There is so much information out there about the benefits of breastfeeding and the beautiful bond you will create. I knew all about that when I first became a mother. I was seventeen but I read everything I could about ALL THINGS BABY. Here are four things I really wish someone would have explained to me in depth about breastfeeding, as a teenage mom or any age, new mother.

To be clear, I think some people tried. There was of course some teenage “know-it-all” attitude left in me. However, I really wanted to breastfeed and this information was not readily available.

Breastfeeding Hurts

It is not a joke or for the faint of heart. Everything that I have ever read says that nursing your baby should not hurt. And sure your latch ultimately should not hurt after the first two weeks. But therein lies the problem. The first two weeks where you are learning to latch and constantly feeding a baby with nipples that are definitely not ready for the use they are getting – ARE SO PAINFUL. I don’t want to sugar coat it because if you don’t know what to expect it isn’t fair. Every time that baby grabs on with their incredibly strong little mouth, you will sprout tears and possibly see blood. In fact, you most likely will see blood. Although there are plenty of people out there saying that they have the cure for sore cracked nipples, there truly isn’t anything that will help when your baby latches. You can put creams on in between for sure. That definitely helps them feel better but the easiest way to the other side is straight on through. After two weeks of trying to get that great latch and nursing on demand, your nipples will be hardened like soldiers in the fight! They will be ready to do battle and it should no longer hurt. I know two weeks is a LONG time when you are nursing constantly. I promise you though you can get through it and it will get better and better. THEN, I can say it will not hurt.

Please do not read all this information out there and think that because you are in excessive pain that you are not doing it right or that it isn’t working. You are right where you should be, mama. Keep perfecting that latch and feeding your baby. The pain will pass.

You Have To Eat

You have to eat healthy and enough to make breast milk. Chips and soda and candy will still make milk but if you aren’t eating enough good food, you will not keep your milk supply. When you aren’t fueling yourself, milk will be made from your body’s stores of nutrients. That’s great but now you are depleted and this can’t go on forever. I was extremely poor with my first baby and ate like a bird. I was working and making money but money management was also poor and I was constantly behind on bills. Groceries were always cheap and easy things. My milk lasted about two months. It is a process that needs calories and nutrients. Do yourself a favor and make sure you are providing those things to your body.

Now when I first begin nursing, I allow myself to eat whatever I want, cravings and all. I just try to match my cravings for sweets or bread with veggies and protein. You can easily get a lot of nutrition by making sure that your plate is half full of veggies each time you eat.

This story is a happy one though. I became a milk super producer. I have a post of breastfeeding super foods that I love here.

You Must Express

You have to feed your baby or pump properly to keep your breast milk coming. Your body is a natural amazing machine. It knows what to do when you empty your breast by either pumping or nursing. That sends a signal to say hey we need more milk down here! And on the other hand, if you don’t and on a regular basis, empty your breasts, your body will say hey we don’t need that much milk down here! In my experience it is a difficult process to get milk back if lost.

My first choice is to always empty regularly. This is especially important when you are building your supply. After you have established your supply and a routine, then if you miss because something came up, it is not as detrimental to regaining it.

So get into a routine of feeding on demand (my personal opinion) and empty your breasts each time or every other if you prefer. However, if you pump one side and or use a Haakaa Wearable while you nurse the other, it helps establish both sides. Edit: I previously thought that having a freezer stash of milk was a great thing however, I have now learned that it is not truly a great thing to have. It means that you are over- producing and while some may think that is great it can be detrimental for your body. I have also seen new information about Haakaa creating nipple soreness and oversupply. Also there is a chance that your freezer stash could end up tasting soapy because the breakdown of lipase in the milk. Some babies will not take it. Please do your own research!

Drink Water

You have to drink water to make breast milk. I just don’t know how else to tell anyone more simply. You need water and a lot of it, if you want to make breast milk. Breast milk supplies your baby with all of the nutrients he needs but also the hydration he needs. Babies don’t need to drink water separately until at least 6 months old! Not even when it is hot out. Breast milk has all the water that a baby needs and that water comes from you. When I was a teenage mom, I wish someone would have explained that to me. I did not really drink water at all. I am not sure how I thought I would be able to keep up my milk.

Your body needs its own large supply of water, add to that healing when you have just had a baby and then nursing. You need TONS of water. In general, I try to get at least 128 ounces of water a day. Now that my youngest little guy is almost a year, I can do 96 and be ok. If I were trying to build up my supply though, I would increase that amount. I know that is a lot, it truly is but it can be easy to attain, if you aren’t drinking other stuff. Drop the pop, juice, excessive coffee and just drink water. I do have a cup of coffee each day and I can still get y water in.

Water is also a huge component if you are trying to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. I would never tell anyone to try to do that because I think it is silly and most of the time a really harmful standard. Your body was made for this and you can worry about how it looks but it is beautiful just the way it is. Every change and difference means that it was doing something incredible.

I do understand those changes can make people uncomfortable though and I just want to highlight that if you are wanting to start making changes to become more like you were before your baby, as far as looks, water intake is a healthy way to begin that process. Perhaps it is the only minor change you need to take on until your baby is older.

Those are 4 things I wish someone would have told me or explained to me about breastfeeding. I hope that this helps you if you needed it!

Is there anything that you would add from your breastfeeding experience? Or has this helped you?