A friend sent me an email with questions on breastfeeding. It seems like ages ago that Zac and I were enjoying all that but thankfully I remembered SOME things. For my own future reference, I'm copying and pasting what was in that email in this entry. Hopefully, it will come in handy when I have my next baby...
IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH, DON'T READ THIS FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
ON BREASTFEEDINGfrom my point of view, i think i was quite successful in breastfeeding zac. i managed to do it for a whole yr as planned which to me is a success in itself. i really do believe the good experience was God-enabled since I never once had to break out the formula (even when I fell sick and my supply went down by a lot) nor did i have issues like mastitis, etc.1. Nursing Brasgood bras and tops make a load of difference if you're out and about. when i was a home, it was pretty easy to just pull up my top and feed zac whenever it was needed. i bought cotton nursing bras from marks & spencers tt didn't have underwire - underwires are known to block milk ducts. they come in a set of 2 and you might want to consider buying a few esp if you don't do laundry often. nursing bras are really helpful for easy access but i eventually was able to wear regular soft-cup strapless bras andstll be able to feed easily. you'll realise that you'll have to sleep with a bra on at night cos leaks and what nots occur all the time. (*OMMITTED TEXT - ask me if you wanna know what was in these brackets)
2. Nursing Padsi used tollyjoy breastpads at night (bigger, texture is a little rough but it's cheaper) and Pigeon ones in the day (better shape, softer, smaller in size and more expensive). i bought Lilypadz too but they didn't prevent leaks very long so i'd recommend this for when your milk supply is more regular and not if you're planning to be away from BABY K for very long. i remember standing in the fitting room at taka having to pad my bra with tissue because the Lilypadz didn't hold out and i was very very full. not a pretty sight.
3. Nursing in Publicof course, knowing where the nursing rooms are are a big, big help. more privacy and less juggling! here's a list of nursing rooms you might find handy when youre out and about. http://www.parentingjoy.com/nursingrooms.htm. I also managed to nurse discreetly with Zac in a sling though it did take a lot of practice. in the event there was no nursing room handy, I'd just feed zac in the car before getting out and doing my rounds. before i even fed zac, i prepped a large muslin cloth (those big cloth diapers which i used as a towel) just in case the milk leaked or if there was spit-up or if there was an unusual explosion of poo (particularly in those first few months). think tt might be handy if you plan to feed BABY K even at home.
4. Nursing Clothesa must? not really. button-down shirts work great esp if theyre not cut too closely to the body. stretchy jersey tops work well too. Nursing tops do have their function esp if you plan to nurse while in the public eye since they only expose the boob and not your tum. you would have to wear a nursing bra or a soft bandeau-type bra under it. having extra change of clothes in your diaper bag helps esp the first couple of outings... my milk SPRAYS out when let-down happens so I always need to clean up or in extreme instances, change tops! Places I went to buy the nursing tops - Mothers En Vogue and Motherswork but i didn't buy more than 5 or so. I was wearing regular non-nursing clothes more often than not. What I've heard some pple do is to wear a tube top under whatever they're wearing so when they lift their shirts, their belly isn't exposed. Have not tried it but it seems like a good idea. (Let me know how tt turns out for you if you do try!)
What to look out for:- Patterns (as opposed to solid colours)are a good buy cos even if you stain/ leak it's not so visible unless you draw attention to it.
- White isn't so handy since it bcomes transparent in they event there's a spill plus, it stains a nasty yellow if you don't remove the milk quickly. Besides, mums avoid white since kids come with lots of mess.
- Stretchy materials are obviously more helpful than non-stretchy unless you have buttons down the front to make feeding easier.
- Cotton is comfy and absorbant - for now, man-made materials might not be a good option. too hot and doesnt absorb so well.
- A nursing shawl or a wrap that's lightweight would provide you some coverage though i did find it hard to see even and those who have used the nursing shawl find it somewhat clumsy even though it's MEANT to be for breastfeding mums.
- You CAN wear strapless clothes (really easy to feed) though you need a nursing room/ nursing shawl/poncho for privacy.
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL (is there such a thing??)After my sessions with MASSAGE LADY S, my tummy was pretty flat. Ass and everything else was still in need of work. Even after that I wore a corset cos it helped support my back (all that carrying and holding zac for feeding times were a realy strain on my lower back) and it helped get everything in my midsection back into place. Without it, i was still looking like i was about 4 months pregnant. i didn't diet or lose weight and everything disappeared cos of breastfeeding honestly.
i did go through tt in-between-clothes phase for a while cos I had to adjust to having bigger boobs and still having some baby-weight. i continued wearing some of my maternity clothes but bought some shirts (boys dept - cos the cut is better and its cheaper) which are easy to dress up or down in. i wore my maternity jeans for a long time even after i went back to being able to fit into my old pair. the loose skin around the belly area made wearing bottoms tt were even a little snug unbearable so my maternity jeans were my go-to.
With the new boobs, you defintely will look different and feel "bigger" but you just need to get used to dressng for your new shape. stuff tt looked fine before made me look like a 50 cent hooker. SERIOUSLY. getting the right bra with the right support also makes a difference. no two nursing bras are alike so try them on and get what makes you feel comfortable and happy with what you see in the mirror.
like you said, you need to fig out what you can wear out now and what you should put in storage. don't bother wearing something that is too fitted cos it'll just make you feel bad and give you problems when you need to feed your baby. i had to accept the fact that my body won't be the same as before and that i have to learn to dress for the new shape. you'll have to also readjust after you stop breastfeeding. my boobs have lost volume and are littler than they were before i got pregnant. plus, they're not where i left em! just thought you should know. heh.
