You know, I might as well post that email here even though it is
super long. Maybe someone else will benefit from it too!
Disclaimer: this is a bunch of tips and info written from
my own experience as a first time mom to a pregnant friend of mine. I'm sure there will be more experienced mothers/breastfeeders that may have better or different tips!
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Basics - What you produce during pregnancy is called colostrum. I'm sure you already know that. It's good for the baby right off the bat.
A few days after you give birth, your milk will come in. I think mine came in around day 4 or 5. Trust me, you'll know when it does! Your breasts will suddenly become super full and rock hard. You'll experience this again during the time that you nurse anytime that you don't feed your little guy for an extended period of time, it's called engorgement. And it's uncomfy to say the least!
Feeding - I fed on demand for the first 8 weeks give or take. Newborns need to eat every 2 to 3 hrs or so. It took Landon about 45 minutes to completely eat, especially since he kept falling asleep while eating! Sometimes he wouldn't wake up from a nap to eat, so I had to wake him. The recommendation is not to let a newborn go more than 3 hours(ish) without eating until he's at least a month old, then it's no longer than 4 hrs, I believe? He ate every 1 1/2 to 2 hrs during the night for the first 6 weeks at least! lol
Sometimes it might seem like your LO is always hungry, even though you JUST fed him. Let him eat anyway. This will really help with establishing your milk supply (which should be firmly established by roughly 6 weeks). Also, newborn tummies are about the size of a cherry when they're born, so it doesn't take long for them to digest and be hungry again. Breast milk digests anywhere from 45 minutes up to 2 hrs depending on how much they drank. So right in the beginning, expect him to be eating almost constantly! If he seems like he's always hungry, it's because he probably is. After the first week, his tummy should be up to about the size of an apricot(ish).
Every 2 weeks give or take, he'll go through growth spurts and will probably seem hungrier than usual, mostly in the evening where he wants nothing but to be on your breast all night. This is called cluster feeding, and it's normal. It's hard on you, but let him stay on you as much as he wants. Again, this will help your milk supply! When he goes through these growth spurts his milk intake will also grow, so it's important to let him eat off you so your supply grows along with him.
At first, you'll probably feel like you can't keep up with him, aren't making enough milk, etc... Don't worry! It's pretty rare to actually have a true supply issue, and since your supply isn't really established until at least 6 weeks, you can boost your supply by feeding him often. As long as he's making several wet diapers a day, and gaining weight then he's getting enough to eat.
Landon ate every 2 hrs for the first 3 months minimum. He still eats every 2-3 hrs depending on how long he naps. Some days he's gone almost 4 hrs, but that's rare. He's 5 months now. But, I still mostly feed on demand. Others have gotten their babies into a schedule so they actually have a life. lol I didn't, but since I'm staying home, the only days I really need to "have a life" is just for church on Sundays, etc... So it's totally up to you how you want to do it.. there is no wrong way!
Diapers - Speaking of diapers, I'm sure they've already told you what to expect for the first few.. the dark, sticky stuff. Over a few days, it will lighten in color and you should expect it to be more of a yellowish seedy stool. This is good! You'll see the occasional green stool, and it's okay as long as it's not green for more than a day or so in a row. It's nothing you ate, etc...
If it's green for a few days, then he's probably not getting enough "hindmilk" from you.
When you feed, the first stuff that comes out is "foremilk", and is more watery. Slowly during the feeding, the milk fat will start coming through and the fattiest parts of it is called hindmilk. That's where the majority of his nutrients come from. So, make sure he completely empties one breast before you switch him to the other side. I know a lot of people say "15 minutes per side", but let him finish one side first! Then you can offer him the second side. If he wants it, great! If not, then he's full. At least for the next hr... lol Then start him on the opposite breast at the next feeding.
This is important, by the way! this will help keep your supply a little more even between breasts. If you always start with the same side, you'll end up producing more on that side, which will make your breasts a little lopsided.
As far as bowel movements, for breastfed babies it's normal for them to go a few days without one! In fact, you're not supposed to worry unless it's been 7-10 days without a bowel movement! Milk is highly digestible.
As long as he's producing lots of wet diapers!
Gas - Landon had a major problem with it for the first few weeks. Babies intestinal systems are still maturing, so any trapped air will turn into gas, and it will take them a little bit to get used to the milk when it first comes in. I had to make sure he was burped really good (sometimes it took almost 1/2 hr to get a burp! little stinker...), or it would turn into a bad tummy ache and gas for him. He passed gas almost constantly for the first month or two. To help him get gas out, besides burping him really well, I'd lay him on his back and push his legs up towards his chest, or bicycle them. This helps him pass the gas a little easier.
You can also use gas drops to help. It doesn't cure gas, it makes the gas bubble smaller so they're easier for him to get out. I used Little Remedies, you can find those at Target and probably any drugstore. I also highly recommend Gripe Water. It always took his hiccups away almost instantly!
Pumping - I'm not sure if you have a pump/plan to pump, but it's not advised to pump in the first 4-6 weeks because you're still establishing your supply and you don't want to end up with an over-supply! But, once you do start pumping, at first you'll probably only get maybe an ounce or two (unless you're lucky and really respond to the pump!). You'll also probably notice that one side produces more milk than the other. Also completely normal!
I have a Medela pump. It comes with shields, but most people find that the shields it comes with are too small and that will hinder how much you're able to pump. So check the directions on how they're supposed to fit! You may have to get a different size.
You - your nipples will probably be sore for a few weeks. Make sure you talk to a consultant or a nurse and have a good latch with him before you leave the hospital. Bad latches lead to feeding problems, and extreme pain for you! I wish I had talked to someone first, but I figured it would come natural. I ended up with large, extremely painful splits that felt like someone was burning me with a hot iron every time he ate. I highly recommend getting some Lanolin cream. You can get it just about anywhere.. Meijer, Target, drug stores, etc... I used Lansinoh. Put this on after every feeding, before showering, etc... It will help! You don't have to wipe it off before feeding. It will help lubricate you just a teeny bit when he's sucking so he doesn't rub you as badly.
Engorgement - It's very uncomfortable. You'll experience it on and off as your supply tries to regulate, and later one when LO starts going longer between feeds. Your boobs will hurt a little (they'll feel like they're bruised), and be hard to the touch because they're full of milk. If you need to, pump a tiny bit off until you're comfortable. Keep in mind that if you pump until your empty, your body will think you need to make more! Also, if you get too engorged before you nurse, your little guy will have a harder time latching on... so if you think you're to that point, try to pump or squeeze a tiny bit off before he tries to latch on to prevent pain/damage to your nipple from a bad latch and to prevent him from getting blasted with a lot of milk! lol
Let down - this is what happens when the baby starts feeding, and it triggers your milk to start flowing. I didn't feel it for the first few weeks, but after awhile I did. It starts not long after your baby starts to nurse, and I usually feel it stronger in the breast he's NOT feeding from... but it basically feels really tingly, like your boob is falling asleep the same way your foot or hand might. You may not ever feel a let down, or you might feel them all. But, I figured I'd describe it so you know what it was.
Plugged ducts/Mastitis - I had both. I won't go into it because I don't want to make this way longer than it already is. The link I'm including is great for information on both, as well as all kinds of nursing information! Save it to your favorites, I referred to it often in the first little bit!
www.kellymom.com But I will say, if you suddenly feel like you have the flu... chills, fever, severe pain in one of your breasts, get checked out immediately!
Lactation Station - I'm not sure where you plan to feed him, but I fed Landon in the living room in my recliner for the first several weeks... and it felt like I was growing roots in that chair. I was there constantly feeding him. It can be a little rough and discouraging, but I promise it gets better! By 3 months, you'll probably LOVE breastfeeding! I encourage you to set up what I called my "lactation station". lol Next to my chair I had a small table set up with everything I would need. Bottles of water (nursing makes you really thirsty!), burp rags, reading material, the remote control, my phone, snacks like granola bars or fruit (nursing also made me really hungry...lol), lanolin cream, etc... anything you want within reach.
Leaking - You can buy breast pads for leaking. They're kinda pricey though... so if you want, buy some thicker panty liners and cut them in half. Or you can buy reusable ones and wash them. Or ask for them for your shower!
Bottle feeding - if you plan on using bottles to feed him at all, wait to try them until at least 6 weeks when your supply is established. You might have to try different kinds until you find one he'll like. Also, any time you skip a feeding and he gets a bottle, you need to pump, at least for the first couple months so your supply stays stable.
To warm up bottles, I know a lot of people microwave them. This is really not recommended because it could cause extra hot spots in the milk that could burn his mouth. I warm mine up with hot water. You can put the bottle in hot water, but I find it warms up faster if it's in a plastic bag like a ziplock bag or a breastmilk storage bag. It doesn't take more than a couple minutes that way, so make sure the water isn't hotter than you want it or you'll have to cool the milk back down! lol
Storing breastmilk - you can store the milk in the fridge for around 3 or 4 days, then it needs to go to a freezer. A regular freezer, you can store it for at least 3 months and up to 6 months I believe? If you want to keep it longer, then you need to keep it in a chest freezer (deep freezer), and it can be in there for up to a year. Just label the bags with the date that you stored it so you know how long it's been.
After your milk is at room temp, you have 4 hrs to use it. If you just pumped it, it needs to be refrigerated or frozen within 4 hrs. You can add what you just pumped to milk you already have stored in the fridge, but it needs to be at the same temperature first. So let it cool in the fridge, then add it to the other bottle.
Boosting Supply - First and foremost, it's a supply and demand equation. The more that is demanded, the more your body will make for supply. But there are other ways to help your supply.
- Drink LOTS of water! This is very important both to keep you hydrated, and for your supply.
- Eat oatmeal. Oatmeal apparently helps with maintaining a healthy supply.
- Supplements : there are a few herbal supplements that help. A friend used to drink something called "mother's milk" tea. I took an herbal supplement called Fenugreek.
- Try to stay low on stress. Hard to do with a newborn, I know! Just take it one day at a time! The first 2 months are the hardest, getting used to a new life, new schedule, little sleep, etc... but I promise it gets better. Don't worry about the housework, chores, or even if you skip showering for a day. Your body is healing from 9 months of extreme changes, and labor/delivery. Just enjoy your little guy, and deal with the rest later. I know everyone has said it to you, but I'll say it too - nap when he does. If you're tired, and he's sleeping, try to catch a quick nap too. It made a big difference for me instead of trying to get stuff done. That stuff will be there later.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Have your mother in law, or a friend, or a sister, or your own mom or someone come for the day and either do the chores you want to get done, cook a meal for your family, or just hold the little guy while you catch a cat nap! Or even just to visit with... I had my mom over a few times just so I could have an adult conversation with someone while DH was at work. The company was nice.
Well, I think that's about it... I'm sure you'll probably get lots of advice, and hear different stories. Just keep in mind that every baby and every situation is different!! Listen to your own instincts!
I realised this evening i hadn't sent you my email address but your post is really informative and useful. I wish I'd read it before I started as some of the things I have worried about seem to be normal 
