Things They Don't Tell You About Breastfeeding PART II

If you're reading this and you haven't read part 1 yet, then I suggest you start there first. If you're here from part 1 then wow, you're really into the prep and have a pat on the back from me! So let's continue from where we left off, nipples.

6. Blast off

I've actually gone through a few different situations that ended up with leaky boobs. One of my most memorable ones was the first time I had a cold shower. I wasn't planning on a cold shower but at the time this happened I had an instant water heater and not a central one. I walked into the shower and turned it on. Not expecting the water pressure to be that high I stood right under the shower head as it blasted cold water on my chest. This then set off a chain reaction of my nipples hardening, my areola constricting and milk being shot out of both breasts at the wall. There I was trying to shield the milk with both my hands obviously freaking out and goin "oh sh*t, oh sh*t" whilst I was dousing the shower wall in milk.

Looking back at it now it makes me giggle, but I definitely wasn't giggling then.

So just a word of warning, a difference in temperature can automatically kick start your milk production even if that's not what you're planning on doing.

7. A treadmill on your chest

I don't know if many of you know this but you burn a lot of calories whilst you're breastfeeding. For mothers who are worried about weight gain, a healthy balance of eating right and exercise is important to keep fit but don't do a weight loss diet if you're planning on breastfeeding as you need to have a bit of a larger intake than normal to keep your milk production. The most important thing to remember is you're still eating for two. So keep your diet healthy and if you're

not sure what you should be eating then seek advice from a certified professional.

8. Baby alligators

It is your choice how long you'd like to breastfeed for and no one should force you to wean your children off until you're ready, with that being said, What do you do if your child is teething?

According to the World Health Organization, it is recommended that you breastfeed your child until they are about 2 years old. That usually means most mothers who do feed for 2 years or longer will experience your child teething.

Your child will probably have some of the following symptoms:

- swollen or sore gums

- more drool than normal

- changing latching position

- being more agitated

- biting or nibbling or sucking of fingers

* do please note that this can also be a sign of illness and if you suspect your child of being unwell then to contact a health professional.

Most of the time your child will not be biting you/your nipple so there may not be a huge difference or change for you except for how fussy your child is. But do remember that breastfeeding is a great way to sooth and console your child through changes that they may not understand and struggle with.

9. How long is too long?

Before I go into the tip let me just say that I've fed each of my children for different amounts of time. This was due to their health, medical needs and my time availability.

My first born I breast fed him for about a year, but I had to stop at about a year because of my career choice and my work load, he was then bottle fed with formula for another 6 months. My second son was breast fed for 6 months then bottle fed with breast milk until 2 years old. My third was breast fed for 3 months and bottle fed for another 15 months with breast milk and formula mix. His diet was different because he had a medical condition and everything had to be immensely sterile. My youngest was breast fed for almost 2 years and the reason it was possible was because I had more flexibility with my workload. I was also a wet nurse to a friend's child for about 6 months as her mother had to go back to finish off her contract in another country before relocating.

There have been multiple studies and there have been multiple timelines and guides published, I'm not an expert on this issue and therefore I can't say which scientific paper to follow. I do believe that you should do what you're comfortable with and what you think is suitable for your child and adjust accordingly.

10. My way or the highway

This isn't really a tip but just food for thought. Because of how progressive we as a society there will be a huge difference in lifestyle, parenting method and child raising so there is no room 'my way is better' mentality. Every parent's situation is different so we should all keep an open mind. My sister who has three beautiful children couldn't physically breastfeed any of her children and was harshly judged by her so-called 'friends'.

Please don't be one of those parents who verbally attacks another parent's parenting method. Unless that child is in a situation that could cause them harm then it's not your call. Parents don't just consist of a husband and wife combo and it doesn't mean that the child will be less healthy just because they’re bottle fed.

I hope these tips helped you and remember to also seek advice from a health professional if you're ever unsure about something.