A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding

Congratulations, new mama! If you’re reading this, you’ve likely just welcomed a precious little angel to your family. Now, you might have a lot of questions & concerns in this new role, and that’s totally fine! No supermama ever started out that way.

We’ve asked around the Supermama community and our own team of experts to bring to you this guide for supermamas; even if you’re a veteran mom, we’re sure you’ll find something new to learn! 

The Benefits of Breastfeeding 

You probably know this already, but it bears repeating - breastfeeding offers a multitude of benefits for your baby. The first few months for your baby are a crucial development period, and breastfeeding is a major source of essential nutrients & antibodies. These nutrients keep your baby safe from harmful infections like viral bugs, diarrhea or colds while also building the bond between mom and baby.

But did you know breastfeeding helps the mom - that’s right, you - just as much! Among the aforementioned benefits, breastfeeding will help;

• Provide essential nutrients & antibodies to your baby
• Reduce uterus swelling by producing oxytocin hormone
• Reduce your risk of breast cancer osteoporosis 
• Recover from postnatal bleeding 

However, we’d like to remind you that breastfeeding isn’t the only way to feed your baby. If you’re having personal issues with feeding or you can’t quite produce enough milk, you can supplement or even replace breast milk with formula milk. There’s a lot of options in the market that will provide your baby the nutrients they need to grow big & strong, so don’t fret!

Understanding Milk Supply

Now that you’ve had your baby, your body has likely received the hint to start producing milk. For a newborn baby, that means feeding sessions every 2 to 3 hours, or 8 to 12 times every 24 hours. Whether you’re at home or back in the office, it’s highly recommended to pump every few hours so that you’ll have enough milk to store for future feedings, and also reduce the risk of clogged milk ducts. 

Settling into a Schedule

Whether you’re a first-time or experienced supermama, it’s to be expected that your daily routine will shift once you welcome a baby into the mix. We won’t sugar coat it - expect having to drop everything or waking up in the middle of the night to tend to your baby. While it might be difficult in the beginning, we recommend that you start optimising your routines wherever you can - ask your partner for help, take micro naps, and start multitasking. Using the right motherhood essentials - like a hands-free breast pump - will help save a lot of time by letting you pump on the go or while doing other things.

Nurturing your Emotional Well-Being

While it’s easy to find guides & tips on taking care of your baby, we believe that your well-being is just as important. When you’re taking the time to take care of your baby, we highly encourage you to take a step back and take off the Supermama cape for a while: let your family take care of the baby so that you can get back to hobbies you enjoy and take some me-time off. It’s just like your work responsibilities - you can’t be expected to give your full 100% without any breaks, after all!

We hope this beginner's guide has given you a better idea of what to expect while starting out. We're here to support you every step of the way, and we hope that you’ll be comfortable enough to reach out for any uncertainties. Remember, there may be moments of uncertainty, but with patience, perseverance, and the support of a loving community, you will navigate through them.