Whether you’re an expectant parent, or the parent of a newborn, this question may have crossed your mind: If breastfeeding is so natural, why is it so hard for so many moms?
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. I thought I was prepared, because I assumed I’d just know, instinctively, what to do. I’d even gone to a breastfeeding class at my hospital, so I thought I was ahead of the curve.
But you know where this story is going. When my son was born, I was blindsided by how hard breastfeeding was. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and in pain, and even though I went to see a few lactation consultants, I still struggled. It was so hard, on top of adjusting to my postpartum body and life with my new baby.
Here’s what I wish I could go back and tell myself as a first time mom, and what I want you to know: When you’re pregnant, there’s such a temptation to decorate your nursery, get all the gear, and buy adorable clothes. And I’m not telling you not to do that. Definitely, you should do it if you want to. It’s part of nesting, and it can be a lot of fun.
But it’s also super smart to invest a little bit of your time and focus into learning about breastfeeding. Because when your baby is born, feeding *is* the main event. All the other stuff, like the cute nursery, can suddenly feel not important at all.
And here’s the truth: Breastfeeding is natural. After all, it has literally sustained human life. But for mothers, it’s not entirely instinctive–it’s meant to be learned from others. Here’s the problem. Most new mothers today have never seen a newborn baby breastfeeding up close (under a nursing cover doesn’t count) before they do it with their own babies. I know I didn’t. Of course we struggle when we are totally flying blind. Of course we struggle when we don’t know how to position our babies comfortably, or what it looks like when a baby is hungry, or what to expect with newborn sleep.
6 out of 10 mothers give up on breastfeeding before they’d wanted to. As a first time mom, I was one of them. But the good news is learning some fundamentals before your baby arrives can make a huge difference in helping you reach your breastfeeding goals. Mighty Milk’s Breastfeeding for Expectant Parents class teaches you everything you need to know to get breastfeeding off to the best possible start from the moment your baby is born. The class is taught by a well respected Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
You’ll learn:
- How often to feed your baby and how to maximize milk supply
- How to tell if your baby is hungry
- How to position your baby for a pain-free latch
- How to tell if breastfeeding is going well, and what to do if it’s not
- How to involve your partner
- Risk factors for breastfeeding difficulties
- And so much more
You can take the class from the comfort of your own home. Curling up on the couch one evening and watching it with your partner is a great way to bond and get inspired as you prepare to welcome your new baby.
Not all breastfeeding classes or content is created equal. We spent months on each class perfecting the content so it’s quick and fun to get through. It’s the information that helped me go from struggling with breastfeeding my first baby, to thriving with breastfeeding with my second.
If you want to be even more prepared, our Breastfeeding Your Baby (0-12 Weeks) class covers lots more topics that are not covered in the Expectant Parents class. Many of our customers watch it while they are in their third trimester, and then re-watch it after giving birth. Getting the class is an excellent way to support our small woman owned biz while also boosting your breastfeeding confidence in a big way. Here’s that link again.
Mighty Milk’s classes are FSA & HSA eligible, and backed by a 30-day guarantee.
