Breastfeeding Tips and Resources
I have been breastfeeding my little lamb exclusively for a little over a year now. The road has not always been smooth, but I am so glad that we stuck it out together and have found ways to make it work. The benefits of breastfeeding far outweighed the soar nipples and long nights, and I am grateful that my body cooperated in allowing me to nurse my little lamb from day one. For those of you choosing to breastfeed for a day, a week, a month, a year, or beyond, here are some survival tips that have helped me along my journey.
Hydrate
I cannot say this enough, stay hydrated. Always have a water bottle (or three) within reach when you are nursing your itty bitty. I have never felt as thirsty as I have been over this past year while nursing, especially in the beginning. I would always have no less than two water bottles next to my “nursing stations” at all times. Whether it was on my nightstand in my bedroom, next to my spot on the couch, or next to the rocking chair, there were always full water bottles within reach. There was nothing worse than being in the middle of a feeding and not being able to reach out far enough to take a drink. My husband was great at always making sure my water supply was full when he was home too. Maybe next time I will invest in one of those strap on water packs with the straws they sell for runners, or a beer hat that I can fill with water. Just kidding…sort of!
Eat
Most women need around 500 extra calories a day while they are breastfeeding. Eating too few calories can mess with your supply, and can also make it difficult to get the proper balance of nutrition into your system to pass along to your baby. Eating full meals can be a challenge in the first few weeks after your baby arrives, so plan in advance and graze on nutritious foods throughout the day. We had a good supply of freezer meals that I had prepared before my little lamb arrived, including smoothie bags and high fiber muffins. I stocked up on trail mix, luna bars, lara bars, and other high nutrition, high calorie snacks that I could eat easily throughout the day. Peanut butter and jelly was a huge go-to, along with smoothies. You will inevitably drop crumbs on your baby while nursing, so just make sure you are not eating or drinking anything hot that could harm your wee one in case of a spill. There were many a day when My Brest Friend nursing pillow also doubled as a food tray, there was more “convenience food” eaten for the first few weeks than I care to admit too, and I make no apologies for any of it. Do what you need to do to get through those first few weeks while you are adjusting to nursing and to having your baby attached to your breast for a good portion of the day and night. Make sure you have snacks on hand for those 3 a.m. feedings too. Your baby doesn’t have an eating schedule that discriminates against night and day in the beginning, so neither should you. This is no time to count calories mommas, feed your body so you can feed your baby!
Nursing Pillows
Whether it is a Boppy, a My Brest Friend, or just a regular old pillow, get yourself some support. These pillows are designed to support you and your little one so you can maintain a good latch comfortably during feedings. They supply an armrest for the nursing momma, and help you maintain your posture so you are not hunched over while nursing. Even a seven pound baby gets heavy after ten minutes, so do yourself a favor and invest in a nursing support pillow, or have a pillow handy while nursing. From birth until about four months, I used the My Brest Friend nursing pillow exclusively. I found that it was more comfortable and provided more support for my little lamb while she was smaller. We than graduated to the Boppy, and had great success with that until she was about ten months old. Now, we don’t use anything because her size allows me to comfortably nurse her in my lap without having to bend over and hurt my back. You can find nursing pillows just about anywhere baby products are sold, but don't count out consignment sales or friends who have older children. There are so many things that your baby will use for short periods of time, so go green and investigate gently used baby gear!
Pain Relief
Icepacks, creams, and heating pads, oh my! I used all of these things during the first few months of breastfeeding. During those learning curve days of latching, there were times when my nipples were so sore that the thought of anyone touching them, including my precious new baby, made me want to cry. I used Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter on my soar, cracked nipples like it was going out of style. It is vegan, Non-GMO, lanolin free, and safe for baby so you do not have to wipe it off before you nurse your little one. Also, I used the Booby Tubes made by Earth Mama Angel Baby. They can be used hot by placing them in your microwave, or cold by sticking them in the freezer. When my milk came in, I definitely had my engorgement moments where my breast got so big I could have rivaled with Dolly Parton, and the heated Booby Tubes were lifesavers. When I was sore from nursing, having them fresh out of the freezer was a godsend. If you do not have anything on hand, a hot shower, warm compresses, or a bag of frozen peas can do wonders. You can also use coconut oil on soar nipples for relief and healing.
Pumping
At some point, chances are you will need to pump while you are nursing. I went back to work when my little lamb was four months old, so I pumped twice a day at my job. But, I also used my pump in the beginning to help relieve engorgement and to help my milk supply increase on my left side. Using my pump when I was engorged helped to unclog my ducts and relieve pressure by stimulating my ducts to release milk. It is also common for one breast to produce more milk than the other, as was the case with mine, so I used the pump between feedings in the beginning to help stimulate more milk production in my left breast. Fortunately, most insurance companies will now pay for a free pump, or give you money towards an upgraded model. I ended up paying some out of pocket money to get the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump, and am extremely happy with it. It is a double electric pump with a hands free option that I found to be very efficient and comfortable (all things considering). You will also want to make sure you have enough freezer friendly bags to fill if you have to go back to work, want to bottle feed with your breast milk, or plan on leaving your house without your little one for an extended period of time. Check with your insurance company to see if a breast pump is covered before going out and purchasing one.
Nursing Bras
Finding a nursing bra that offers both comfort and support is extremely important. I despise underwire, but did invest in a few to wear when I went back to work. Now that I am predominantly a stay-at-home mom, I am still wearing my uber comfy nursing bras on a regular basis both in and out of the house. My favorite are the Motherhood Wrap Nursing Sleep Bras. They are comfy, make my breast easily accessible during feedings, and they offer good support. There are no clips on the straps, you just simply pull the material to the side for easy access for your little one. I also just recently purchased two from Target, the Bravado! Designs® Women‘s Original Nursing Bra. They also have a wrap design, but this one has a clip on the strap as well. I don’t use the clip, because you can just slide the material over for easy infant access while you are nursing. The only problem I have with these is that the large fits great until my milk comes in and my cup runneth over, and the XL is a little too big when I’m not filled for a feeding. It is a great bra, but the sizing issue makes me lean toward the Motherhood Nursing Bras.
Lactation Specialist
You can have all the fancy breastfeeding supplies they have to offer, but none of it will do you any good if you are having a difficult time getting a successful latch with your little one. Most hospitals, birth centers, and home birth organizations offer lactation consultations and support before and after the arrival of your baby. Take a class before hand and get help after! Babies enter this world knowing how to suck, not knowing how to latch. It is a new skill for both of you, and there is no shame in needing help or reassurance. I needed both, and the lactation specialist at my birthing center was an angel sent from the Milky Way (teehee..I know, bad joke!). Join your local La Leche League, get support, ask an experienced breastfeeding friend or family member, but whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence. Use any and all support during those first days, weeks, months, and years of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a constantly evolving process that will keep you on your toes as your little one grows!
There are so many other little things that you can stock up on for breastfeeding success. Some I would deem as necessary, while others are a little more luxury. Here are a few other things you may want to consider.
Nursing Pads: These really are a must. Invest in some reusable ones and get some extra absorbent ones to wear at night, especially during the first few months. The first time your itty bitty sleeps for more than three hours straight, you will be thankful you have something on that will help stop the flood that will erupt from the breast not being nursed on. My favorite for every day use are the TL Care Organic Cotton Nursing Pads.
Milkies Milk-Saver Breast Milk Collector: I got this when I had my little lamb and ended up returning it because I did not use it in the beginning. I completely regret that decision and wish I had kept it. There were so many times that I lost an ounce or more off of one breast while I was nursing on the other. It took time for me to get to know my body and my milk supply well enough to know when I would definitely leak on one side while nursing. This would have come in handy and saved a lot of lost milk if I had kept it. I plan on purchasing this when we have our next itty bitty.
Nipple Guards: I never used them, but if you have inverted nipples, or get extremely soar, these may come in handy.
There’s an App for That: Find a free App to download onto your phone so you can easily record when your baby nursed from start to finish. This was extremely helpful during the first few months when life was a blur.
Glass Bottles: We used Dr. Brown's glass bottles when I went back to work because they are free from all of the harmful chemicals that can be associated with using plastic. There are even covers you can put over the bottle if you are concerned with it being dropped and broken. We used Dr. Brown’s Glass Bottle Sleeves, but never needed them.
There are other products and resources out there to help you through your first few weeks and years of breastfeeding. Do a little research before your baby arrives, watch YouTube videos for tutorials, reach out to your local La Leche League for help and advice, talk to your fellow mommas about their struggles, and never struggle in silence. Breastfeeding is one of the most important things you can do for your little one, so get the help you need to make the journey pleasant and successful.
Love, Laughter, & Light,
Julia
