Don’t get me wrong, I am no pro nor am I stating I know it all.
I had a difficult time being a first-time mom venturing into the breastfeeding world in the beginning. I thought it would be easy, but it is/was the hardest thing I have done, AND yes, that includes giving birth.
I had a really bad couple of days at first, so much so that I would break down into tears from the sheer terror of trying to get my baby to latch on correctly while I cringed in pain. I wished I had done more research since no one around me breastfed effectively before I had given birth, but as I said before, I thought it was going to be a piece of cake.
These are some of the things that helped me with breastfeeding and I hope they help you too!
5 Things You’ll Need in Order to be Successful with Breastfeeding!
1. Boppy Breastfeeding Pillow
One of the first things I purchased for myself since I knew I wanted to breastfeed was a Boppy breastfeeding pillow. Trying to get a good angle without this pillow is frustrating, to say the least. Believe me, I am truly upset when I forget it at home and have nothing to aide me. LOL
The easiest position for me and baby is the cross cradle. She still feeds like this 4 months later on this pillow. It truly has been a lifesaver since I don’t have to hold her up myself or bend too far down to position my breast near her mouth. It has lost some of its fluffiness but that’s cause she’s used it since birth and weighs 18.4lbs now.
2. Medela Tender Care Lanolin Nipple Cream
You will be sore, I am not even kidding. At first, you may blister, and probably experience pus and blood around your nipple, and the only thing that helped give me some relief when I wasn’t feeding her was applying this Medela Tender Care Lanolin Nipple Cream before and after every feed. I found that the Lansinoh brand was a little too thick, especially when you’re dealing with sore nipples because the last thing you want to do is irritate them even more when trying to apply thick, sticky cream.
3. Nipple Shield
A lot of latch consultants call the nipple shield a band-aid, at least the one who was consulting me, since I had a hard time getting my baby to latch correctly. I honestly say it’s because their mouths are tiny. Once they’re a couple months old, the pain really does start to lessen. But this Medela Contact Nipple Shield helped me in the process when I needed to heal. I was actually given one of these in the hospital but it was a size large, not sure why they would have large on-site for newborns, which is way too big in my opinion. I actually opted for the small one since my nipples are not super huge and it actually fit/worked a lot better in my newborn’s mouth. She was kind of “meh” at first but she got the hang of it once she started realizing milk was being delivered through this plastic contraption.
4. Medela Softshells
One thing you’ll experience if you don’t get these Medela Softshells is irritation from your clothes/bra touching your raw nipples. These things may seem funky or bulky to the eye, but they really are wonderful. I grabbed these because I needed my nipples to heal without anything touching them. They do end up moving a little bit out of your bra and/or causing marks around your areola area but I was willing to put up with that for the healing effect. Milk does collect in the sponges that you insert which can be used or discarded. Just make sure you wash these with soapy water each time you take them off.
5. A Good Breast Pump
Last but not least, you’re going to need a breast pump. Most insurance companies will provide one for free, but if you do not have insurance, I recommend the hospital grade Spectra S2. My sister used this one and loved it.
My insurance covered the Medela pump in style breast pump which worked as intended. My little one was not effective at emptying the breast and would fall asleep quite a bit at first, so in order to make more milk, your body needs to know the milk in your breasts are being used. If they don’t get emptied, you won’t make more milk. The more the baby sucks, the more you will produce even if your breasts are empty. At first, I thought I had low milk supply because I had to supplement with formula since she was drinking 4-5 ounces each from 2 weeks to 1.5 months. Then, she decided she wanted to stop taking the bottle and wanted only my breasts, so I had to cluster feed, which is why I rarely have time to get on here anymore. She still cluster feeds at times, but apparently, this cluster feeding helped boost my milk supply since she’s growing off the charts and rarely gets additional formula except for 1 bottle in the evening when supply is the lowest. I was worried that she was getting very little from me, but the checkups at the doctor’s office proved me otherwise.
If you do have low supply issues, I suggest getting some goat’s rue. Although kind of expensive for what you get, it really does help if you really do have low supply.
If there are any other breastfeeding tips or questions you may have, don’t hesitate to post in the comments section. I’ll be glad to share more of my breastfeeding experiences with you.
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I didn’t breastfeed any of my kids, so I really don’t know much about it. This will be a very valuable resource for new moms.
Wonderful tips! I’m going to share this post with my sister that is breastfeeding 😀
Oh my! I have been thinking of making a similar post! You did it first! LOL! Those are the same things I am going to put anyway! The only thing I haven’t tried is the nipple shield because when I asked my lactation consultant, she said I didn’t need one. I guess and still believe I should have! I will sooo recommend every item on your list to a breastfeeding mom. I still am! Two months and going strong! 😀
These are great suggestions. I only breastfed my kids for a few months. This is a great resource, especially to first time moms.
I don’t have much knowledge about breastfeeding. However, I know that many new moms would benefit from this post!
HilLesha recently posted…Shop Responsibly with Giving Assistant
medela cream is a must have item! I like the pillow too! I breastfed my kids for almost 16 months
rika recently posted…Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Breatfeeding is the best way for a mother and a child to bond, plus the fact that the baby gets all the right nutrition. The products you’ve mentioned are going to help new moms to get used to the process.
Annemarie LeBlanc recently posted…Top Disney World Hotels for Solo Travelers
This is awesome information for successful breastfeeding for new moms. I never had a problem with my son latching on or even getting raw. My sisters did however have these common issues and one of them used the nipple shield for her son which she loved. Thanks for sharing.
Breastfeeding, in itself is so stressful and difficult. I am glad that they have so many things to help make the process more comfortable and easier!
Jesica H recently posted…10 Must Read Books on Homeschooling
Great tips for new moms who are planning to breastfeed. Breastfeeding doesn’t come easy to everyone, there would be bumps in the beginning but it get better everyday.
Tatanisha Pitts-Worthey recently posted…Meijer mPerk: Peter Pan Simply Ground- $1.29
I breastfed my two kids till they were two! It was hard at first but I got the hanf of it eventually. Breastfeeding is great thing!
Chubskulit Rose recently posted…Family Golfing: Learning and Laughing on the Links
How I wish I’ve known about the goat’s rue when I was breastfeeding my son. I only breastfed him for two months because I had low supply. Anyway, I will share this with my friend who is breastfeeding her son.
Lynndee recently posted…Stephen King is #1 on My Top-Ten List of Authors, but…
I used most of these and they are very helpful. You will also need patience and thick skin. 🙂
becka recently posted…Our Homeschool In Practice – Week 1
I wouldn’t ever use a shield again it almost messed up my breastfeeding with baby #5. I try to tell everyone who asks about it that too, it’s really not a great idea. But that said some do really need it so its helpful.
I may not be breastfeeding or have kids but I know my best friend is going thru this. These are some great tips thanks!
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. I don’t have children so I’ve never gone through it, but good for you for figuring it out.
Wandering Carol recently posted…I’m not late! Icefields Parkway tour in the Canadian Rockies
These are some great things to have when breastfeeding! My friend who breast fed loved her Boppy pillow!
Jennifer Pridemore recently posted…The Importance of Face to Face Connections #RightChoice
Thanks for this article.
One thing is sure, breastfeeding is hard. And just like parenting, it has a lot of components to piece together. Sure, some may argue that bottle feeding can replace it, but is that really the case? Because that can come with its own headache too, what bottle to choose, cleaning them, keeping them germ-free, and so on. For all mothers out there holding on to breastfeeding, kudos to you. You’re doing just the right thing!
Just found your website and love it! Your list to make a mom successful is fabulous. As the pregnancy time is beginning of my friend and she gets really over-whelmed about breast feeding again and looking for some great tips. How wonderful it would be for her Thank you for the tips….and your blog 🙂
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