Its the middle of January and you can’t figure out why your baby doesn’t seem satisfied, why it feels like he is going through a constant growth spurt, or why he just won’t stop nursing. Or its the day after Christmas and you suddenly have mastitis or a clogged duct. Why now?
“The Holidays” are a busy time and if you’re not careful, some bad breastfeeding habits might creep in before you know it! Take some time now, before all the hubbub, to make your plan and be aware of possible situations you might find yourself in, that may not be best for you and your baby.
- Eat Right-There are so many holiday treats, both savory and sweet! So while it doesn’t hurt to indulge every once in a while, don’t make it a regular thing. Don’t forget that your baby eats what you eat and as a breastfeeding mother you need to nourish your body with good foods! Make a decision now to continue eating your healthy diet.
- Don’t Forget to Feed Your Baby-When you get around family, or a group of friends, and the baby is being passed around, doted on and played with, those early hunger cues you usually notice might not be there. He isn’t used to so much attention, and an extra hour may whiz by before he suddenly decides he’s starving and lets everyone know! Only a few days of decreased feedings and you’re milk supply will decrease. Sudden decrease in demand for milk often leads to clogged ducts or mastitis.
- Quiet Time-Its hard to remember that little ones get overwhelmed a lot quicker than we do. If your baby seems fussy or agitated, take some time to go into a quiet, darkened room with just the two of you to settle down. Also, even if you don’t mind nursing around your friends or family, sometimes its nice to have the excuse to go into the other room to feed the baby quietly.
- Criticism-Think about how to deal with criticism. Not everyone has a supportive family. Planning some responses will keep you confident in your decision to breastfeed your baby.
- Breastfeed where YOU feel comfortable-Sometimes its nice to get a break and hide from the crowd to spend one on one time with your baby. Other times, (especially if you have a new baby who is nursing constantly) it feels like you are missing out on all the action! Don’t be afraid to nurse your baby where you are most comfortable.
- Bottles-Family members may ask if they can feed the baby a bottle. Remember, they just want to help and love your baby. Don’t be afraid to say no. Its a lot more work pumping, cleaning, and then giving a baby a bottle. And if baby is not used to bottles, you don’t want to risk nipple confusion. Be ready to suggest other ideas for people to bond with baby (such as wearing the baby, changing clothes, cuddling, or rocking for a nap).
Don’t forget there are some major BENEFITS to breastfeeding around the holidays too!
- Less stuff-you will have no need to pack a bottle, water or formula everywhere you go.
- Seclusion-You can get away from it all for some quiet time with your baby. Older babies have a hard time concentrating and younger babies need less stimulation. This gives you a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet too!
- Education-Younger generations will see you breastfeeding and exposure is so very important for when they think about how they want to feed their babies.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge this holiday season?
