Breastfeeding for the First Time? Watch THIS Before You Start 🍼

EP 102:

💛 If you're pregnant and planning to breastfeed—but low-key freaking out about how it all works—you’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down everything I wish someone told me before I breastfed for the first time. This is your no-fluff guide to understanding what to expect in the first 24 hours, how to avoid the most common mistakes, and how to get your baby to latch without the tears and stress.

This episode was voted on by YOU in a recent poll, so I know you’re ready for the real talk!

✨ What we cover:

• The biggest myth that sets new moms up to fail
• What breastfeeding looks like in the first 24 hours
• Colostrum vs milk: what’s normal?
• Signs of a good (or bad) latch
• Red flags that mean you should ask for help
• Why prepping before baby arrives can change everything

👶 Want to take this prep to the next level?
 Check out my Bump To Bundle Blueprint—your full guide to birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding (made just for pregnant first-time moms).

🎥 Plus: I’ve linked my Breastfeeding Made Easy playlist so you can binge more support after the episode.

Links Mentioned:

SNAG YOUR FREE RESOURCES - DOWNLOAD THEM NOW!
 👜Get Your Hospital Bag Packed in the Next
60 Minutes. 
https://www.birthprepacademy.com/hospitalbag

👀Binge watch my popular episodes & get caught up here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_yZHFxI0Ibq0F9E3IA2pjE__ZQNoCeIT

👀Watch This To Learn More About Cluster Feeding: https://youtube.com/live/Tb1BICD_2XY?feature=share

Let’s Connect:

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• Website 

Transcript

0:05

Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founder and CEO of Birth Prep Academy. I'm on a mission to help pregnant moms prepare for their first hospital birth. I'm sharing revealing conversations about what it really takes to successfully transition into motherhood. So join me. Here to discover things like what to expect in childbirth, how to prepare for your birth. We'll also talk about breastfeeding and so much more. I'm so grateful to share it all with you right here on Oh Baby, the podcast created for pregnant moms preparing for their first hospital birth. Let's get started. if you are planning to breastfeed and feel totally clueless, then this might be the most important video for you to watch before your baby gets here. I'm talking no fluff, no judgment, just real talk from someone who's helped hundreds of first time moms get through that. What the heck am I doing moment? And it's not just because I'm a doula, it's also because I'm a mom, so I've been there too. And actually this episode came straight from you. I asked in a poll which topic you wanted next, and breastfeeding for the first time won by a landslide. So if you voted, thank you. This one's, especially for you today, we're diving into what really happens in the first 24 hours. I'm also gonna talk about how to avoid the most common first time breastfeeding mistakes and the number one thing I wish someone told me before I latch my baby for the first time. And if you want that next level prep, I'm also gonna tell you how you can get your hands on my Bump to bundle blueprint, which is my signature course to help you with birth and breastfeeding. With that being said, let's get into it. Okay, so let's start with the biggest myth that I hear from first time moms, and that is breastfeeding is natural, so it should come naturally, right? Ugh. That myth sets so many women up for heartbreak. Here's the truth. Breastfeeding is a learned skill for both you. And your baby. Let me say that again. Breastfeeding is a learned skill for both you and your baby. Yes, your body is amazing. Yes, it's designed to feed your baby, but that doesn't mean that it's gonna be easy, especially from day one. It takes practice, it takes patience and some strategy. So if you're feeling nervous or totally unprepared, relax. I got you. You are certainly not alone and you're not gonna do it wrong. You just need to know what to do. You are new at this. Alright, so now here's what no one tells you about those first few hours after birth. Your baby may not latch right away. I know it's crazy, right? But that's the truth. Your baby. Might just lick or root around and fall off to sleep and you, you might be overwhelmed, exhausted, or in shock from birth. That dreamy golden hour moment. It's beautiful when it happens, but it can also be a bit confusing. So here's a pro tip. I want you to ask for help with that very first latch. Don't wait. Nurses can be in and out and working through a lot of things as they are caring for both you and your baby. That first feed needs to really set the tone, so don't do it solo while your baby's screaming or. When you're wondering if this is how it's supposed to feel, I want you to engage your support, your nurse, your midwife, your provider. Engage another professional who can help you with that very first latch to really show you how it's done and how things will likely go, as you are learning during that learning curve. Alright, now. Here's the line I want tattooed on your brain. So if you don't take anything else away, please take this away. So tune in for me. That is milk supply is based on demand. Let me say that again. Milk supply is based on demand. Say it with me, mama. The more your baby nurses. The more milk your body will make. So don't panic if your baby wants to feed constantly. That's actually a good sign. Alright, now let's talk about expectations. Your baby's stomach on day one. Let's start there. It's actually the size of a cherry. That's why just a few drops of colostrum are totally enough, especially in the first few moments and days after you give birth. Your milk usually will increase anywhere from day two to day five, and when it does, you might feel a little warm. Your breasts may feel sore, and they will likely be a bit engorged, feeling like balloons almost. So here's a pro tip. I want you to feed your baby. Often in the lactation world, we actually say eight to 12 times in a 24 hour period is totally normal, especially for a newborn. It keeps milk flowing and it helps to prevent any clogged ducts. So I want you to feed often. And yes, cluster feeding is a real thing. I have a live where I talked about it in detail. I'll try to remember to link it below. So please be sure to check the description box. It's not your baby being dramatic. Cluster feeding is not like this. Oh my goodness, my baby isn't getting enough. No, it's your baby telling your body, Hey, let's level up this milk supply. So it's actually a good thing alright, So let's talk about the thing that makes everyone question if they're doing it right. Is it normal if my nipples hurt? A little. Tenderness is normal toe curling pain. Not so much. We don't want that at all. So here's what a good latch looks like. Your baby's mouth should be wide open. The lips should be f flanged out like a fish. The chin should be deep into your breast and you should see more of the areola on the top, then on the bottom, and here's a pro tip, bring your baby to you. Not the other way around. Line up, tummy to tummy and tilt baby's head back a bit to get a deeper latch and please don't suffer in silence. If you need help, I want you to have a lactation consultant number on call preferably, but if not, reach out to your provider so that you can really jump in and assess whatever problems you're having early enough so that you don't become discouraged and discontinue breastfeeding, which happens more than you know. Okay, so let's pivot a minute and just talk about what to do if something feels off, and especially if you don't know if something is normal. Here are a few red flags. First up, baby is feeding, but not making enough wet or dirty diapers, that's a red flag. So if they're, if you're putting them to the breast often, but you're not really getting very many wet or dirty diapers, then that is a red flag. Also, clicking sounds, they should not be making sounds or dimpling cheeks or if they have a very shallow latch so they're not opening wide. Those are all things to look for and if you see those, I want you to engage a professional. Also cracked bleeding or scab, nipples. Your nipples may be a little tender in terms of having the baby feed often at the breast, but they should not be cracked. They should not be bleeding and they should not be scabbed. You should not be in pain when you are feeding your baby. Also, if your baby is too sleepy and not waking up for feeds, that's also a red flag and you should be engaging your provider. Now, let me slow down and just talk to you a bit to hopefully help to keep you going even if you start off and things get a little rough. Here's the truth. I wanted to quit breastfeeding very early on. I was sore. I was exhausted and convinced I was doing everything wrong. The only thing that kept me going. Was knowing that I wasn't supposed to do it alone, and that getting help wasn't failure. It was smart. So here's your reminder. You don't have to wait until your baby's born to get ready. In fact, the best thing that you can do is to prep now. That's why you're here. That's why you're watching this video. So kudos to you if you want to do a deep dive to prepare for your birth and your baby right now, then I want you to consider bump to bundle blueprint inside. We'll talk about labor and birth and breastfeeding that. Actually makes sense. It's everything I wish I had with my first, and it's designed just for you. I want you to take a look in the description box so that you can get started today. Now, we've talked all about breastfeeding and I hope this has put your mind to ease in terms of whether or not you can do it. The answer is yes and how to be successful at it, especially in those first few days. But if you're like, okay, but how do I get ready for birth two. Don't worry. I got you mama. Just watch my how to prep for birth, like a boss playlist. It's right here and it's listed next. It's gonna break down exactly what you need to feel confident in control and ready to walk into that delivery room like the boss that you are. So I want you to start there. Get empowered and know that you've got this mama, and I've got you. All right. I'll see you inside of the playlist.