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There’s a lot to learn about breastfeeding! Amedsupplies.com is your source for insurance-covered breast pumps and nursing essentials, but we also want to help educate new and experienced moms about the ins and outs of breastfeeding. In today’s blog, we are offering up nine tidbits of information that most new moms don’t know, even though most of the other mothers have experienced it. Keep reading to learn some important information we wish our own mothers would have told us about breastfeeding!
You won’t have milk right away, and that’s normal. The first day or two with a new baby is very different from the following days. The first time you nurse your baby, they will actually be drinking colostrum, a thick, yellow substance that doesn’t look like any milk you’d want to drink. However, it is incredibly important for your newborn. This protein-packed, nutrient-rich first milk helps to deliver important antibodies and immunoglobulins to your little one, helping protect them from a world full of viruses and bacteria. It also helps to adjust their digestive system to eating, making it easier when normal breast milk comes in. Oh, and don’t be surprised if your baby's first couple of poos look like tar - that’s the just colostrum doing its thing!
Your nipples might crack or bleed. You don’t realize how much contact babies have with your nipples until you’re busy feeding a newborn for 30 minutes at a time, 12 times a day. That can do a number on your nipples, leading to cracking, chapping, and bleeding. To help this, you can use a lanolin-based nipple cream or an organic nipple balm that is safe for both you and your little one. You can also chat with a lactation specialist who can ensure the pain isn’t from a bad latch.
Insurance covers breast pumps. Breastfeeding has been shown to be the healthiest option for moms and babies alike. For this reason, most insurance providers will cover the cost of breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies under preventative care — ideally it will, after all, prevent future illnesses and diseases. Many moms look at the upfront cost of a reliable, safe electric breast pump — usually over $200 — and think, “On second thought, maybe I don’t need one of those.” Amedicalsupplies.com can help you navigate the complicated world of insurance by processing your claim for you. You can check out our list of accepted insurance plans for free breast pumps to see if you qualify!
Breastfeeding isn’t easy. Just like everything in life, breastfeeding is a new learning experience for you and your baby. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t go according to plan right away. Keep in mind that just like how your insurance covers breast pumps, it often also covers lactation consultations with breastfeeding experts. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help during the first couple of weeks!
Breastfeeding moms get more sleep than bottle-feeding moms. Even though breastfeeding is hard work, most moms who do it get more sleep. You would think that bottle feeding would allow moms and their partners to switch off on feeding responsibilities, giving Mom more time to rest. However, having to go all the way to the kitchen, mix formula, and warm up a bottle completely messes up your sleep cycle, making it harder to fall asleep after feeding. You can breastfeed in the dark without ever having to get out of bed, making it super easy to fall back asleep after.
Breastfeeding burns a lot of calories. Producing milk and nursing can burn around 500 calories per day, helping new moms to shed baby weight and stay healthy without engaging in strenuous activity.
Breastfeeding MAY help ward off pregnancy. As a disclaimer, that is a big MAY, as it, it also may not ward off pregnancy. Here’s the thing, most mothers who nurse regularly (never miss a feeding) will not have their period return or ovulate until they begin weaning or switching to bottles. According to studies, exclusive breastfeeding for six months is about 98 percent effective as a birth control method IF the following criteria are strictly followed: You baby is feeding on cue and only eating breast milk, you are feeding at least every four hours during the day and at least every six hours at night, and your period hasn’t returned. Again, this isn’t foolproof. We’d recommend a backup form of birth control if you want to be extra careful and simply rejoice in not having a period for a few extra months.
Babies who are fed formula will be just fine. Mothers seem to be mommy-shamed no matter what they do. You formula feed? Oh, they’ll say, don’t you know that breast is best? You breastfeed? Ew, put that away, you’re in public! It seems like mothers can’t win, sometimes. Taylor Swift was right when she said, “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” While breastfeeding does have some proven benefits, that doesn’t mean your baby will be worse for wear if you use formula. At the end of the day, a fed baby is a happy baby, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up if you choose to bottle-feed.
You can donate your breast milk. Let’s say you only nurse your baby, but you have a breast pump, some spare time, and a philanthropic attitude. Did you know that you can donate your pumped breast milk to babies in need? Some babies need breast milk due to medical conditions, and their mothers cannot provide it for whatever reason. That’s where superhero women come in to donate their milk. You can contact your local birth center, milk bank, or hospital for more information on how to do this.
Generations of mothers before you had to either do without the modern nursing supplies of the 21st century — seriously, how did our ancestors get by without lanolin cream!? — or they had to go to the store to buy them — with a newborn in tow? No thank you!
We’re here to solve both of those problems. On our website, you can get your insurance-covered breast pumps through us, as well as gain access to discounted nursing supplies and essentials to make life with a newborn a little easier. Get your free breast pump and supplies today!
