Breastfeeding Basic Steps for First Mom

I know this topic is so classic...but I just find out that some of my mommies friends have struggle with it.
So, this is just some tips from my own experience. Hopefully, it helps those mommies to be and first time mommy out there

Week 36 onwards (your pregnancy period)
1. Start massaging your breasts in circular motion when you shower.
2. Start cleaning up your nipples mini holes with warm water and cotton bud
3. Start manual expressing your breasts, when there's liquid come out from your nipples, either it's like plain water or yellowish color. You are safe, meaning that your breasts are already producing milk and ready for your baby.
Notes : Don't do above below week 36, 'cos it will stimulate early delivery

D-Day (Delivery Day)
1. If you are delivering normal, and you are not so tired, ask the nurse to put your baby into your breast right after deliver.
2. If you are delivering by c-section, and you feel tired and drowsy like my case, just take full rest until you have energy and more sober to start breastfeeding.
Well, in my case, I delivered my baby at 7pm and have full rest the whole night. I only met my baby 8 am the next morning.
It's better to have full rest than worry too much to see your baby
3. If you are not breastfeeding right after delivery, just ask the nurse don't feed the baby with bottle.
The baby could survive for 3 days without any milk right after birth. But if you worry that your baby is very hungry, you could tell the nurse that you will do exclusive breastfeeding, so just give a little bit glucose or formula milk by spoon.
4. Before you breastfeed the baby, massage your breasts first and squeeze your nipples to make sure the milk come out. First time, it will be colostreum, which is yellowish transparant color.
5. Latching should be in the correct position, otherwise you and your baby will suffer pain. If you are not sure, you can ask the nurse or lactation nurse
6. Try to breastfeed 15 mins each on each breast, this is to stimulate producing milk. The first 2 days, you can do the feeding every 2 or 3 hours

Notes : 
* for first time mommy, there will be a little bit pain in your nipples, like a bit cracks etc. It's normal as long as it's not bleeding heavily. 'Cos there's a friction between your soft nipples and baby's tongue
Just put nipples cream (I prefer medela) and breastmilk
* It's normal for first time mommy not to have abundant production in the first 2 months. So you can complement it with formula milk, but make sure that your baby latching on to your breast first before having bottle.
And latching as much as possible to stimulate the brain to produce the milk

After D-Day
1. Don't worry about how many hours you need to feed the baby, just base it on supply and demand.
If you baby is hungry, feed him. Sometimes it could be 1 hour each or 2 hours or 3 hours depends on the baby
2. Finish one breast first then continue with the other one
3. If you have abundant supply, express it by manual or electric pump. However, I prefer manual express though
4. Make sure you drink plenty of water (2L/day), eat plenty vegetables, have enough rest (especially in the night) and don't stress out yourself.
Breastmilk is produced abundantly at night - early morning

Notes :
* Some food that you can have it a lot : Green vegetables, sweet corn, green beans, salmon fish, milk
* Some food that you have it less : Cabbage, broccoli, beansprout / taoge, chilly (those gassy vegetables could upset your baby's tummy or create colic)
Shell seafood, egg, nuts (just make sure that your baby doesn't have allergic of those )
* Some food to avoid : Raw food (raw salad, sushi and sashimi, not well done beef steak or satay), coffee and tea, alcohol drinks


Good luck Mommies!