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.

After having your first, you may think ‘I’m a pro’, or at least feel like you know what to expect when contemplating having your second child.  However, have you ever wondered if you really ‘know’ what to expect with two children? Having one baby can be a handful, especially to the inexperienced mom, but once you have practiced parenting on your first (and made enough mistakes to call yourself a pro), shouldn’t it be easier with the second?

Well, it is true that you are now out of the dark. You have already experienced all the ‘firsts’ with one child, and with your second baby it will be that much easier it terms of what to expect, how to handle a newborn, how to breastfeed, teething, etc. But is that really all there is to it? Not really.

Being pregnancy with your second

Remember the fatigue you have experienced in the first trimester of your first pregnancy? And back then you didn’t have a baby / child to care for. Now things are a bit different… Which is a good indication of to what is to come after your second is born…

Longs naps like you may have had time for during your first pregnancy are now out of the question. Instead you need extra energy for your first child, who wants to play, needs to be cared for, may already be running around and making you run around after him or her..

This is good time to try and listen to your doctor (or others) telling you NOT to pick up heavy things. But who will carry your child? The fact that you may be pregnant will not change your child’s needs for love, affection, and being held by you.. You may laugh but – it’s true.

Later when you start showing you will have to consider WHEN and HOW to tell him about the new addition to the family…

Intro to having two kids…

Once your second arrives, you will be faced with new challenges. Jealousy is a very common feeling when it comes to siblings. Your first child is facing a new reality. He/she is no longer the center of attention in the family, and sharing your love with a new baby in the house could be challenging for him.

Depending on your firstborn’s age, you’ll be dealing with things other than siblings’ rivalry or jealousy. You may find that you are exhausted from having to care for two, sometimes three if you count Daddy as one of the gang.. You’ll have to strategize curtain things, like maybe how to handle two strollers when leaving the house, or what type of activity will best suit everyone in the family, now that there are so many different age groups in the family, and therefore a variety of interests that may not complement each other at all times (if at all).

But the best part of having another baby is the new experiences and the love and joy that will fill our home and heart. Through all the difficulties, having a baby is a wonderful and amazing experience for both yourself and the rest of the family. Help your firstborn to see how wonderful it can be to be an older brother or sister to your new baby.

If you chose to breastfeed, there are a few things you should know. First, you should know that you do NOT have “milk” right away – you have Colostrum.  Colostrum is sticky substance that is yellowish or clear in color and may come in BEFORE you give birth (it is possible for a woman to start producing colostrum any time after about 14 to 16 weeks of the pregnancy). Colostrum, or ‘first milk’ is just right for your baby’s brand new digestive system. It contains maternal antibodies that give your newborn protection from disease you have developed immunity against.

Your milk will usually come in within 4-5 days after delivery. If you chose to breastfeed, you will want to start breastfeeding right away (after delivery) to stimulate breast milk production. Your milk will not come in on its own, your baby’s roll is to stimulate your body to produce it. If the situation allows, you should introduce your baby to the nipple right away. If you plan to deliver in a hospital, check if they have lactation consultants and seek them out for help.  Lactation consultants can help to ensure your baby latching on correctly, learning to recognize if he/she is eating, and what to do if things aren’t going smoothly or as you planned.

As a new mother, breastfeeding for the first time can seem somewhat foreign – leaving many mothers unsure of what or how to breastfeed.  A good position to start with is baby belly to your belly, with your arm supporting your baby’s head & body. Your baby’s mouth should cover a big part of the areola, and your nipple should be far back in your baby’s mouth. Do not panic if your baby doesn’t seem to be eating right away and keep in mind that it is hard work for your newborn.  Both you and your baby need to adjust to the experience and learn how to breastfeed. If you find that you are having difficulty and/or have concerns, ask to see a lactation consultant for help.

Breastfeeding is a new experience for both mother and child.   Making sure your baby latches on properly is important in helping you avoid cracked nipples.  If you are a new mother you should use the creams recommended by your doctor if you experience any bleeding or soreness.  Generally, if you are having a hard time (which you may not!) it gets easier after the first month or so.  So don’t give up too quickly it’s to your babies benefit for you to give it a chance.

You may also like:

* Breastfeeding First Steps

* Breast feeding dry spell – Tips!!

* Things to do while breastfeeding