The milk machine is here! If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that I exclusively breastfed Olivia for over a year and now I’m breastfeeding Nathan too. (Let it be known that I’m never against formula and totally open to giving it to my kids if I need/want to.) I say all this not to brag (I know that the whole breastmilk/formula thing can be a touchy subject), but I figured that after going on 20 months of nursing my babies, I might know a thing or two about it. I’m no lactation consultant and can’t assess your latch or tell you how much milk you’re producing, but I can tell you what tips and tricks have helped me to have a successful breastfeeding experience. So here we go!
- Take it one day at a time. Out of everything I say here today, this is probably the most important thing. When I had Olivia, I knew that breastfeeding was important to me and that I wanted to do it for as long as possible, but I also didn’t want to put too much pressure and expectations on myself. So I set small goals and took it one day at a time. Initially I said I wanted to try for a month and see how it went. Then I decided to shoot for 3 months, then 6 months, then a year. There were definitely moments in between where I thought I wanted to quit and I’d give myself a few days to think it over and then realize that I wasn’t ready to stop. If you go into it thinking that you’re going to nurse for a year then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment if you don’t make it that far.
- Get comfortable! In order for you AND your baby to have a good feed (and overall good breastfeeding experience) you need to be comfortable. Find a good chair, put lots of pillows behind your back, and get the Lansinoh Nursie nursing pillow. I’ve always been a fan of Lansinoh products– I won’t use any other nursing pads except theirs and my nipples would have fallen off if it weren’t for Lansinoh’s lanolin. But I will say I was a little skeptical when they reached out to me to try the Nursie because I didn’t think I needed another baby product in my life. I was wrong! Before I got the Nursie, my arm would get exhausted holding Nathan up to nurse. I would use regular pillows but I was constantly readjusting them under my arm so that Nathan’s head was propped at just the right angle. This nursing pillow is perfect because it doesn’t fall over and your arm doesn’t get tired. You just slip your arm in and it stays put. It’s even great for when my husband gives Nathan a bottle too. Right now you can get 20% off the Nursie HERE using code LAUREN (valid 4/26-4/27).
- Water, water, water. I cannot stress this enough. Keep hydrated all day long. I recommend keeping a water bottle nearby at ALL times (I love this one for home and this one when I leave the house). Not only do you feel thirsty when you’re breastfeeding, but you need water to keep up with good milk production.
- Nurse in a quiet room. I know this one can be difficult to do consistently but it’s so helpful when you and your baby are getting the hang of nursing. Even now, I really try to go somewhere quiet because Nathan gets easily distracted when nursing. If he hears Olivia making noise, he immediately pulls off to see what she’s doing.
- Get your hubby (or significant other) on board. Having the support of your significant other is crucial to breastfeeding success. It does take a lot of time and effort and it’s important that hubby knows that. Eric is great at keeping Olivia entertained/distracted when I need a quiet moment with Nathan to nurse. He’s the one that gets up in the middle of the night to change Nathan’s diaper and then brings him to me so I can nurse. And he also makes sure my water bottles are filled up when I sit down to nurse. Have I mentioned how much I love my hubs?
- Fed is best. When all is said and done, just know that whatever you decide to do is the right thing. Whether you choose to breastfeed, bottle feed, or a combination of both, as long as your baby is healthy and happy then you do you, mama!
And here are my fav nursing products…
What are some tips, tricks, or products that helped you while breastfeeding your babe(s)?
XO,
L
This post is sponsored by Lansinoh. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog.
Hubby on board this is! I’ve never had an issue pumping and giving bottle – I don’t think it’s less feeding or anything. My husband really did a great job „nursing” at nights so I can have some sleep. I gave him one my favorites books on the topic to read – it was Susan Urbans How to make breastfeeding pleasant and easy (got it here http://parental-love.com). Very helpful, for the both of us. I’ve started pumping very early and don’t regret a bit. He is also having diapers-watch on his own, but it’s getting very messy. Baby is definitely job for two!