Before we dive in, I want you to know that I am aware that not all women who desire to breastfeed their babies are able to. Several mama friends of mine have tried everything possible to get their milk flowing postpartum, but for reasons beyond their control it does not last or does not even start; the intent of this article is not to shame those women or make them feel “less than”. My hope is to encourage those women who are able to produce breast milk and have chosen breastfeeding for their baby. Also, I do not claim to be an expert on this topic!
As I sit and nurse my sweet baby girl, I often think about the *mind-blowing* fact that, not only did my body sustain her life for 9 months INSIDE my womb, but now, my body is continuing to sustain her life OUTSIDE of my womb day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute. Even after nursing five precious little ones, this phenomenon of breastfeeding wows me every time!
The lesser known fact is that breastfeeding can also be incredibly difficult. So If you are in the thick of it, you are not alone. With each new baby, each breastfeeding experience is completely unique. And like most journeys, there will be ups and downs, twists and turns, and even times of being ready to call it quits once and for all. But I am living proof that you can do this, mama, whether you’re just starting out or you are a seasoned mama. And I’d love to share with you just a few things that have made this particular task of motherhood easier and more enjoyable for me. My hope that it will inspire you to keep up the good work!
1. Be Kind To Your Breast
For heavens sake… don’t be afraid to use the nipple shield!!! I was introduced to this feeding apparatus right out of the gate after my firstborn wreaked havoc on my newbie nipples within her first few days of life. For those of you who are not familiar with this accessory, it is basically a silicone version of your nipple, complete with holes which milk flows through, that you put over your actual nipple so that you can still breastfeed your little one. It allows for cracked, sore and bleeding nipples to heal underneath without the toe-curling pain (God bless you if you can relate!). The good news is that once your nipples heal, you can ditch the silicone and go back to skin-to-skin. Ask your lactation consultant about getting one or simply pick one up from your local big box store with your next batch of diapers.
I want you to hear me loud and clear when I tell you this: using a nipple shield does not mean that you are a failure. I know that I felt twinges of this when I first started using the nipple shield, as if I wasn’t ‘good enough’ or that I was falling short in some way. Thankfully, I had a great support system encouraging me along the way telling me what an incredible job that I was doing. You are doing an incredible job too, mama! And if you decide to utilize some of the modern tools at your disposal to get you over these humps, that is OK. The nipple shield coupled with a hefty dose of encouragement has saved me from throwing in the towel MANY times; I am so grateful to have it in my arsenal of life hacks when it comes to breastfeeding. Whomever invented this incredible piece of silicone deserves a Nobel Prize!
There are many other tools that are crucial to maintaining good breast health. At the very top of this list is your own colostrum. (If you don’t know yet, colostrum is the yellowy liquid that your breasts produce at the outset of lactation, often referred to as “liquid gold”). When expressed from breast and left to air dry around and on your nipple, colostrum provides incredible healing to cracked and sore nipples.
Some other must-haves are protective nipple balm such as Nipple Crack, or Lansinoh Nipple Cream; cooling gel pads such as Soothies by Lansinoh or Medela Soothing Gel Pads; absorbent nursing pads for inside your nursing bra such as Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads, or ecofriendly options like Kindred Bravely Reusable Pads. There are a host of brands that you can use for each of these items, so do a little digging, and see what works best for you. You will be so glad that you did.
2. Save Your Achin’ Back!
The repetitive nature of breastfeeding can be incredibly strenuous on your entire body, not just your breasts. Just one poorly positioned feeding can set me back for days resulting in sore shoulders and a fatigued back. Two tools that I have found extremely helpful to combat this strain are a good nursing pillow and a sturdy nursing stool (or really anything that helps you prop your feet up). When used in tandem, these items have helped to alleviate undue stress off of my shoulders and back as they allow me to sit in a more relaxed posture while I nurse.
When you are trying to breastfeed one of the tiniest human beings that you have ever laid eyes on, it can take a lot of effort to get such a little mouth close enough to maintain a good latch and remain comfortable at the same time. Let the pillow and stool do some of the work for you and lift that baby up to you. Your back and shoulders will thank you! My baby is ~10 months and I still use the nursing pillow every single day.
Additionally, incorporating some regular strengthening exercises and stretches into your daily routine can be a game-changer if you’re suffering from a sore back, neck or shoulders or general fatigue of these areas. Ask your doula or lactation consultant for some pointers to prevent this type of strain or, better yet book yourself a date with a physical therapist. A physical therapist will walk you through exercises that target muscle groups that are affected by breastfeeding and most importantly (at least in my case as a procrastinator) will hold you accountable to actually perform these exercises when you’re at home. I have also found that a nice warm bath with Epsom salts can be extremely healing for sore muscles, not to mention all the other parts of a postpartum mama that may be sore and need healing!
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Nursing depletes your body of many things, not the least of which is fluids. So make sure that you always have a water bottle close by and drink up! I’m not always the best at getting my daily water quota in, so I like to add a little pizzazz to my water by pouring in a splash of fruit juice. This can really help me to achieve my intake goal by making the water more palatable. A good rule of thumb is to try and take in a good amount of water every time you sit down to nurse.
It is also important to keep in mind that when you’re out in the sun or actively sweating, it is crucial that your electrolytes be in balance for optimal breast milk production, so replacing them is vital. Try to steer clear of those sugar-loaded drinks as they can inhibit your efforts to lose baby weight and can make you feel downright unhealthy besides. Instead, you might try a DIY electrolyte recipe or a powder blend, such as, my alltime favorite, LMNT. Liquid IV is another great choice and can be found online or at your local grocery store. These brands come in a variety of delicious flavors without all the yucky dyes and unwanted added sugars.
4. Refresh Your Wardrobe
With my most recent pregnancy, I finally decided that it was time to treat myself to a few new maternity/breastfeeding- friendly articles of clothing. I understand the struggle to justify the expense when you wear this genre of clothing for such a limited amount of time, but after 300+ days (and counting!) into my current nursing journey, I have not regretted a single piece of clothing that I purchased. Sustaining life and wearing some trendy clothes and comfy undergarments while doing it has been a great boost for my overall confidence and well-being. A few of my favorites are this Kindred Bravely nursing sports bra, postpartum underwear, the Latched Mama Tee, the Latched Mama Maxi and the Latched Mama Robe.
Whether you plan to breastfeed your baby for 3 months or 3 years, you will not regret having some comfy clothes that you enjoy wearing, that flatter your postpartum body and make nursing just a little bit more convenient day to day. One idea to make this a little more affordable is to add gift cards from your favorite nursing-friendly clothing store to your baby registry. BOTH mama and baby will benefit from this thoughtful gift.
5. Surround Yourself With Cheerleaders For You And Your Baby
I have walked this journey of breastfeeding five times over and Every. Single. Time. I have chosen to meet with a lactation consultant; I always walk away from these encounters with a great refresher course on breastfeeding techniques and a huge boost in my morale with the motivation that I can do this [again]! I have also learned to leave behind any information that is unhelpful for me and only hold onto the nuggets of wisdom that I know will work best for my baby and me.
If you are struggling and you wonder what your next move might be, or you are just looking for some breastfeeding advice or encouragement, I highly recommend reaching out to your lactation consultant, your doula, or a trusted mama friend who has walked this road before you. Surround yourself with support, even if it’s just to talk with someone about how difficult and demanding (in every sense of the word!) this thing called breastfeeding is. You will quickly discover that you are not alone in this journey and that there are people out there who want to help you succeed. And you are worth it!
Caring for a baby can be extremely difficult and often comes with a HUGE learning curve. Most days you are sleep deprived, walking in a fog of diapers and burp cloths, and may not be entirely sure of just ‘what the heck’ you are doing! In these times, it is oh, so important to be gentle with yourself and remember that you have come this far and you can do this. You may have setbacks along the way as I certainly have, but at the end of the day I hope that you can gaze at your precious little babe and remember that they are worth it all. Happy nurturing, mama!
