The advantages of breastfeeding are abundant. What a miraculous occurrence that your body not only created life, it also provides the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow healthy and strong. If you are willing and able to breastfeed I highly recommend it. Not only will it aid in healing your body after baby it also equips your baby with vital nutrients formulated just for them. Challenges may arise and a few Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms can be quite useful.
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Breastfeeding is not easy, it takes patience and time. If you find yourself frustrated, its best to take a break and try again later. Lactation consultants are especially resourceful and provide tons of information, tricks and techniques to assist you in your breastfeeding journey. Seek them out before you head home from the hospital, they are more than happy to help whether you want to pump, breastfeed or neither.
Below is a breakdown of information and breastfeeding tips to help aid in the process .
Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
INTRODUCE A BOTTLE
This may sound counterproductive, but I assure you it’s not. Shortly after your milk comes in and you have enough supply to pump a bottle introduce it to your baby. This is so they don’t reject the bottle altogether. If you breastfeed and only breastfeed, your baby may not want their milk from any other source. This is when life gets a bit tricky. It’s difficult to leave the baby for longer than a few hours without them needing to feed and if they don’t take a bottle, guess what, you need to head home momma.
I made this mistake with baby number two and I don’t want you to do the same. My first child did not latch well, he preferred a bottle and it broke my heart. So when my second latched immediately I was overjoyed and fed him from my breast at all times. My pediatrician had advised me early on to introduce a bottle to give myself a break and I didn’t listen.
I selfishly fed him myself thinking, “I don’t need a break! I’m a Breastfeeding Super Mom!” Well, I didn’t quite understand what she meant until it was too late. In hindsight, I wish I would have fed him a bottle right before bed every night as a bedtime routine, simply to “GET HIM USED TO THE IDEA OF A BOTTLE!” It was a bit of a nightmare to leave him too long with others and he really hated a bottle in his mouth. So, there I was on the phone, assuring my husband I’m five minutes away to ease the baby’s horrific wailing screams.
Don’t let this be you.
CABBAGE IS MIRACULOUS
Some breastfeeding tips sound downright crazy! I was skeptical of this at first. However, in my younger years I had a nipple piercing. It’s been long gone but the scar tissue stuck around. For this reason, when my milk came in some of my glands were blocked and the milk would not release. Very painful. After countless research I came across cabbage. This is a great trick for those of us with engorged swollen breasts.
If your breasts are engorged and throbbing send someone to the grocery for a head of green cabbage. Peel off a leaf and crush it with a rolling pin or soup can, enough so that the juices are released. Next, place the leaf on your sore breast. Use as many leaves as you need to cover the painful area. The effects are a cooling sensation and it does help with the throbbing pain. I recommend placing a paper towel over your leafy breasts before you put your bras back on.
WAIT TO BUY A FITTED NURSING BRA
When your milk comes in, your breasts will be massive. I mean, “WHOA! I didn’t think they could get that big!” For this reason, its best to wait before purchasing a fitted nursing bra. During this time I would recommend a nursing bra that is similar to a Sports bra such as the Bandita Nursing Bra. When you begin to produce milk on a regular schedule your breasts may not be as large as they were the day all that milk came flooding in. My cup size went from a triple E when my milk first arrived and went down to a D once my production regulated with my baby’s feeding routine.
IT HURTS AT FIRST
Unfortunately this breastfeeding tip is true. Breastfeeding can be painful in the beginning, but as the days pass and with care your nipples will recover. The down side is getting through a painful feeding, only to have to do it again in two hours when your nipples are already mutilated. Ouch.
Use plenty of lanolin between feedings and keep them moisturized. The lanolin will help prevent your nipple from drying out, cracking and bleeding. The lanolin will not harm your baby, so don’t be afraid to lather it on. Soon, your nipples will heal and the pain will be a thing of the past.
IT’S A MIRACLE LIQUID
Breast milk is incredible! It i like the fountain of youth for your baby. It not only provides food for your infant, it’s serves as a first aid fluid. If your baby comes down with an ear infection, place a few drops of breast milk in their ear canal. For a runny nose during a cold, grab a Q-tip, saturate it in breast milk and swab the inside of baby’s nose. The properties of breast milk make it a super salve for your baby, fighting infection and disease naturally.
The best bit of breastfeeding advice I can give you is this. If you don’t plan to breastfeed for a year or more, freeze your breast milk in an ice tray. This miracle milk will come in handy when your baby falls ill in the future. There are not many remedies or medicines that can be administered to a small infant under the age of 12 months. However, breast milk is a cure all for most ailments. Having it on hand in the freezer will prove to be one of your favorite breastfeeding tips when baby is in need of a runny nose remedy.
Don’t Stress
If you are able to breastfeed, give it a try. It’s a very rewarding experience and creates a bond between baby and you that is mystifying. Make an effort to keep with it and utilize the pointers your lactation consultant provides. They have their tricks to get the baby the latch properly, just ask. We are all different and so are our babies.
If breastfeeding is not happening or there is another component prohibiting you from breastfeeding don’t stress. The main concern is that your baby gets the nutrition they need to grow, whether by formula or breast milk. As long as they are healthy, that is what matters most. Good luck to you momma and I hope these breastfeeding tips and tricks come in handy.
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10 Comments
We do get a bit of conflicting advice here about bottle feeding the baby, but I can’t imagine not because how are you supposed to get anything done if you always have to feed him yourself.
I understand what you mean. My goal was to make new moms aware of the potential struggle. Breastfeeding is so beautiful and wonderful, but then there is the dilemma of a baby not wanting to accept the bottle. Waiting too long to introduce one can result in a picky baby. Thus my second born not accepting anything but my breast.
I wish I had this back when I was breast feeding. Great tips!
Great tips! I have never heard of the cabbage but I will have to try it! Also, I LOVE Earth Mama Products!!!
I love me some Earth Mama too. Game changer. The cabbage was really a shocking discovery. At first I did not believe it, but in desperation I thought why not. To my surprise it was a huge relief.
Oh my gosh, breastfeeding is so sweet BUT it does hurt like crap at first! When I first had my son a year and a half ago (almost!!!) I thought the first time he latched on I was going to die. It was so painful. I kept reminding myself that I’m helping him out so it’s worth it for me! Now I’m 5.5 months pregnant with my second and already thinking about that first latch! 😉 BUT breast is best (if possible!).
My experience was the same. It is like a knife at first. Nevertheless, I agree with you, breast if best (if possible) and so good for baby and momma.
Really great post here as I pretty much experienced everything you shared with all 3 of my kiddos! Really fantastic advice.
Thank you so much.
God bless cabbage!