Beyond the birth, prep for feeding PART 1

aka why you need to start thinking about feeding your baby (breastfeeding or otherwise) during your pregnancy.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

How far into the ‘process’ are you? First trimester disbelief: can I really be pregnant? Is there really a tiny human inside me who is growing at a mind-blowing rate each day? Are you in the throws of morning sickness and just want it all over and done with… until your second trimester, when it’s promised to be all over and you can ‘bloom’? Are you blooming? Or are you blooming fed up with different symptoms hitting you each day?

Or perhaps you are in your third trimester, getting bigger by the day and wondering where on earth to find any clothes that you can comfortable fit into, how to sleep, how to eat, where the nearest toilets are…

And then… THE BIRTH! How is that baby going to fit through THERE? How are you going to cope with the pain? Who do you want at the birth? What to pack into your hospital bag? Should it be a hospital or a birth centre birth? Is a home birth safe? Can you reverse the process so that you can avoid giving birth altogether??

All those thoughts swirl around your head and naturally! Especially if it’s your first baby.

HOWEVER. I’m here to tell you something that might surprise you. So many of you will look back and wonder WHY you didn’t spend more time planning what will be the centre of your attention for many months to come AFTER giving birth: FEEDING YOUR BABY!

This is a cognitive bias. The birth is nearest and perhaps scariest, most challenging, alien, most immediate. It’s the one to prepare for. You may attend an antenatal course and be taught about birth positions, birth interventions, maybe even breathing techniques etc. There may even be a little mention of how to care for your baby once they arrive. If you are lucky you will be presented with the infamous ‘breast is best’ and possibly some bottle feeding guidelines too. Even if you have the good fortune to be part of a high quality breastfeeding preparation course (and you will be in the minority), the amount of detail can be mind-boggling.

Can you possibly imagine what a sore nipple feels like? Can you begin to even consider breastfeeding positions until you’re holding your baby in your arms? What the heck is oxytocin anyway?

I URGE YOU in the kindest possible way, to think ahead. A little bit of knowledge, coming from the right source, is going to be key on your feeding journey. Know what’s normal. Know what needs attention. Know how and where to get help. Know what you need, to prepare. In terms of equipment, very little.

I have written a starter guide to help you know where to begin HERE and HERE.

In this series of posts, I will take you through some frequently asked questions (highest scoring on Google), to help you become well informed and prepared. These are all just starting points, and will give you basic knowledge and understanding. Each one can be followed up (and I recommend some high quality resources HERE) further, to gain deeper knowledge.

Better still is always to become part of an existing community, may it be free of paid. Choose the option that resonates with you most and accessible for you in your area.

Click to hear me talk about this topic on Instagram

Get in touch for a 1to1 preparing to breastfeed course tailored to your needs

Read my other BLOG POSTS on Beyond the Birth, Prep for Feeding, to learn about other aspects of breastfeeding and infant feeding in general!