At La Leche League meetings, parents often share lessons they have learned along their nursing journeys. If an expectant parent attends a meeting before their baby arrives, they have a distinct advantage. Listening to mothers and families whose babies are already nursing can help in being prepared for what the early days are really like.
Hearing from others who have been there and done that is a wonderful way to find support and normalize the experiences of breastfeeding in the early days. Learning about some practical ways that families manage caring for a baby, gain support from their loved ones, and learn to know if feeding is going well can help parents overcome feeding challenges. Knowledge is power!
A recent post on the La Leche League USA Facebook page asked parents to discuss what they wish they’d known about breastfeeding before their baby was born. We invite you to read the whole thread of responses. Here are some of them:
Elise W. shared the significance of the first few months postpartum and how intense that time can feel. “The 4th trimester is real! Basically, be prepared to be everything for your baby–meeting every need–in those first few months. Don’t worry about schedules; instead, just do what feels right from day to day.”
Sarah N. wished she had known more about red flags that feeding isn’t going well. “I wish someone had told me that nursing a baby around the clock can absolutely be indicative of something wrong. Cluster feeding is normal, but it isn’t permanent around the clock. I didn’t know, and my daughter had a lip tie. We only got diagnosed at 7 years old, and that could have made all the difference in the world when she was a baby.” It is true, babies do nurse a lot in the early days, but if you are having discomfort or your baby is unhappy all day long, you will want to seek support with breastfeeding.
Ann O. pointed out what she learned about getting support from a partner: some things are more helpful than others! “I wish I had known that if you are breastfeeding, you will have to pump when you give bottles! Having my husband help by giving bottles was just more work in a different way, not help or a break. Dad helping with other tasks was better for us!”
Nancy F. explained, “I wish I had known what a wonderful journey breastfeeding my 3 children would be! I had decided to breastfeed my children before I even got pregnant, because I was aware of the many health benefits. What I didn’t know ahead of time was what a wonderful experience breastfeeding would be and how it would shape my parenting style permanently. The only thing I’d do differently would be to attend LLL meetings towards the end of my first pregnancy, so I would worry less in those early weeks.” Find an LLL Group to attend near you here: lllusa.org/locator/.
So many parents feel these warm and fuzzy feelings about nursing, yet it can be hard to explain that breastfeeding is more than a way to feed your baby until you are actually experiencing it!
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding experiences and stories. Email them to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Posted: May 19, 2026 by Yael Breimer
Things I Wish I Had Known About Breastfeeding
At La Leche League meetings, parents often share lessons they have learned along their nursing journeys. If an expectant parent attends a meeting before their baby arrives, they have a distinct advantage. Listening to mothers and families whose babies are already nursing can help in being prepared for what the early days are really like.
A recent post on the La Leche League USA Facebook page asked parents to discuss what they wish they’d known about breastfeeding before their baby was born. We invite you to read the whole thread of responses. Here are some of them:
Elise W. shared the significance of the first few months postpartum and how intense that time can feel. “The 4th trimester is real! Basically, be prepared to be everything for your baby–meeting every need–in those first few months. Don’t worry about schedules; instead, just do what feels right from day to day.”
Sarah N. wished she had known more about red flags that feeding isn’t going well. “I wish someone had told me that nursing a baby around the clock can absolutely be indicative of something wrong. Cluster feeding is normal, but it isn’t permanent around the clock. I didn’t know, and my daughter had a lip tie. We only got diagnosed at 7 years old, and that could have made all the difference in the world when she was a baby.” It is true, babies do nurse a lot in the early days, but if you are having discomfort or your baby is unhappy all day long, you will want to seek support with breastfeeding.
Ann O. pointed out what she learned about getting support from a partner: some things are more helpful than others! “I wish I had known that if you are breastfeeding, you will have to pump when you give bottles! Having my husband help by giving bottles was just more work in a different way, not help or a break. Dad helping with other tasks was better for us!”
Nancy F. explained, “I wish I had known what a wonderful journey breastfeeding my 3 children would be! I had decided to breastfeed my children before I even got pregnant, because I was aware of the many health benefits. What I didn’t know ahead of time was what a wonderful experience breastfeeding would be and how it would shape my parenting style permanently. The only thing I’d do differently would be to attend LLL meetings towards the end of my first pregnancy, so I would worry less in those early weeks.” Find an LLL Group to attend near you here: lllusa.org/locator/.
So many parents feel these warm and fuzzy feelings about nursing, yet it can be hard to explain that breastfeeding is more than a way to feed your baby until you are actually experiencing it!
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding experiences and stories. Email them to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
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Category: Breastfeeding Support, LLL Support, New Family
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