Breastfeeding can be a daunting task, especially for a new mum. You don’t have to shy away from that truth as it involves all of you to be present. However, there are a few common mistakes you may be making that you are not totally aware of. I’m not here to cast a stone at you but to help point out these mistakes while offering you the solution to help make the breastfeeding journey a seamless one.
Here are five common mistakes you are making while breastfeeding:
- You feed on Schedule: Feeding on schedule is a common mistake most new mums make. This is when you allocate time that your baby should feed. For example Baby feeds by 7:00 am, then the next feeding is by 10:00 am; then by 12:00 pm, etc. This schedule may work for you as it gives you room to do other things aside from just caring about the baby. However, this may not be how your baby wants to feed. It’s best to feed babies on cue, that is, as they make a demand. Furthermore, research has also revealed that feeding your baby on schedule can actually decrease your milk supply and lower your milk fat content.
- Introducing a bottle or pacifier too early: giving a bottle before you’ve successfully established breastfeeding can affect your milk supply because it’s easier to remove milk from bottles than your breast and your baby may prefer that for ease. Hence, leads to a low milk supply as your breast needs to be emptied for production to place.
Also, introducing a pacifier too early could cause nipple confusion, but it could also mess up your milk supply if you’re giving your baby a pacifier instead of your breast in those early weeks.
- Introducing formula when your milk supply is low: If there’s one thing I’ve heard from breastfeeding mums over and over again, it’s the worry that their supply is low and now they want to supplement with formula. Feeding your baby is not totally bad, but what most mums refer to as a low milk supply is not actually it. However, you need to know that Introducing formulas too early can affect your current milk supply. If you think you have a low milk supply, seek out a lactation consultant so they can help you determine the best course of action.
- You judge milk supply by your pumping output: when I ask how a mum knows she’s having a low milk supply, one of the responses I get is the quantity of milk they express. Which is not totally a bad response. After all, you can only gauge what you see. However, what you want to focus on is not an arbitrary number, like 3oz (89ml) each pumping session, but rather how much you are pumping relative to what your baby needs. Ideally, you want to pump about as much as your baby takes, plus a little extra cushion.
- You don’t ask for help: It’s absolutely okay to think you will figure it out on your own while this is good, you could as well save time and satisfy your baby’s need by asking for help. When asking for help, it’s best to seek help from professionals rather than from family and friends who may be emotional and biased with the kind of information they provide. Book a session with a certified lactation consultant or visit your doctor to get professional help.
In conclusion, you need to understand that you are on a journey and the ultimate goal is not to be perfect but to make progress each day. Like any other thing, the act of breastfeeding is about consistency. Don’t give up, you’re about to hit the gold!
Order lactation products here to increase your milk supply or book a session with our lactation consultant today to get professional help.
