Hey, momma! Welcome to my little corner of the internet! Whether you’re a brand new momma, have breastfed before and are struggling with your current baby, or are breastfeeding like a champ, this blog is for you! No matter where you are in your breastfeeding journey, we’re all still learning and growing.
Let’s start this blog off by saying, I am by no means a lactation expert. I’m a momma who’s gone through breastfeeding twice and is currently going through it with my youngest. So these are all the tips, tricks, and products I’ve come to love after years and years of breastfeeding.
My Breastfeeding Journey
As we chatted about above, I have two older kids that I breastfed for 10 – 14 months each. My third baby is still breastfeeding, and I am loving the journey. My first two were in the NICU, so I had to pump and feed while they were there. It was definitely harder to breastfeed with my first two, but I put in the work and made it happen! I even got mastitis and thrush with my son (my first child), but kept going through it because it was so important to me.
All of that to say, I’ve been there! I have, personally, tested all of these tips, tricks, and resources. They’ve become my tried and true throughout my breastfeeding journey. You just have to remember that it is a journey and there will be highs and lows. If it’s important to you, we’ll make it work for you. I’m always here to help!
Breastfeeding Tips and Tricks
Okay now that we’ve chatted a little about why I’m here and why you can trust me, let’s get to what you came here for. Breastfeeding tips + tricks!
Your Milk Supply
Your milk doesn’t come in right away so don’t be alarmed! You won’t be producing gallons of milk right off the bat. It takes days for your milk to come in. The milk you produce at the beginning is loaded up with fat and calories so a little goes a long way. A newborn’s tummy is also SO small, it barely needs anything during that time. So if you just gave birth and your milk hasn’t come in yet, give it a second before sounding the alarm.
Latching: Nipple Shields
If you are struggling to get your baby to latch, a nipple shield will become your new best friend! As they grow their latch will get better, and you’ll be able to get rid of it. The shield helps them so much when they are just learning and saves you some pain as well. I used a nipple shield with all of my kids and never had issues. This nipple shield is the one I used with each of them and fell in love with.
Chafing?
Use baby oil on nipples in the shower to avoid chafing. You can even start doing this at the end of your pregnancy, before the baby is born! This Johnson’s baby oil, specifically the gel, is my holy grail. I use it all over my body in the shower.
Binkies: Yes or No for Breastfeeding Babies
A lot of people will have lots of different opinions on this topic. It all can depend on your baby, but I have found that you can use a binky, just don’t use it too much! Let them latch onto you for comfort too. There are also binkies that are good for breastfeeding babies to help avoid nipple confusion. It may just require a little experimentation.
Breastfeeding Hurts
If breastfeeding hurts, your baby needs to be reattached. An improper latch is what causes pain.
How to Build a Little Breastfeeding Back Stock
Pump at night before going to bed. This will help with supply and to build up a little storage. It also helps with mid-night feedings and not waking up feeling uncomfortably full. Feed your baby with bottles from storage at times when your breasts could use a little break. This also helps your baby get used to a bottle and not only feeding from the breast! I talk a little more about it below, but my favorite pump to not be tied down is the Elvie Stride, but I highly suggest having a main pump as well! I use and love this one from Spectra. As far as storage systems, my favorite storage system/bottle set is this Kiinde Twist Bottle Set.
Sleeping Past a Feeding Window?
It’s perfectly fine to let your baby sleep past that three hour window, if your doctor okays it. Make sure your baby is meeting weight goals, though. If they are then make your feeding window what you and your baby can sustain.
Engorged Breasts
If you end up with engorged breasts, switch off using ice packs or heat. Ice helps just as much as heat! These Lansinoh pads can be frozen or heated up to help with pain (cold) and help with releasing more milk during pumping (heat)!
Before and During Feedings Do’s
Massage breast’s before and during feedings. This will help your ducts release and cut down on the possibility of a blocked duct.
Nutrition is Key!
Drink lots of water and EAT! Breastfeeding helps you lose the baby weight faster and causes contractions that shrink your tummy back to its size. So don’t worry about eating too much! You need those nutrients to help produce enough milk for your baby. Another thing that helps with milk production and helps you feel better in general is drinking more water! Breastfeeding dehydrates you, so don’t forget to drink as much water as you can.
Breastfeeding Products I Love
So we’ve talked about some of my top breastfeeding tips and a couple of breastfeeding products. Don’t worry, there are even more products below that I love for breastfeeding! These are all linked in my LTK, as well. So if you head to this link you can find them all there!
The Elvie Stride pump: This pump saves me everyday! It’s a breast pump that goes in your bra. 🙌🏼 So I’m able to pump while doing things around the house! No more wasting hours and hours sitting and pumping. One con is you have to turn it up really high, but overall it’s truly great.
We are Amma Cocoon : This nursing cover is my absolute favorite and doesn’t scream “I’m breastfeeding”. It’s a little on the pricier side though, so if you aren’t ready to take the leap, here is a good alternative on Amazon!
Boppy Feeding Pillow with waterproof cover: The Boppy is a game changer for your arms when it comes to breastfeeding. Pro Tip: Get the waterproof cover linked above and save yourself from having to wash the entire Boppy anytime you leak or make a mess!
Kiinde Twist Breastfeeding Bottle Set: This is the BEST bottle set I’ve found for breastfeeding babies. It comes with bags, a storage system, bottle warmer, and the bottles. The best part is that you can use their bags and turn them into bottles. They have attachments to turn the bags into a bottle so you don’t have to worry about pouring from the bag to the bottle. They also come with nipple attachments to make it a more natural feel for a breastfeeding baby. (So less nipple confusion.) There are also attachments to connect the bags to a pump. So you pump into the bag then store the bag and turn the bag into a bottle… No pouring needed! For all it comes with, it’s definitely worth the price and the hype!
Lansinoh Washable Nursing Pads: I use these washable nursing pads everyday. I throw them in the wash with the baby clothes, and they are good as new. They require a little more work than the disposable (with having to wash them). BUT it’s so much cheaper to reuse the same pads and because I throw them in with the baby clothes, it really doesn’t add much more hassle!
Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads: I love these pads for on-the-go purposes. Anytime I don’t want to have to carry around my used washable pads after I switch them out (think any day you are out of the house for most of the day), I will pop these in and a few in my purse. It’s all about convenience with these, even though they aren’t as eco friendly.
Kindred Bravely Nursing Bra: This bra is so comfy and looks like a regular bra so you don’t have to be nursing to wear it! It’s so easy to use as well. You can find me most days with this bra on!
Need More Breastfeeding Help?
As always the comments below and my DMs are always open for any questions or tips + tricks needed! I’m learning new things everyday, just like everyone else! BUT as a momma who’s been around the block a couple of times, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help make your life a little easier! For more info on how I nurture my kiddos, head to my blog! I’ll be posting (and have posted) a ton of education, tips, tricks and products to help make your life as a momma a little easier!
