WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED BREASTFEEDING — A MOM'S LETTER TO HERSELF

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Dear first-week me,

Put down the scale. Put down the timer. And please, for the love of everything, take care of your nipples.

I know you are sitting there convinced that you are doing something wrong. The baby is fussing. You cannot tell how much they are getting. Your nipples feel like they have been through something they were not designed for. You are exhausted in a way you did not know was possible.

You are not doing it wrong. You are just in the first week. And the first week is the hardest part.

HERE IS WHAT I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME

The early days of breastfeeding are a learning curve — for you and for your baby. Your body has never made milk before. Your baby has never nursed before. You are both figuring this out at the same time, and that is okay.

Frequent nursing in the early days is not a sign that you do not have enough milk. It is how your baby drives your supply. Every time they nurse, they are placing an order with your body. The more orders, the more production. Trust the process.

Your baby's stomach is the size of a marble on day one. The small amounts of colostrum you are producing are exactly right for that tiny stomach. You do not need more. They do not need more. You are enough.

AND PLEASE, TAKE CARE OF YOUR NIPPLES

This one I cannot say enough. Nipple care in the early days is not optional — it is essential. Keeping the skin moisturized and protected between feeds supports healing, prevents cracking, and makes the whole experience more bearable.

Mama's Nipple Butter is the product I recommend from day one, before you even need it. It is formulated with ingredients that are safe for your baby and effective for your skin. It is the thing I wish had been in my bag from the very beginning.

Get yours before your baby arrives. Your future self will thank you.

Shop at the link in bio.

With Gratitude,

Tiffani Dickerson RN IBCLC