Hi Savvys,

It is breastfeeding awareness month and we have just completed year 1 of breastfeeding with my 2^nd baby.  Even though I exclusively breastfed both babies, I learned so much breastfeeding the 2^nd time around.  I wanted to share some tips to help alleviate any stress that other moms might face during their breastfeeding journey.  I do want to emphasize that this was my experience and I know every mother and baby will have a slightly different experience, but these are some things that I learned breastfeeding my 2^nd baby that I wish someone would have told me during my 1^st. 

1. Cluster Feeding
   • Nothing prepares you more for cluster feeding than going through it yourself.
   • Cluster feeding is a way for your baby to help increase your milk supply and can happen as often as every 45 minutes.  With my first, I used to stress so much because I thought it meant that my little one wasn’t getting enough milk
   • After understanding that it’s just nature’s way of ensuring your milk supply is ramped up, breastfeeding my 2nd became mentally much easier, even though it was still physically very exhausting
   • Also be prepared that cluster feeding tends to happen more often overnight, so you will experience frequent night wakings!
2. How often should a baby feed?
   • You will read all over the internet that a baby should feed every x amount of time and anything more or less than that is not normal and you should supplement with formula.  This used to cause me so much stress and mental exhaustion, trying to calculate how much breast milk my little one was getting.  In actuality, breast fed babies will eat as often and as long as they need to. 
   • As long as they are gaining weight and producing the appropriate amount of dirty diapers for their age, then they are fed enough. 
   • The rule of thumb is to offer the breast as soon as baby seems fussy as a first response.
3. Milk Output when Pumping
   • Lots of advice is given that you should pump especially in the early stages to help increase milk supply.
   • I did this with my first and would only be able to pump an ounce here and there at a time
   • What I now understand is that in the first 3 months when your milk supply is still regulating, the best way to increase is to just put your baby to your breast.
   • I also learned with my 2^nd that if I were to pump in the first 3 months, I would actually be putting myself into over supply since I am telling my body that I need to produce more milk than I actually need.  I learned this because my milk letdown for my 2^nd baby was a lot more than with my first.
   • Know that your baby is more efficient than a pump when you are exclusively breastfeeding.
   • I say this because while your pump might only be able to remove an ounce of milk, your baby is probably removing at least double that
   • I used to stress so much about having low production, but understanding this really helped and let me focus on other areas outside of feeding.

I hope you find this information helpful.  As a disclaimer, please consult with a healthcare practitioner or lactation specialist if you do suspect you are having production issues.  Remember, fed is best, whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle feed!

Now set forth and be savvy!