How to Prepare Your Body for Breastfeeding (Before Baby Arrives) | 278 — The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama

You spend months preparing for birth, but what about the feeding journey that starts the moment baby arrives? Breastfeeding isn’t just a “from the chest up” experience. It’s a whole-body journey for both mama and baby.

This week, Trish sits down with Melissa Bradley, a pediatric occupational therapist, certified lactation counselor, and mom of four. Together they talk through how to prepare your mind, body, and home for breastfeeding before baby gets here. They cover the emotional prep no one talks about, the “mommy injuries” that come from poor positioning, why the hospital’s Breastfeeding 101 class is only the beginning, and the few supplies Melissa says you truly need.

In this episode:

Why breastfeeding is a whole-body experience for mom and baby
How to plan for emotional regulation and support before you come home
Setting boundaries around visitors without the guilt, and choosing your “village”
Mommy shoulder, mommy wrist, and mommy thumb: what they are and how to prevent them
Creating a comfortable, supportive feeding space
Why the medical system is reactive, and how to have support ready before problems start
Debunking breastfeeding myths from social media and even providers
Pumping vs. nursing, wearable pumps, and choosing what works for you
Melissa’s short list of must-have breastfeeding supplies

Connect with Melissa Bradley, OT, CLC:

mamababecharlotte.com

Follow her on Instagram @mamababecharlotte

Helpful Timestamps:

00:00 Preparing for Breastfeeding
04:45 Emotional Prep And Support
08:26 Setting Boundaries
12:13 Physical Setup And Injuries
17:07 Get Proactive Lactation Help
21:59 Personalized Goals And Myths
26:52 Minimal Must Have Supplies

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Connect w/ Trish:

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Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services