Breastfeeding nourished my baby and provided relaxing, quiet moments.  

It’s been a year since I stopped breastfeeding my two-year-old toddler. 

We nursed for 18 months, and although I look back now with nostalgia, I remember being so relieved when we finished. I had been nursing or pregnant for 3-and-a-half years (42 months) and frankly, I was ready to have control over my body again.

And breastfeeding a baby with food allergies means I was very limited in what I could eat.

Breastfeeding definitely had its challenges and there’s so much that no one ever tells you.

But I’m so glad I had the experience. Nursing both of my children–my oldest to 13 months and my youngest to 18 months–helped me develop a closeness and attachment to them that’s hard to describe, or replicate.

Even so, I wish I had been better prepared for breastfeeding with both of my children. We took prenatal classes before my son was born, but there’s little training beforehand on what to expect or do to breastfeed.

I remember thinking that at some point during my first pregnancy, my breasts would fill up like 2 gallons of milk, ready to dispense on demand once the baby was delivered.

That’s definitely not what happens.

Here’s 7 Things No One Told Me About Breastfeeding

1. Your milk may not come in right away.

Labor and delivery—and specifically the delivery of the placenta—signals the body to increase milk production, although the body started this process halfway during pregnancy.

So when you leave the delivery room, you might not notice much of a difference. My milk took three days to come in—I remember waking up three days postpartum and my chest felt wet and heavy. I’ve been a tad small chested my entire life so, frankly, the weight on my chest felt like a boulder. Worried, I rang for the nurse. She laughed when she saw me and welcomed me to the DD bra club.

2. Breastfeeding may be uncomfortable initially.

So I figured there would be some nipple pain and an adjustment process during nursing. After the baby was latched, I thought that would be the extent of my discomfort. But I was unprepared for the cramping and pain in my uterus. The hormone oxytocin is secreted when your baby breastfeeds and it helps your uterus contract, which can feel like cramping. In fact, breastfeeding overall may help your uterus return to its normal size more quickly.

I also had a C-Section with both of my babies, so laying a baby across my lap or against my abdomen to nurse was OUT OF THE QUESTION! I quickly learned to cradle my babies like a football in either arm to avoid pressing them against my belly.

3. Your appetite may increase.

I had feeding frenzies when I breastfed. And I still lost weight. This is not the case for everyone, but for me, it was a delightful time. When I breastfed my first child, I ate until my heart’s content and apparently I still burned on average 425 to 700 calories a day. And my son was a champion breastfeeder, taking both sides in a single meal. I sweat profusely during each nursing session. Sometimes I felt faint while feeding him so I would eat cookies while I nursed. I don’t recommend any of this now. But it was a wonderful time.

4. Babies eat often.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one having a feeding frenzy. How in the name of beautiful brown babies everywhere are you supposed to feed a suckling child every two to three hours? NO ONE TOLD ME THAT UNTIL IT HAPPENED!

I thought my son was being greedy but apparently, in the first few weeks of life, it’s normal for breastfed babies to feed that often—at least 10 to 12 times a day!

5. And sometimes they just keep eating.

Welcome to cluster feeding. WTH! All the women in my life failed me when no one told me about cluster feeding. It will make you rethink these exquisite bundles of joy (just kidding). In the first few weeks and during growth spurts, babies may nurse more frequently or constantly. Can you say RAW BOOBS?

6. And they may scream for hours after eating

So around week 3 my beautiful firstborn son turned into a screaming monster. He would eat and then scream FOR HOURS. And it was obvious he was in pain. Laying on his back he would draw his knees up in the air and just scream. Burping him didn’t help, rocking him was not soothing, and feeding him more was definitely not the answer.

When you’re already sleep deprived, sore from a c-section, trying to soothe and nurse a newborn who won’t stop crying is very, very hard. My husband, mom, and later my mother-in-law took turns around the clock helping out. Eventually my baby was diagnosed by our pediatrician with colic and I found a few solutions here that helped. But literally we had to wait it out for about three months. And at 12 weeks, he turned into the sweet baby of my dreams again.

7. Your Breasts Will Likely Return to their Regular Size

After all of that. I gave 42 months of constant nourishment and now? I just expected…. more.

Do you have questions about breastfeeding? Need help positioning your baby and making sure they are latching properly? Here are a few online resources to find help:

La Leche League International has a comprehensive website and a network of support that can answer any question about breastfeeding. You can also find a local chapter near you by clicking here.

KellyMom is an amazing breastfeeding and parenting website founded by Kelly Bonyata, an internationally certified lactation consultant. The site’s online community has expanded over the years to include social media.

What to Expect.com – This is the digital version of the renowned pregnancy book What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff.

American Pregnancy Association – This is the national association that promote pregnancy wellness, education and advocacy. Their website is also a helpful online resource for preparing for pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.