Breastfeeding Backup Plan

Being a first time mom can be overwhelming.  All of a sudden, here's this little person you're responsible for.  And, if that's not overwhelming enough, you have no idea what they are thinking or trying to say when they are screaming.

We've all been indoctrinated with the idea that breastfeeding is best for your baby.  And it is.  But the problem is, that most pre-natal care doesn't involve lactation help, and so when mom gets home from the hospital, it's up to her to figure it out.  Not so easy!  And the more sleep you lose, the harder it becomes.  Compound that with a baby who can't latch on well, or a mother whose milk is taking awhile to come in, or sore nipples and it's enough to make you feel like you're going insane.

If you want to breastfeed, try to be as prepared as possible.  Talk to a lactation consultant before the baby is born.  Watch videos.  Talk to friends who have done it already. 

But it's also important to have a backup plan. Have some formula in the house, so that in the middle of the night when you've tried everything and breastfeeding just won't work, you can soothe your baby by still giving him/her something nutritious.

You can always try breastfeeding again in the morning.

And there's nothing to feel guilty about.  Formula is the closest thing to breastmilk we have and it's highly regulated by the FDA.

For more on breastfeeding, listen to this podcast by Nurse Barb.