for those of you who know me, i'm a HUGE advocate for breastfeeding. sure, everyone has their reasons for why they do or don't but for me it was an absolute must that i breastfed my children. my first attempts with emma were a nightmare -not going to lie. i'm pretty sure my breasts hated me for all the torture i put them through, though it's a learning curve for both you and your baby so it is IMPERATIVE you get the help you need in order for it to be a success. after multiple attempts and failure to get the rhythm going, i sought out help from a lactation consultant. the doctors at the vancouver breastfeeding clinic were absolutely amazing and gave me the confidence to keep at it and sure enough i was on my way to a beautiful connection with both my girls.
i could go on and on about technique, but then you'd be cross-eyed..so if you're ever interested or need help, i'd be more than happy to give you tips. i have my sister and many friends whom i've helped establish breastfeeding and all of them became pros!
anyhow, this blog is about my absolute must-haves if you plan to breastfeed your child. they are as follows:
1. a nursing pillow. my brest friend was literally, my breast friend. it is made of a firm foam in a shape that fits post-partum tummies along with a clip to secure it from sliding off your lap. it has two raised areas for baby's head to rest on and a handy pocket for breast pads, nipple shield, cel phone -cuz once you get the hang of breastfeeding..you'll be texting a lot lol!
2. milk catchers. as you know, every single drop of breast milk is liquid gold and as your body learns to produce the right amount at the right time, they will leak. breast shells allows you to catch the milk from the breast that baby is not latched onto so that you can store it for near-future use in the fridge. the shells also allow your nipples to "air-dry" while wearing a sports bra (because they WILL get chapped). the alternative is letting your boobs hang out all day long..but that's not always practical! they ALSO alleviate engorged breasts. an absolute MUST-HAVE.
3. nipple shields. this may-or-may-not work for you depending on what shape your breast/nipple is but 2 people i know benefitted from using one. the shield which comes in different sizes will help baby latch onto your nipple especially when its chapped/cracked. my tip is to express some milk into and onto the shield so that baby gets some incentive to latch on. ;)
4. a breast pump. both avent and medela make excellent pumps -electric and manual. mine is the avent manual single pump and i love it. i used it with both girls and it definitely did the trick. my advice is to only purchase the single pump as you'll be messing with supply and demand if you're pumping both breasts at the same time. if you are doing it to create a supply for when you have to go back to work or like having it on hand, i would suggest waiting until baby is atleast 6 months old before you start "double-milking" yourself lol!
5. syringe/dropper. for the first 6 weeks of baby's life, its imperative that s/he doesn't get nipple confusion from being fed frequently with a bottle. usually your baby kit (the one that has the baby nail clipper, comb, thermometer, etc) will contain a dropper or syringe for dosing medication. use this to administer pumped breast milk or formula so that the only nipple that baby will know is yours! this will remove the frustruation of latching issues.
6. bottles. once breastfeeding is relatively established, its important to have good bottles on hand. dr. brown's makes excellent bottles with the proper shaped nipple and removes air to eliminate colic and vomiting. i suggest purchasing bottles no larger than 4oz as your baby's tummy is literally the size of a walnut when they are born. be in control of their bottle feeding as babies will typically continue to take from a bottle because it flows easily thus drinking more than they should. breastfeeding is more work for babies, so they will only take what they need!
7. lanolin. to soothe those sore and cracked nipples, its lanolin all the way. warm some up between your thumb and index finger and apply to the nipples, areola and your breast pad. applying it to the breast pad will prevent the sticking and potential opening of a healing scab. (gross i know, but true!)
8. breast pads. once breastfeeding is in full force, the slightest thing will make you leak. hearing a child cry (not even your own!), thinking of your baby, or being emotional will trigger a let-down. you can purchase cloth ones that can be re-washed (i don't really have to use them anymore but will use these if i know i will be away from baby and miss a few feedings) or disposable ones. i like medela's and nuk's.
9. hooter hiders. at first, breastfeeding in public places will seem like a challenge. most public places, especially malls have nursing rooms in their bathrooms. using a nursing canopy will allow you to have the comfort and privacy to breastfeed virtually anywhere. not only does it have a cute name, it comes in very stylish patterns! i own the hooter hider, but the munchkin brand is comparable.
well, there you have it. most of these items can be purchased at a babies 'r' us and definitely at a tj's the kiddies store.
breastfeeding is such an amazing gift. not only does our body carry and grow this miraculous being, it creates nutrition that is perfectly designed for your baby. some mums breeze through it and others, like me, struggle. my motto is, if you can deliver a baby, you can do anything! seek out professional help if you are having difficulties. i know its easier to prepare a bottle but in the long run, you learn how frustrating that can be. breast milk is fresh, temperature correct and best of all FREE! so with that, i wish you good luck and positive vibes on your breastfeeding journey! :)
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