If you are planning to breastfeed, here are some facts that I wish I knew before hand. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Feeding cramps!! Who knew!! You spend nine months expanding and now, remarkably, your uterus is shrinking back to its normal size. This process can sometimes be a painful one. They can feel like short, sharp, cramps that you feel in your abdomen a couple of days after giving birth, often while nursing due to the fact that there are oxytocin receptors in our breasts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Some first-time moms may not notice these contractions at all. But many moms of multiple kids report that afterpains can get worse with each baby you deliver. For me, I felt them after having Jorja (my first) but they were totally bearable and mainly felt at the start of feeding. After Jazmine (my second) they were much more painful and I had no idea this would be the case. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The pain gets worse with each birth, why? When the placenta breaks away from the lining of the uterus you are left with an open wound. The uterine muscles contract in an effort to heal this, keep bleeding under control and bring your uterus back to pre pregnancy size. In subsequent births, they become more painful due to the fact that the body becomes much more efficient at healing this wound and you may find you bleed for less after your second birth. The body knows what to do so the contractions are much more intense each time. Amazing really right!?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The contractions are triggered by the hormone oxytocin, which is released by breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact with your baby.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The comforting note is that if you’re having them, you’re probably doing breastfeeding right. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hot tip; I actually found myself using my hypnobirthing breathing techniques to get through them and even getting on the floor after a feed adopting some positions I laboured in, I kid you not.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Breastfeeding tips
Updated: Sep 26, 2019
