Breastfeeding tips for new moms Archives

So you probably already know that my elder sister is infanticipating. She and I have been chatting regularly about baby-related and mommy-related stuff, like co-sleeping and breastfeeding. On her list of “to-buy” items, she included a breastfeeding pump. So I immediately asked my friends over at Medela Moms for their advice.

You see, I’d already heard of Medela pumps waaay back when, even before I had met face-to-face (and, subsequently, befriended!) the fabulous moms Maricel and Beng of (incidentally, isn’t it just SUPER COOL that they’re homeschooling moms, too?!). I think I first saw a post about them on Jenny’s breastfeeding blog. By God’s grace, our paths crossed because of the HAPI Roadshow at the Medela House last year, and we instantly connected! 🙂 Praise GOD!

Anyway, Maricel suggested my sister get the Medela Harmony pump, and she even offered to teach me how to use it and clean it, etc, etc.

My sister hasn’t decided whether to get this pump or just use the one I was “gifted” with through Mi’ann of Babymama two years ago (someone gave me a breast pump because I had joined Babymama’s giveaway – you can read my “gratitude” post about it here).

Anyway, if you’re an expecting mom, especially a working one, I highly recommend you get a good pump. Medela is one of my top choices (seriously!), not only because it’s one of the top breastfeeding products brands out there, but also because Medela Moms, as the exclusive authorized distributor and service center of Medela in the Philippines, is committed to going the extra mile for their clients and “mommy partners.” They regularly hold breastfeeding seminars, yaya (nanny) seminars, and even parties for breastfed children! 🙂

This is largely because the moms behind Medela Moms know how important it is for breastfeeding moms (and their families) to have a support system. Don’t believe me? Check out what it says on their Multiply page:

MedelaMoms Inc. is the Exclusive, Authorized Importer/Distributor of Medela Breastfeeding Products in the Philippines. It is owned by two families highly dedicated to breastfeeding. Mommy Beng is currently exclusively breastfeeding her 11-month old twins after breastfeeding her first-born son for 2 years and 2 months, while Mommy Maricel breastfed her daughter for 2 years and 7 months before her daughter self-weaned. MedelaMoms Inc. not only provides safe products that work but also support and guidance for breastfeeding moms. Nobody goes through breastfeeding alone, MedelaMoms don’t only guide you on how best to maximize Medela products, they are also breastfeeding advocates you can run to for motherly advice and wisdom 🙂

And, since I’m not the only pro-breastfeeding mom blogger out there, check out these blog posts related to the Medela Moms and the Medela House:
Jenny’s post about the Medela House

Tinkerputt’s posts about Medela Moms (including some on the breastfeeding seminars and Christmas party for breastfed kids!)
Daddy and the City’s post about the Medela House (Isn’t it cool? Even a dad blogs about breastfeeding!)

This post is especially helpful if you have TWINS! 🙂
Medela Moms’ Beng shares about nursing twins

As to posts and articles about breastfeeding and pumping, here are a few helpful ones:
Milk Expression Tips and Pump Information

For Exclusive Pumpers
Freezing Tips from A Pumping Mama

Ultimately, , and whether or not you can afford to get a good pump, it’s really your commitment to breastfeed your baby that matters most. 🙂

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, although Medela Moms has recently partnered with Truly Rich Mom as a blog sponsor. I just wrote it out of gratitude to them, and, of course, to encourage moms to breastfeed their kids. 🙂 Again, whether you express milk by using a pump or manually (yes, using your hands!), what matters most is your baby gets the “liquid gold” from your breasts! 🙂

“Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (February). For this month, we focus on back to basics. Participants will share advices – either the best breastfeeding advice they received OR/AND the best breastfeeding advice they can give to new moms. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries.”

When I got pregnant with my first child, I told myself that I would breastfeed him no matter what. I made this decision although we were still based in Timor on mission at that time, and had limited access to the internet, breastfeeding and childbirth preparation support groups and classes, and the only book I had with me was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (which I later found out from other pro-breastfeeding friends is NOT a very good breastfeeding resource, hehe).

With the support of my husband and mother though, I was able to breastfeed Tim (despite clogged ducts and mastitis) until he turned 2.4 years old. (I wrote about how I think support is very important to a breastfeeding woman, and how it “takes a village to raise {and nurse} a child” here).

Our second child Rysse, who is now 2.7 years old, is still nursing, and I don’t have any intentions of weaning her just yet. 😉 When people find out that I am still breastfeeding, one of the most common comments is “Ang galing mo naman, may milk ka pa!” (Loosely translated: “Wow, you’re so good, you still have milk!”) Friends and family members who are pregnant for the first time, or had not previously breastfed their children but plan to breastfeed their next child, sometimes would even ask me for tips on how to breastfeed.

Admittedly, I’m not a breastfeeding expert, nor am I a breastfeeding counselor like my friends at . Although I have done my own research, I still have a lot to learn about breastfeeding. Nonetheless, for the sake of this post, I’d like to share my top five breastfeeding tips for the new moms out there:

1. Educate yourself. There are TONS of breastfeeding resources online and offline. Here are some of my favorite sites:
Kellymom.com
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom (proudly Pinay!), especially this page with links to GREAT and INFORMATIVE posts
Ask Dr Sears.com

2. Get support. In the Philippines, we’re blessed to have support groups and counselors in the likes of , , , La Leche League Philippines and so on. (For a detailed list of support groups and resources, check out Chronicles of a Nursing Mom’s page .) If you’re a new mom, it’s really important to get support! 😉 Check out my post here on how to get others to support you in your breastfeeding journey.

3. PRAY for patience, guidance and courage to do all you need to do as a new mom, INCLUDING breastfeeding your baby. I’m not kidding – PRAYER really works! 😉 If you’re a Catholic breastfeeding mom, I suggest you take on a devotion to Our Lady of La Leche, and seek her intercession. Mama Mary is my all-time favorite breastfeeding-mom-example to look up to! Better yet, consecrate yourself, your kids, your entire family to her most Immaculate Heart! 😉 To Jesus THROUGH Mary! 😉 (If you need some inspiration as a newbie mom, try reading this post from Simple Mom. Perfect timing for this blog post, too!)

Image source here.

4. Trust your instincts. As a new mom, there were many times when I had no idea what I was doing – but I went with my gut and trusted my new “mommy” instincts. So when Tim kept crying and crying and my mom said that maybe I should try giving him formula (she has since been a “convert” to breastfeeding though), I held my ground and said I’d be breastfeeding him exclusively, no matter what. When I developed mastitis, I trusted my instincts and my doctor’s advice and just kept on breastfeeding. With our second child, Rysse, I still had sore nipples because she had difficulty latching on during the first few days. I almost gave up on breastfeeding, but my maternal instincts kicked in, and I stuck to it (with my mom’s gentle prodding and hubby’s encouragement).

5. Believe that it gets better. This is what I want all new breastfeeding moms to know – it WILL and DOES get better over time. Those sore and cracked nipples will heal; your baby will learn how to latch and suckle at your breast properly; you will master that side-lying position so you can breastfeed in bed and get more sleep; your child will gain the weight he or she is supposed to; etc. etc. Don’t despair. Things will get better. 😉 And you and your child will benefit from your breastfeeding relationship – believe me! 😉

There are still a lot more things I’d like to share about breastfeeding but I still have to finish proofreading the April issue of Kerygma Magazine. 😉 In the meantime, you can check out my breastfeeding-related posts here. Better yet, check out the other posts by breastfeeding mamas who joined this carnival below:

The Articulate Pen’s

Diapers and Stethoscope’s Back to Basic

My Mommyology’s

Ms. Masungit’s From One Mom To Another

The Odyssey of Dinna’s

Mrs. Bry126’s We’re All in this Together

I Am Clarice’s Paying it Forward

My Mommy Kwentos’

Planet Marsy’s Better Than None

Mommy {T} Coach’s Saved by the Nursing Mommas

Mama Drama’s Patience and Breast-friends

Adventures on Planet Mom’s Stubborn Me! Sure Glad I didn’t give up