15 beautiful, strange and funny things only breastfeeding mums know

Hello there breastfeeding mummy! We don't really need to tell you just how wonderful breastfeeding it (but we're going to, anyway!). You're not just giving your little one stellar nutrition, but you're also bonding with him in a unique and precious way.

With breastfeeding also comes a whole new set of skills – and even vocabulary – that you acquire along the way.

This gallery is dedicated to all you wonderful breastfeeding mums. It presents a list of things only you will know about, having probably experienced most, or all of them yourselves.

Click next to start reading some of these breastfeeding "truths"!

1. Your vocabulary expands in ways you never thought it would

You know what "let-down" and "latch-on" mean. You also know what these acronyms stand for: "BF" (no, not "boyfriend" or "best friend"!), "EBM", "LO" and "NIP".

With your new and improved vocabulary, you have chats with fellow breastfeeding mums using sentences like this: "My LO won’t NIP so I had to give her EBM until I could BF her at home."

For those of you who need a little explanation:

BF – Breastfeed/ feeding

EBM – Expressed Breast Milk

LO – Loved One/ Little One

NIP – Nurse in Public

Image credit: Pinterest

2. Your phone becomes your new best friend

Breastfeeding can sometimes be lonely business, especially at three in the morning. Because of this, you soon start regarding your phone as your new best friend.

Whether it's to surf through social media or catch up on the latest world news, all those nights (and days) when you're nursing, your phone is bound to become your new bestie.

Which brings us to the next point…

3. You take “brelfies” and you know what they mean too

We all know what selfies are, right? Well "brelfies" are what breastfeeding mums click of themselves and their nursing little ones.

Mums who take brelfies are skilled at achieving the perfect latch-on position that flatters both them and their little one!

Image credit: Pinterest.

4. You know what a Freemie is

Breastfeeding mums get breast-pumps. They know the difference between manual and electric pumps, pumps that express milk from a breast at a time or both breasts at the same time. And of course hands-free pumps – or freemies.

Freemies make breastfeeding mums’ lives just that little bit easier. With these, you can express anywhere, discreetly, efficiently and without even having to touch the pump and have anyone know you’re expressing!

Image credit: Lydia Cheong.

Note in the image that you can't even see Lydia expressing milk using her Freemie!

5. Milk boosters become part of your diet and milk killers are avoided at all cost

As a breastfeeding mum, your aim is to produce enough milk to feed not one baby but ten. In other words, you’d do anything to improve your milk supply.

Because of this, you know that eating certain foods like durian, red bean soup, sashimi and oats will result in an impressive milk output. Likewise, you know to avoid "milk killers" such as caffeine and certain herbs like peppermint and sage.

6. You can breastfeed lying down

The lying-down-and-nursing position is a sleep-saver for many breastfeeding mums. However, it is an art that involves a bit of practice to find the perfect comfy positon for both mum and baby.

Once you find this position, you will be able to let your baby nurse to sleep and you can peacefully drift off yourself. There’s no dealing with a baby who wakes up the moment you lay him down in his cot. When it’s time for another feed, it’s as simple as letting your baby nurse till he’s full and then fall asleep again, right by your side.

7. The feeling of accomplishment you experience is something else

When you see you baby thriving on the milk that your body made for him, you’ll feel a sense of pride and awe that’s related to just how awesome your body and that tiny little being are.

You made your baby’s food – a perfect balance of all the essential nutrients he needs. If that’s not amazing, then we don’t know what else is!

8. Ouch – your nipples!

It’s safe to say that the nipples of a breastfeeding mum take quite a lot of battering in ways others will never know! They are tugged, pulled, chewed, nibbled and sucked. They get cracked, sore and tender.

They will also probably never look the same as they did pre-breastfeeding. But hey, they’ve certainly done an amazing job!

9. You can nurse your baby while doing a million other things at the same time

Breastfeeding mums eventually master the art of multitasking while nursing. This evolves from the realisation that nothing else will get done if they just sit in the same place for hours with a baby attached to their breast.

So, they learn how to hold their breastfeeding baby in one arm (or in a baby carrier) and make a sandwich, type an email, or vacuum at the same time. More skilled mums will learn how to do their marketing or conduct a teleconference while breastfeeding.

10. You worst fear is mastitis

No breastfeeding mum wants to get mastitis, and goes to great lengths to avoid this very painful condition.

You therefore master the art of "combing" your breasts to help relieve plugged milk ducts. You also you know that strategically placed cabbage leaves over your breast will reduce engorgement, therefore reducing the risk of mastitis developing.

11. Two words: Milk drunk

There's nothing like that feeling of complete love when you watch your little one at your breast, feeding until he's "milk drunk".

When this happens, you see that look of complete and utter satisfaction on his face. Your heart can't help itself and expands just a little bit more at the sight of his sweet face.

12. You discover strange acrobatic abilities in your child

It can take some time for a mum and baby to master the art of breastfeeding. Your child in particular will blossom in many ways following months (or years) of breastfeeding experience.

One such area he will acquire expertise in is gymnastics. Following this, he nurses standing, kneeling, sitting… or in any position he pleases, really!

Image credit: Pinterest.

13. You know the feeling you get when your child smiles at you while nursing

It’s the sweetest thing ever really when your baby pauses from his frantic suckling to give you an adorable, milky grin.

It's most certainly one of those many heart-melting moments that will stay in your memory for ever and a clear sign of the bond you share with your little one - which takes us to the next point...

14. You truly know what “eye contact” means

It’s a quiet afternoon and there’s no one in your world except you and your baby at your breast.

In this quiet, calm moment, you and your little angel find yourselves looking into each other’s eyes for what seems the longest time, until he quietly drifts off to sleep. You know that love-filled gaze is what eye contact really is about.

15. Your breasts are your baby’s world

Breastfeeding little ones just love their mummies’ neh neh. To such a baby, his mummy’s neh neh are more than just a source of food. They represent love, comfort and security – everything that mummy is to him really.

Because of this, breastfeeding mums get why their babies won’t settle anywhere else except at their breast.

Mums, do share with us your favourite breastfeeding experience by leaving a comment below.

Written by

Nalika Unantenne

Breastfeedingnew mumbreastfeeding mums