Reminders for a Breastfeeding Mother (a.k.a. me)

Over the last week or so, my life has gotten significantly less chaotic and I finally feel like we've settled into a routine (minus the growth spurt that Lily went through).  I keep telling her to stop growing but she's already started the whole not listening to Mom thing.  My tiny little baby is now 8 pounds!  Eight! That just seems so big…

Obviously, we're not having any problems in the milk supply department, but figuring out breastfeeding in a culture that, on the grand scale, is anything but supportive has been a challenge.  For the first month or so, my instinct was to feed her when she cried because I didn't think about the other things that might be wrong.  While this helped my supply, it was definitely not the best thing for her or for me because as it turns out, breastfeeding can cause gas pain which can make a baby show hunger (to resolve the gas pain, which it does temporarily) which led to feeding which led to crying.  Definitely not a good situation for anyone.  We were in this endless cycle at the end of her growth spurt when I googled and found an excellent resource written by an IBCLC that explained so much of what I was going through.  (By the way, an IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant - do yourself a favor if you're a breastfeeding mom and FIND ONE.  You will not, not, not regret it!)

Since when I'm in the throes of things, I tend to revert back to cry --> feed --> cry --> feed --> never-ending unhappiness for all parties, I'm writing this post so I have something to look at  to remind myself that I need to stop feeding her on demand because hunger cues don't necessarily mean hunger if she's eating every hour.

The list:

• Reflexes are just that - reflexes.  Just because I rub Lily's cheek and she turns her head, it doesn't necessarily mean she's hungry.  Only feed her if she continues to show other signs of hunger and everything else (gas, being sleepy, etc.) has been ruled out.
• Until about 3 months, if she's sucking on her hand/fingers it doesn't necessarily mean she's hungry.  Once she gains control of her hands, it's a better indication but it could be self soothing.
• Sometimes the developmental stage she's going through (Wonder Weeks app is great for this!) makes her want to suck for comfort and not for nourishment.
• Lactose overload is a real thing. If she's super gassy, nursing will temporarily relieve her gas pains before making it worse.  If it's been less than two and a half hours since her last feed, try gas drops.  (Those things are miracle workers!)
• She may be tired.  If her movements are jerky or she looks a little dazed, try swaddling with a pacifier to knock her out.

I'm just going to have to come back to this list (or just hang it on every surface of my house so I see it constantly) when I'm struggling.  They say breastfeeding gets easier at 6 weeks and that is today, so hopefully that rings true.  I'm glad that I have the support network I do and the wherewithal to ask for help when I need it.  I'm finally feeling like I can do this - I can be a working, exclusively breastfeeding mom (it helps that Lily will be at Gallup with me!) and we can hit our breastfeeding goals!