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I know that it is most women’s ideal plan to breastfeed their baby after birth. It was mine both times, and I felt very guilty that I wasn’t able to fully breastfeed my first child. I realised, however, that I definitely was not armed with all the tips, tricks and know-how about breastfeeding when I was a first-time mum.
My son didn’t latch properly and I had no idea about how to fix that, and also had very little support or help with breastfeeding. This is why I am letting you in on my 12 ultimate breastfeeding tips so that you don’t find yourself in the same position.
Even if this isn’t your first child, and you want to know all the breastfeeding tips from this mum of two. This is for you.
12 Ultimate Breastfeeding Tips.
Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth
This not only gives your baby colostrum, which is one of the most important things after birth. It also allows for bonding with your newborn. This helps to strengthen the start of your breastfeeding journey, it also means that while you are at the hospital, you can make sure that you and baby know exactly what to do.
The correct latch
Nothing is more important than the correct latch when breastfeeding. If you haven’t got the correct latch then it can lead to cracked nipples, pain while feeding and blocked ducts. Elizabeth from loveourlittles.com has an amazing post on what to do and what can cause a low milk supply. The post also includes a great section on the correct latch for breastfeeding.
Feeding on demand
This is sometimes called responsive feeding, it is the same thing so don’t get confused or overwhelmed if different people call it different things. If you are breastfeeding, you can’t really set them to a schedule because you are never 100% sure exactly how much of a feed that they have had. So, if your bubba tells you they want to feed, then feed them, This also keeps up your milk supply and keeps your baby as settled and soothed as possible.
Experimenting with different holds while breastfeeding
The most commonly know hold while breastfeeding is the cradle hold. It’s my personal favourite because it means a lovely snuggle every couple of hours. There are of course many different holds you can try that can help solve lots of different problems like latch problems or pressure on a c-section scar. The La Leche League have an amazing article on breastfeeding positions with lots of pictures.
Related: What to Expect After a C-Section.
Good nipple cream
No matter how much you have perfected that latch and how easy breastfeeding is, you will get dry nipples. Especially during cluster feeds in the evening. Your nipples are going to take a bit of a beating for a while, and they just aren’t used to it! Applying Nipple Balm solves all these problems and it doesn’t have to be wiped off before feeding.
An easy breastfeeding night bra
I honestly didn’t even know these existed until I was researching the best breast pump. I bought a Medela sleep bra. This has got to be the comfiest bra I have ever slept in! It also makes night feeds a doddle. No unclipping or having the cup of the bra get in your way. It has honestly been one of the reasons night feeds were so easy. Grab a couple of them so that you are never caught out when one is in the wash, they are worth more than their weight in gold if you want a successful breastfeeding journey.
Get a big supply of breastpads
Whether you’re choosing reusable breast pads or disposable ones. Make sure you have a lot. When your milk comes in properly, you will find that your boobs get easily engorged and you will probably need to change breastpads a lot more regularly. When it was happening to me, it would always freak me out a bit because of the shape they would go…no boob should have a right angle on it!! I started with disposable and switched to reusable breastpads once my milk supply had calmed down a bit.
A good support network
No, I don’t just mean your partner and possibly your mum. I mean your health visitor, your doctor, other mums and possibly the la leche league if you need it. There are so many people out there to help you succeed with breastfeeding as well as when you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Of course, your family and partner are important to helping you succeed as well, but remember the circle goes much wider than that.
Related: The Fourth Trimester Transition.
A range of breastfeeding tops
I made this mistake. You don’t have to just resign yourself to button-down shirts or vest tops that you can pull down. There is an amazing range of breastfeeding tops out there that don’t have to cost the earth! I mainly get all of mine from ASOS because they are reasonably priced and they have the easiest returns policy ever which is no faff!
Knowing your baby’s hunger signs
This is like knowing your baby’s tiredness cues. A few of the more common newborn hunger signal is licking lips, opening their mouth and turning their head looking for food. These are the really early hunger signs and are the best ones to react to as quickly as possible. It means that your baby will stay calm, feed well and be less gassy than if you reacted only to the late hunger signs which include crying.
Related: 20 Newborn Tips First Time Parents.
A healthy and varied diet
I know you’ve probably read this before, but I really can’t stress this enough. I know the crisps and biscuits are easy to grab on the go but think of it in a different way. Whatever you’re eating, so is your baby. So, if your eating a lot of biscuits, so is your baby and would you let a baby eat 5 biscuits in one go? probably not!
Drinking way more water than usual
There’s no way to make milk if you’re dehydrated. You need water to make milk, and your body isn’t going to prioritise making milk over making sure you are hydrated because that would be counterproductive. Get yourself a water bottle like this one to keep by the chair you always breastfeed in and aim to drink it all in one feeding session. Then top it up ready for the next feed.
That’s my 12 ultimate breastfeeding tips for success! Now it’s your turn, share your best breastfeeding tips with me in the comments.
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