Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or don’t follow me on social media…tsk, tsk, tsk!), you will know that we welcomed our daughter Aria Rae on 29 March. Being a first time mom, everything is brand new to me and so I wanted to tell you all about it.
Just a few other tips I have picked up regarding breastfeeding and keeping your milk supply going:
- Drink LOTS of water – at least 2l a day.
- Make sure that you are eating a balanced diet – lots of protein and don’t forget to include healthy carbs and your veggies.
- I’ve been drinking jungle juice every day and it has definitely helped.
- Remember, breast milk works on a supply and demand basis, so the more you feed or pump, the more milk you will produce. What I have found works well is to pump after every time I feed Aria. This way I not only encourage my body to make more milk, I have also started to build a nice little supply of breast milk in the freezer for Dan to do a few feeds.
As I mentioned in the video, this is not my labour story, but is that something you would like to watch or read about? Let me know in the comments!
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Thanks so much for the video. I have a 7month old baby girl. Such a bubbly sweet angel, not crawling yet, which is worrying me but hey, babies are different. I breastfed exclusively for the first five months, wanted to wait until she was six months to give her solids but she was so ready and I decided to jump in early to give her solids. She is still on puréed foods up to now and she is quite choosy. But she is healthy. And about sleeping, we share a bed with her. I seriously can’t sleep if she ain’t with me. I would freak out. It’s a choice we have made to co-sleep with her. She wakes twice or thrice to feed for about 10minutes and she dozes off to sleep instantly afterwards. And to Aisha O, about C-section, mmmmm, I had one. Am a first time Mom by the way. My gnaecologist was an angel. The whole surgery took about more or less 15minutes. The healing part was quite a challenge because I was breastfeeding and the sitting position was quite a nightmare but I had a great support system and all was manageable. I really wanted a Medela pump but unfortunately medical aid didn’t cover so now I have a manual and I pump about 250ml for the next day feed. She prefers her milk directly from Mommy though. Wish you both well , Aisha and Mascara , on your journey. I am a bit ahead and all of it is still instincts. Listen to your gut and that inner voice.
Again, thanks for the video.
Congrats! Awesome video. Brought back so many memories from when my LO was born a year ago. It goes so quickly so enjoy all those precious moments.
Hi there, oh wow, thank you for this post. Enjoyed the video and all the info. My baby is due in 8 weeks. I also feel quite “prepared” but your total honesty put a lot of things in perspective. I am quite nervous about breastfeeding but luckily have both those products already so I will follow your advice there 🙂
You mentioned that Aria has been sleeping in her own room since day one at home? Everyone keeps telling me that baby needs to be in our room for at least 3 months!?!? I don’t really want that though. Is she coping? You have a monitor so that helps but she isn’t freeking out or anything?
By the way, you look well and kind of rested 😉 so the routine thing is working 🙂 I am definitely also doing that. Yay, I feel educated 🙂 and a bit less stressed.
Hi Corlia – congrats on your pregnancy, almost time for you to meet your little one! Most people told us to keep Aria in our room for the first little while as well, we just decided to bite the bullet early on and put her in her own room. I think if we did it later on, I would have been more of an emotional/paranoid wreck. We use the monitor even though she is right next door to us and she sleeps like an angel, other than the times she wakes up for a feed of course. It really is a personal choice though.
In terms of breastfeeding, the Medela website is a wealth of information and if you need help, give them a call and they can recommend a lactation consultant that can come and see you either when you’re home or while you’re still in the hospital. In saying that though, I found the nurses at the hospital I was at extremely helpful.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the video and post and that it made you feel a little bit less stressed. Good luck for the next 8 weeks, I will be thinking of you! x
Thanks for sharing! I’d love to hear about your delivery if you don’t mind. You’re right, not many people talk about c-sections and I’d like to hear from someone who’s been there. Love your blog and congratulations on your newbie!!
Hi Aisha, thanks so much for giving my video a watch – I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the lovely compliment and congratulations!
I will definitely squeeze a labour story in somewhere in the next few weeks, keep your eyes peeled…
Congratulations,enjoy baby.I became mommy for the 3rd time on Tuesday last week.I forgot how much hard work it takes to raise a newborn.
Congratulations Coco! I hope you and baby are healthy and happy x