by Michelle Stein posted in Parenting

If you've got a little one on the way, or are simply new to the world of breastfeeding, it can seem a little overwhelming.
Scratch that. Your head is probably spinning from all of the information, products and well-meaning-but-probably-outdated family anecdotes thrown in your direction.
Take a deep breath. You've got this.
As a been-there-done-that breastfeeding mom of three who definitely struggled in the beginning, I'm here to offer some of my hard-earned advice.
1) It might hurt at first. Depending on how efficient your baby's latch is, those early breastfeeding days can be rough on your body. Sore cracked nipples happen. Engorgement is no picnic. And you might even have the displeasure of a clogged duct or mastitis. None of these feel particularly great, but at least you've been warned.
2) It's okay not to fall in love with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is hard, especially during the first few weeks. It's normal to feel overwhelmed and even a bit resentful about the fact that you're physically tethered to your baby. With time, you might grow to love the special bond you form with your little one. Or you might just tolerate it. Either is perfectly okay, and there's no reason to feel guilty about it.
3) Breast size isn't an indicator of how much milk you'll produce. Fun fact: Breast size doesn't guarantee breastfeeding success or failure. That's because breast size is largely determined by the amount of fatty tissue, which doesn...