know your breastfeeding rights, so you don’t feel threatened. Even tough breastfeeding in public is legal in the United States, not everyone knows it, which may lead to complaints. If you experience incidents of discrimination when breastfeeding in public or have problems at the work place, you can report it to first right.

‘How long are you planning to breastfeed?’ is a very common question people tend to ask during this stage of your life. As if you can predict if nursing will work out for you as well as for your newborn, or somehow you have foresight as to how long your body will produce milk.  What is more challenging is when the questions are geared towards judgment of your choices in breastfeeding. There will be someone who will judge you for nursing for too long, explaining to psychological implications of the act, while at the same time, another will judge you for the exact opposite, grilling you for not providing those very needed neutrinos for long enough.

You may think this is an exaggeration. Hopefully in your case it will be, and you will not experience any of these or other unpleasant incidents. But just in case, be aware, maybe even prepared with an answer, and don’t take anything to heart. You are doing the best for your baby, whatever your choice is.

I returned to work when my baby girl was 10 weeks old. I had gotten myself a Medela In style pump and thought I was ready face the challenges of going back to work while I was still breastfeeding.

Well, after the first day back at work it became clear that it is not THAT EASY! The first week was hard because I missed my baby girl and felt like I was a horrible Mom leaving her alone like that (Daddy was with her, which should have made me better, but still I felt guilty). Between that and other stresses, lack of sleep and adequate nutrition, I suddenly found that I had no milk to pump.

Frustrated and worried, I called a lactation consultant, who recommended Fenugreek supplements. She also suggested I make sure I eat and try to sleep when possible AND when pumping she said in her Australian accent, “and for God sakes, don’t look at the pump. It’s not a contest! Read a magazine or book instead.”

It worked! It really did! After about 10 days I stop taking the Fenugreek capsules and still maintained a high milk supply.

My daughter is now almost 7 months old. And a few weeks ago I had another dry spell. I though this time it was IT – no more milk for good. Then I came to my senses and bought Fenugreek capsules & Organic Mother’s Milk Tea and that same day I started using both – my milk supply went up dramatically! After experiencing two separate episodes of decreased milk supply I’ve learned that these dry spells can happen periodically.  Many of my other friend moms have told me they’ve experienced the same thing.

So, for all you out there, I recommend to NOT PANIC if you find that your milk supply begins to decrease! I would recommend any mother struggling to maintain their milk supply get Fenugreek capsules & Organic Mother’s Milk Tea, and make sure you are eating well and getting plenty of rest!

My daughter and I now have six months of breastfeeding (BFing) experience under our belt.  Not to say that we don’t have our ups and downs, (more on that in another post) but we pretty much have got the hang of it and feel like we are ‘pros’ now.

She now knows that the “boob” is coming before I even take time to prepare to nurse. I guess it’s all in how she is being held, that signals to her ‘food’s coming, and not from a bottle’.  She opens her mouth wide and awaits the “boob” to find its way to her.  It’s all quite funny honestly.

Once she has latched on, one of two scenarios may occur – she may be alert, interested in playing while eating, or she may be very calm and close her eyes. If she is alert, it can be quite fun (and funny too). She’ll try and reach my face, slapping it absentmindedly while I aim to kiss her little hand. She may hold her leg (which I will also kiss!) and swing it at me or have her foot climbing up my shoulder. It truly is an adventure -playing with your baby while they BF.   I recommend it!

On the other hand, if she is sleepy or calm, it is a completely different experience. All of a sudden I get a chunk of time (where I have no play partner) and a free hand. Thankfully, I usually know in advance which of the two scenarios is more likely to occur, so I can plan for it. Regardless, I always make sure to have a bottle of ice water handy, because BFing makes you thirsty!

After my daughter has claimed her post at the “boob”, with a nursing pillow to support her and one hand holding her comfortably, I can get to ‘my business’. What you can do with only one free hand and a baby in your lap, you ask? Well, ironically you can get quite bit done actually. As long as your baby is comfortable and secure in his/her position, use your judgment and see what works for you.

From both personal and friends’ experience, here are some suggestions of how to use this time: You can – watch TV, read a book / magazine (when was the last time you did that?), browse the net (you don’t need two hands for that!), have a phone conversation, meditate, relax (you forget to do that when you are a new Mom! Here’s your chance). You can also take advantage of this peaceful time and nap (you can BF lying on your side, this way both you and your baby are comfortable).

If you have older kids, this can be a good time for a board game that does not require you to move much, or time to read a book together or practice your child’s reading. If the weather permits, you and you baby can enjoy the outdoors while supervising your older kids as they play.

One friend even confessed she used to cook light meals while BFing! It’s all about how creative you can be as well as how capable you are of multi-tasking.  Never fear if you aren’t comfortable doing more than one thing while breastfeeding – you certainly don’t have too.