11 Things No One Told You About Breastfeeding And Why You Need To Know Them

January 11, 2022

When you're pregnant, what do you hear about breastfeeding?

Girlfriends may tell you stories about their breastfeeding journey.... you may hear something from your mom or aunt or sister-in-law about their experience... and sometimes you may not even hear a peep from anyone about breastfeeding and what happens to your boobies once you give birth.

Some common things you may have heard about breastfeeding during your pregnancy is all about the weight you will lose if you breastfeed (hmmm), or about how breastfeeding bonds you with your baby. You may also hear how all of the nutritional components and benefits of breastmilk are superior to all.

This information and sometimes even lack of information can feel overwhelming.

You may find yourself searching Google and Instagram late at night to learn more and find out for yourself about all the benefits that come with breastfeeding and what to expect when the time comes.

To calm your nerves a bit, it can be super helpful to attend a breastfeeding class from a breastfeeding specialists in your last trimester. You can take a class online or in person and it is recommended that your partner also attend! When you are tired and overwhelmed, having your partner there to help you remember the tips and tricks from class can serve you well.

If you are planning to give birth at a hospital, they usually have some resources to share with you about a class you can attend and also give you a list of lactation consultants for once baby arrives. A lactation consultant can help show you the perfect way to get your little milk monster to latch so you don’t wind up with painful nipples.

OK. We get it! There is alot to know about breastfeeding and it is awesome when it goes well, both for baby AND mom.

But what about the stuff no one tells you. The things you only find out about when you’re ACTUALLY breastfeeding?

Well, to make sure you’re as clued up as possible Breastie, here are 11 things they don’t tell you about breastfeeding!

#1 Your milk doesn't magically appear when your baby does

Forget what you’ve seen in movies or TV shows where the baby is born (always after a straightforward labor where the woman’s water breaks in a perfect gush and she IMMEDIATELY starts contracting – please. When does that ever happen in real life?!) and the mom’s breasts start producing gallons of milk, like, straight away.

It really doesn’t happen like that.

Yes. If you choose to breastfeed then putting your baby to your Boobies straight after birth is the done thing. But, there’s no actual milk for them yet. Instead, what they’ll get is colostrum, a thick, yellow substance that’s easy to digest as has everything they need for those first few days.

But you only produce teeny tiny amounts – because that’s all they need for their teeny tiny tummies. Aww. This also allows your baby to practice feeding and latching before your actual milk arrives a few days after you give birth.

You’ll know because your Boobies will suddenly look and feel very big and swollen. Milk time!

#2 Your breastmilk is unique

We all know that no two Boobies are the same but did you know that breastmilk is also unique?

The composition of your breast milk is customized to your baby! And your magical milk changes its composition constantly to keep up with your baby’s needs and demands. It can change on a daily and even an hourly basis. It also creates and passes on antibodies to help your little one’s immune system. Potentially protecting them from viruses and bacteria that you might have been exposed to.

How awesome is that?

As an example, breast milk produced during the night (hopefully the sleeping hours) contains higher levels of human milk nucleotides. Something which can induce sleep in babies. Your magic milk is also produced at the perfect temperature for your baby to enjoy. Yep. Your Boobies have unique built-in baby thermostats!

#3 You make more milk when your baby wants more

Ever hear of cluster feeding?

This happens usually in the first few weeks of your baby being born. And it’s when your little bundle just wants to feed All. The. Dang. Time. You’ll go through a mammoth nursing session... hours seem to pass... and just when you think you’re done, that little snuffler starts mewing and fussing for more.

This is cluster feeding, and it can be a real breastfeeding struggle. But one of the reasons experts believe cluster feeding is so necessary is because it’s your baby’s way of telling your body it wants more milk. And when your Boobies get that message, they start producing more! Those chemical signals get milk production flowing, allowing you to produce more milk and sustain your babe. When the milk is removed from the breast, your body makes more. It’s all about that demand and supply baby! You're the Tits!

#4 Breastfeeding can zap your energy

Feeding your little rugrat can burn around 500 calories a day mama! Especially in the days before weaning when your milk is 100% of their food source.

So, although it means, yes, it can potentially help with weight loss, it can also make you feel pooped! On top of the exhaustion of labor and giving birth, the emotional upheaval, and massive hormone shifts, breastfeeding is usually round the clock in the early days. And once you combine lack of sleep with the additional calorie burning, it can leave you feeling drained of energy.

Make sure you drink TONS of water, eat TONS of snacks and meals when you can, and accept every bit of help offered.

#5 It can hurt

You’re always told, breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, and if it does then you’re doing it wrong.

Thanks for the great advice!

The truth is, yes, the correct latch should make breastfeeding relatively comfortable and pain-free. BUT, having your nipples and areolas sucked on hour after hour, day after day will of course make them a wee bit sensitive and tender. Those gums are hard and can really hurt, and your nipples might blister, bleed and feel super painful. It doesn’t always mean your latch is wrong.

Luckily, it does get easier and better. And if it’s very painful for you but you’re determined to keep feeding then speak to a lactation consultant who will be able to help. And stock up on nipple balm to soothe your nips!

#6 You will be constantly hungry and thirsty

Thought you were hungry when you were pregnant? Girl, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Because breastfeeding burns a ton of calories daily, you’ll probably find that you are a lot hungrier than normal. And because you lose fluid when nursing, you’ll also feel a bit parched. The best thing you can do is listen to your body. Now is not the time to start a diet or be concerned about snacking and calorie control.

You can always try and keep your snacks on the healthy side, but if hunger calls, you answer the phone mama. And remember to keep a bottle of water near you at all times so you can keep hydrated.

#7 You will spray and you will leak

This sure sounds fun, right?!

In the early weeks of breastfeeding, your Boobies will resemble fountains. Or maybe a fire hydrant is more accurate. As your Titties adjust to the needs of your baby, they’ll produce A LOT of milk, and you could experience the spray effect. This is when your breasts literally spray breast milk. Usually in your baby’s face.

You’ll also feel the “let-down” which is when your Boobs are ready to release your milk. It feels like a prickly, pins and needles sensation, and before you know it, milk is dripping out quicker than a leaky faucet.

Our advice? Absorbent breast pads. Slip those between your leaky nips and your bra or shirt to soak up your milk fountains.

#8 It can sometimes get lonely

Breastfeeding is amazing. But, it can sometimes feel isolating, and a little boring. You’ll spend hours at a time nursing in the early weeks, sometimes with just Netflix and Instagram for company. And you might feel the need to excuse yourself from company to feed if you don’t feel comfortable doing it around people.

This potentially means missing out on conversations or outings if you’re feeling a little nervous about nursing in public. But, the more confidence you gain while breastfeeding, the more you will feel empowered to whip a Titty out no matter where you are. You have a superpower, and you should never feel like you can’t let it shine.

#9 Pumping can be just as hard

A lot of moms choose to pump – either exclusively, because they’re going back to work, so they can have a night off, or they might not want to nurse but still want their baby to have their milk.

But pumping can be just as hard work as breastfeeding exclusively. And you might end up feeling like a cow on a dairy farm! After all, you need to clean and sterilize your equipment, store it safely in the fridge and freezer, and pump as often as your baby would nurse so your supply doesn’t drop.

Pumping can also be deceptive. You might pump for an hour and only wind up with an ounce from each side. Where’s the rest of it?! What you pump isn’t conducive to what your breasts actually make. And your baby is far more efficient at draining your Boobies than a machine. So don’t be disheartened if what you pump isn’t as much as you hoped. Keep going, you’ve got this.

#10 It might help you live longer

Those Titties are mini-miracles.

As well as providing everything your baby needs for the first 6 months (and longer) of her life, breastfeeding can also help you live longer, and healthier.

A study published in 2009 followed 140,000 nursing mamas (who had breastfed for at least a month). The study found that feeding for a month or longer reduced the occurrence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

It also showed that nursing for at least a year could reduce the risk of serious health issues such as stroke and heart attacks.

#11 Breastfeeding can make you feel zen

OK. Yes, it can be tiring and hard work. But we’ll never stop shouting its praises because breastfeeding is just wonderful.

And one of our favorite things about it is how it can make you feel. Your emotions will be all over the place after giving birth and welcoming your precious babe into the world, and nursing can turn you on to a whole host of loving feelings.

That’s because the act of breastfeeding itself has a calming effect on the mama. Your letdown – the release of breastmilk we talked about earlier – is stimulated by an increase of the hormone oxytocin.

Also known as the love hormone.

Oxytocin increases feelings of love, bonding, and attachment and reduces feelings of anxiety and fear. Making you feel loved up and tickled pink. How great is that?

The magical world of breastfeeding is a bit of a miracle

And so are you, mama.

Whatever you’ve heard about breastfeeding – the good, the bad, and the ugly – remember that only YOU can decide what’s right for you and your baby. If breastfeeding works for you then amazing. But, if you can’t make it work, then that’s OK too. A fed baby and a happy mama is always Breast.

Did you learn something new about breastfeeding today?

At Titty City Design, we believe that every boobie is beautiful, and that should be celebrated. We are a female owned and operated, small business here to spread self love and body positivity with our line of products for the home. A portion of our proceeds go to help support postpartum women and breast cancer patients.