Written by Dayana Disla

You would think something so natural is easy. Well surprisingly breastfeeding is not easy. In fact, it is the hardest thing you will ever do as a parent. Is it worth it? Definitely! Breastfeeding makes for stronger, smarter and generally healthier babies overall. Containing antibodies that help fight off viruses and bacteria.  Ultimately it is your choice whether to breastfeed or formula feed.

If you go with the harder option of breastfeeding, let me tell you a few things they don’t tell you when they insist you breastfeed. Don’t watch YouTube videos of women claiming to make a lot of milk and even having a large freezer stash. They don’t tell you how long it took or the struggles they went through. Trust me I watched many of them and they only upset me because they were only giving the end result and not how to get there. Making unsuspecting moms think that it would be easy. So, here are a few things I learned. My daughter is now 2 ½ months and she is mainly bottle breastfed. First you should have a breast pump and should try pumping a few hours after baby is born.  You will only produce a few drops at first which is normal. Of course, I didn’t know and shed many tears thinking I would not be able to feed my baby or that there was something wrong with me. Feeling defeated and frustrated but giving up was not an option. I must also say having a good support system helped a lot.

I pumped once I got home two days later-the hospital said my milk supply would take approximately three days to come in. So, I thought everything was fine. Second thing is you should pump at least every 2 hours to get your supply up, which means that you will not sleep for a long time. Yes, doing it every 2-3 hours will increase your milk from several drops to a couple ounces. Once your milk supply is in you don’t have to pump so much.  I pump three to four times a day now and produce anywhere from 24 ounces to 30 ounces.

Third, you will have times when your milk supply takes a plunge. Don’t give up and try not to stress about it. Stressing affects your milk supply and creates cortisol which then you will pass on to your baby through your milk. Just go back to the basics and pump more times a day. Milk supply is built by demand and supply. The more you demand the more milk you produce. When your baby is a newborn, they will need less milk so make sure to freeze the excess to provide you a safety net for the times your milk supply decreases a bit. Make sure to switch out your frozen milk with fresh milk a few times a month. Since milk frozen in a regular refrigerator freezer last 5-6 months.

Lastly, I have not used any supplements to help with my milk production. The key is to make sure you drink tons of water. Eat healthy and several times a day. You need 500 extra calories each day which is more than you needed while pregnant. Hopefully this information is helpful in your breastfeeding journey.

Hablamos Pronto.