For most people I know, breastfeeding didn’t come easily or naturally. At first it’s painful, difficult, and there’s a steep learning curve, especially during the first several weeks. Below are all things that helped me on my breastfeeding journey.
For Pain
There’s a breastfeeding learning curve, not only for you, but for your newborn. Most won’t get the latch right away. Many may even need additional assistance like chiropractic sessions or evaluations for oral restrictions. Sometimes the latch may be unbearably painful. The below items can help with the pain during or in between feeds.
Nipple Care
When you first start breastfeeding, your nipples will feel so raw. You won’t want anything touching it. The worst thing is having a towel or any fabric rub against it. Nothing helped with the pain, healing and protection for me like these silverettes. I wore them all the time in between feeds for the first few weeks.
Nipple Creams
Water touching your nipples during showers could also become unbearable when you first start breastfeeding. I would always put some nipple cream on before showers and that layer of protection really helped with the pain.
Cooling/Heat Pads
Using cooling or heating pads could also help with pain in between feeds.
Nipple Shields
Using a nipple shield acts as a protective barrier for your nipples while baby learns or improves their latch. It also helps your nipples heal and not become further damaged by a poor latch.
For Clogs
With my second baby, I was always engorged with painful clogs. This went on for at least six months.
Massages
Gently massaging the clogs and engorged areas, especially during feedings, definitely helped for me.
Supplements
Taking supplements also helped me with clogs. With my third I took sunflower lecithins religiously for maintenance, then more for when I would feel a clog coming.
Manual Pumps
Whenever I get a clog or feel engorged, I would also try to use a manual pump, allowing me to pump just enough for relief.
For Leaking
Not everyone leaks, but I did. A lot. At first it was sporadic, every 30 minutes or 1.5 hours. Slowly it would be more consistent with feeding times. Also if I was feeding on one side, the other side would leak. So much that I would soak through towels.
Milk Collectors
When I used a haakaa for the other side, I could get upwards to 3 ounces. This helped me build my frozen supply while my body regulated. For most, your body will regulate after 6-8 weeks and not leak as much. For me it went on for 3-6 months.
Nursing Pads
I always wore nursing pads when going out during the first few months. I would also carry several extras in my bag to switch out. If I didn’t, I would leak through my bras and clothes.
- Kindred Bravely Organic Reusable Nursing Pads 10 Pack
- Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads
- Bamboobies Reusable & Washable, Ultra-Absorbent Overnight Nursing Pads for Breastfeeding
- Organic Nursing Pads – 14 Washable Viscose Derived from Bamboo Breastfeeding Pads
- Lansinoh Reusable Nursing Pads for Breastfeeding Mothers
For Milk Supply
Milk supply can be so inconsistent. One minute you’re overproducing, getting three ounces of leaked milk a session, the next minute, you’re dried up and scrambling to ramp up your supply. For me, my supply would tank if I was sick, stressed, or not eating, hydrating or sleeping enough. You can’t always control when you get sick or stressed about something, so it’s helpful to have some supplements and lactation cookies ready.
Supplements
I also always took all the Legendairy Milk supplements I could get a hold of while breastfeeding all three of my babies.
Hydration Packs
Staying hydrated is so crucial for your milk supply. If you get sick of water, get some coconut water or try some of my favorite hydration mixes.
Cookies
I haven’t done a test to see if lactation cookies really work but they’re delicious and I’ll take any excuse to eat cookies.
For Support
You don’t need a nursing pillow, but it definitely helps, especially during the first few weeks when you may be cluster feeding around the clock. Your body will already be sore and cramped from labor, any extra support is so helpful.
Breastfeeding Pillow
Below are the most popular nursing pillows. The boppy is tried and true and has been around forever. My Brest Friend is extra supportive for the newborn stage but could be annoying to put on and off. Or you can just keep it on on the time. Snuggle me and Dockatot makes more aesthetic pillows. As baby grew, I did prefer the wedge just to support my arm.
