8 Breastfeeding Tips

**Disclaimer: This is what worked for me and although most of this is research and/or professionally based, I realize this won’t cater to everyone. Please know that I am supportive of your feeding journey no matter what that looks like. Every baby, mom, and situation is vastly different. Do what is right for you and your baby! Fed is best! 

Background story: My mom and sisters had a hard time breastfeeding their babies and when I had my first I tried not to have too many expectations for success, but I think every expecting mother envisions things going perfectly smooth at one point regardless. Well my first baby came in 2015 and my nursing experience was never enjoyable, I had mastitis within the first week, and then again around 3 months. When it came the second time we were in the middle of moving to a new state and I decided that it was time to do part formula and pumping. Oh yeah, did I mention that my son didn’t latch well and that he got frustrated at the breast because the milk isn’t ready right away like it is in a bottle? The pumping life is hard, but some moms love that life. It didn’t feel fair to my newborn or me to feel such dread and resentment so by 4 months old he was completely on formula.

Fast-forward three years and I am about ready to have my second son. This time my expectations are very realistic and I am pretty confident that things will be much better even if he ends up switching to just formula at day one. I can handle that; I know how that life goes. Knowing the benefits of breast milk for mom and baby I don’t give up on learning more and providing myself with tools to succeed. My 2018 baby is now 5 months old and he has never had a bottle or formula and I am so grateful and shocked at the difference in experiences. However, I know that the tools I discovered during my pregnancy are 100% responsible for my breastfeeding success. I am sharing them here for any first time moms, or moms who maybe didn’t have the journey they imagined with their other baby or babies.

8 Breastfeeding Tips

à First and foremost is Lactation Link. No, this is not sponsored. She is qualified and experienced and MUCH better at helping you succeed than the lactation consultants that visit you in the hospital post delivery.  Unfortunately, in my experience the lactation consultants I had did more damage than they did help. If you can’t afford her program, just know that most of my advice comes from things she teaches; I just don’t have the same credentials she does. Plus she goes into a whole lot more detail than I do in these simple tips. 

à Get a big enough bra! I can’t say this enough – just please take this to heart. It will save you the heartache of clogged ducts and mastitis. No one deserves to deal with those things especially when you have a newborn and your body just went through giving birth to said newborn. The bra should be very loose. You do not need the support, just trust me. 5 months in and wearing a tighter bra almost always results in me getting a clogged duct. It’s just not worth it! Here is the bra I love, and another one that I use now that my boobs aren’t engorged every day. One more bra that gives a bit better shape and has padding. 

Tip: size up in band and cup size for how big you are while you’re pregnant. 

Example: I am normally 32A or 32B but while pregnant I was 34B or 34C. I got a medium at first and tried it on while pregnant. It was a bit snug so I returned it and got “medium busty” and it has been great! I think a large would have probably worked, too.

à Melaleuca oil!! You can get it from DoTerra, Walmart, Amazon, or Melaleuca. DoTerra is definitely my top pick, but just get it! Use it every feeding until you are no longer engorged. This prevents infection AKA mastitis. I have had 3 clogged ducts this time around and clogged ducts can turn into mastitis very fast. As soon as the clogged duct comes on I use Melaleuca oil like crazy. I have not had mastitis once! Hallelujah! 

Expert tip: to be used right after baby is done eating - just put the oil on your finger and then put the oil straight onto your nipple. You do not need to wash off your nipple before feeding baby 2-4 hours later. It is safe for baby and the only reason you would have to wash it beforehand is if it is causing irritation to you or baby.

à Milk catchers were my best friend. I leak about 1-2 ounces on the side that baby is not feeding on. I had to dump the milk (into a storage bag to freeze and save) twice per feeding session. Not to mention sore nipples. The milk catcher sits perfectly in your bra and lets your nipple be free from any contact whatsoever. Heaven sent!!

Tip: When you are away from home using the milk catcher you will most likely have to just dump that milk. I also dumped my milk for night feedings so that it was one less thing to do in the middle of the night. When you have enough storage OR when you are sick of using the milk catcher apply pressure to your nipple when your let down comes. This teaches your other breast not to have a let down every time the breast baby feeds on has a let down. But again, 5 months into this and I am still having to press firmly on my opposite side in order to not leak - thank goodness for my amazing breast pads though! PS I love reusable items and tried reusable pads this time around. I leak too much for them to be as reliable. Medela was terrible in catching anything and Kindred Bravely did okay.

àBreast pad ice packs were also my best friend! Being engorged with my first was a miserable experience! This second time I never had the crazy engorgement pain and I give complete credit to the ice packs!

Expert tip: when you are done feeding baby, put your oils and creams on your nipple then go to the freezer and put the ice pack on the side you just fed from. If you switch sides put it on the side you started on. Stick it straight into your bra (should be plenty of space still) and let it sit for 15 min MAX. Do not exceed 15 minutes as it could poorly affect milk supply. After 15 minutes switch it to the other side if necessary. Another 15 minutes max, but the pack will not be as cold, so it’s not as strict. Stick it back in the freezer under the other breast pad ice pack. Rotating packs for best results and cooler packs.

Why does this help? The reason this works so well is because when your milk comes in – it comes in if you know what I mean. It is like a war happening in your boob and there is just so much milk. The ice pack tells your boob to “cool down.” After baby is full your boobs will keep making milk, but the ice pack regulates it and sends the message, “my baby is full with how much milk just came out, slow down, stop producing more on this side – COOL IT!” I brought it to my other side after 15 minutes because I was getting engorged on that side and still had an hour and a half to feed baby. If you’re worried about your supply, do NOT use the ice packs. But know this: my second baby was 15.5 pounds by 2 months. That is double his birth weight. Also DO NOT use ice packs until your boobs are sore and engorged i.e. there is milk coming in.

à Feed your baby! The best way and the only scientifically proven method to increase your milk supply is to feed your baby/stimulate the breast. I pumped from day one with my first baby – huge mistake - but I realize that for some of you it is absolutely necessary for various reasons. With my second I hand expressed if he wasn’t willing to latch or if he was having issues (latching, too sleepy, etc.). I would just hand express onto my finger and stick my finger in his mouth. If your husband is willing and able this is a great chore for him!

Note: baby should be peeing and pooping as many days as they are old until 8 days and then it remains at 8. (Example: day 1=1 pee diaper, 1 poop, day 2=2 pee diapers and 2 poops, etc.)

Expert tip: feed your newborn every 2-3 hours. Always! Wake up baby to feed if they are exceeding 3 hours. When they are a newborn they will probably sleepily eat anyway. Don’t worry about the sleep. Worry about the feeding and the sleep will follow! Once they are 12 weeks old 2.5-3.5 hours is acceptable. (I am getting this information from experts; this is not my opinion. Visit this website to help you figure out sleep.)

à While your mind is on those first few days of baby’s life, skin-to-skin is HUGE. This goes along with breast stimulation i.e. increasing your milk supply! I didn’t feel a close bond to baby #1 until around 9 months. Baby #2 and I bonded within hours. As soon as he was born he was laid on my belly, they sucked out his mouth, cut his cord, put a diaper on him and dabbed him off with a towel. Then for the next 3 hours he was on my chest or in my arms. He did not leave me. When they came to check his heart rate and put bands on him, etc. he stayed with me. This means he didn’t get weighed until he was almost 4 hours old. It is so important to do this granted that circumstances allow it. And then for the first 24 hours (minimum) to keep them within arms reach (this means no nursery) and guess what happens? Better sleeper, calmer baby, more milk supply, well-fed baby, etc. The benefits are worth it!

Side note: I also didn’t bathe baby #2 until he was 2 weeks old. Read this article to see if you want to do the same! Side note: he was so soft and smelt amazing the entire two weeks. I was honestly shocked!

à Realize that if you have to use a nipple shield that is totally okay! My first I felt shameful and determined to get him off the shield and directly on me. This just became another area that was adding stress and robbing me of my love for my baby and our breastfeeding journey. This time, baby is going 5 months strong with loving the shield. We are okay. We are surviving and baby is thriving! No really. He is almost 20 pounds. Every now and then I will offer him the breast without the shield and he can latch, but he quickly pulls off and stares at me with questioning eyes. "Are you my mother? What is this betrayal?" So I laugh and put the shield back on and we go about our day!

Tips if you are using a shield: make sure it is the right size. Keep it clean – I wash it every time I wash my hands. Just rinse with water only and scrub with your freshly cleaned hands. The hotter the water, the better! Air dry. I store the shield right in my bra. It goes everywhere with me! The opening in the shield goes by baby’s chin, not by their nose. This provides more contact for mom and baby to touch and to get the breast stimulated more which means more milk! The nose shouldn’t touch the breast; therefore the opening does not need to be by their nose. This is what the instructions on the box say. Again, it is not my opinion. It can be inconvenient to use a shield, so read this if you want tips on weaning it.

Please feel free to ask me questions at any time during your journey! It takes a village to raise our kids, and in this world that village is sometimes on the other side of the country, your backyard, or your handheld devices. I wouldn’t have had the experience I did if it wasn’t for other moms guiding me and supporting me. I am here to support you in whatever feeding journey you have!

Product list links:

-Bra #1

-Bra #2

-Bra #3

-Melaleuca oil

-Milk catcher

-Ice packs

-Nipple Shield

-Lansinoh Breast pads 

Article links:

-Lactation Link

-Taking Cara Babies

-No Baths For First 48 Hours

-Delaying the Bath: How, When, Why

-Weaning Baby Off Nipple Shield

Birth Affirmations

**I found these from Pinterest and printed them out so I could have them with me in the delivery room, I only compiled it here so I could link it for those of you who wanted to see them all.**

Necessary Items for Baby

My younger sister is getting ready to have her first baby and prompted me to write this post when she asked me what I think are actual necessary items for having a baby. I just had my second baby in August so this list is very fresh and slightly catered to the first 4 months of a baby's life. A lot of these are things that make parenting more convenient, but everything in bold is an absolute must. There are 7 siblings older than me who weighed in on this too, and together we have 25 children, so consider this list to be pretty accurate:

Clothing

• 8-12 newborn onesies long sleeve with mittens and short sleeve mixture 
• 10-15 onesies in 0-3 and 3-6 months
• 3-5 pairs of pants in newborn and 3-6 months
• 6-10 newborn pajamas with zippers and mittens
• 5-10 pajamas with zippers in 0-3 and 3-6 months
• Sleep sack newborn and 3-6 or 0-9 months (without arms for summer and with for winter)
• 3-5 pairs of socks (necessary only depending on the climate)
• Beanie
• 5-10 swaddles (I use them as burp rags, too. You can also use them as a cooling method if you live where it's hot or have a baby in the summer.)
• Burp rags (love the diaper cloth inserts and muslin swaddles)
• Bibs
• Blankets
• Crib sheet

Gear for the Home

• Pack n' Play (I have never used a crib and I have a 3 year old)
• Rock n' Play
• Bouncer/Swing
• Changing station area (I use my bed, a portable pad, and the diaper storage on the Pack n' Play)
• High chair (I love the one from Ikea with the inflatable and machine washable insert)
• Boppy pillow
• Gym (like the kind the baby can lay under and there are toys dangling/keyboard at the feet)
• Sound machine (you can use an app on an old phone, fan, or portable sound machine)
• Mam pacifiers
• Pacifier clips

Gear for Going Out

• Jogging stroller
• Diaper bag (I'm obsessed with my backpack one)
• Nursing cover/car seat cover
• Infant car seat
• Carrier (like this)
• Cordless breast pump
• Booties if you live in the cold
• Bundle Me (car seat insert if you live in the cold)
• Mini hand sanitizer

Gear for Mom

• Nursing bras WITHOUT a wire 
• Melaleuca oil (this is an everyday life necessity, too)
• Nursing pads (I tried reusable this time around and they just don't cut it, go with Lansinoh brand every time)
• Soothies breast pads
• Milk catchers (necessary if you leak like me, also good for sore nipples-buy them and return if you don't use)
• Nipple cream
• Nipple shield
• Nursing dress 

Diaper Gear

• Stock up on size 1-2 diapers if you need to, otherwise only buy them when you need them
• Get all the wipes you want, you will use every last one
• Hand sanitizer
• Vaseline for rashes and circumcisions
• Portable changing pad
• Stain remover

Bathtime Gear

• Puj bath
• Shampoo/body wash (yes as one item, not two)
• Wash cloths
• Hair brush (to avoid getting cradle cap)

Sickness Gear

• Nose Frida (saline is necessary, too)
• Humidifier
• Vapor rub
• Infant Tylenol and syringe
• Thermometer

SIDE NOTE:
As you can tell all the links are from Amazon, that was mostly out of convenience for me but they mainly do have the cheapest prices and definitely the quickest delivery. Another thing I would check (depending on the item) is the Wish app. The biggest downfall here is that shipping usually takes weeks. Happy shopping and congratulations on the baby!

Arm Yourself Against Mom Blues and Winter Woes

Staying in the house for the majority of the day feels like absolute torture. I never imagined that I could feel so captive in my beautiful, cozy home! If you're a new mom or a very experienced mother or surrounded by thick white mounds of snow, you know what I am talking about.

When I lived in Cedar City, Utah there were so many things to do outside! When winter hit and my one year old wasn't walking yet, going outside wasn't as easy anymore. Minor depression started to sink in and I found myself using technology as an outlet. I suppose this is the one downfall that comes when your 1 year old is not walking yet. Well I started thinking, "What in the world did moms used to do without technology?! How did they survive their days inside?" So I asked my mom, mother-in-law, and a few other family members for ideas. I will grace you with their answers and a few that I added for myself when I was in a state of feeling like, "There's nothing to do, and my home is my new prison."

--> Go to the public library. Ours is amazing and has a fantastic area for kids. A lot of moms that I introduced to the library had no idea how resourceful and kid friendly it is. Check yours out and make sure to see if/when they have "Story Time."

--> Set up play dates. The most successful play dates are with a few people and repeat each week on the same day and same time with either a varying location or the same place each time.

--> Go to parks (indoor on super bad days such as an indoor pool, trampoline gym, mall play area, fast food place with a play area, etc. AND outdoor parks on fairly good days).

--> Read books. Read books. Read books!! This is for both you and your kid(s). Again, use your library! It's free!

--> Find a store you can simply roam if you hate shopping like me, or go shopping! Making sure to take your time and let people talk to your baby and that you talk to them.

--> Any type of crafting. Color, play dough, bath tub paints, paint in a ziplock bag, use old baby cereal as a sand pit or the purees as paint, chalk, etc.

--> Activities! Some of our favorites include bubbles, balloons, racing, obstacle courses, playing music, dance parties, hide-and-seek, etc.

--> Turn bath time into play time. You can do paints in the bath, these fun aqua beads, glow in the dark sticks, etc. Find new bath friendly toys around the house such as your pots, pans, cups, bowls, plastic animals/objects, balls, etc. Whenever we use bath time as a time to play I do it at a different time than normal and I don't stress about cleaning as much as I stress about playing!

And here are more technology free examples for what YOU can do either alongside your child, while your kid is entertained with something else, or while they are taking a nap:

--> Become more invested with your church calling or religion. Read scriptures, prepare for lessons, learn a new song, etc.

--> Sew your kids' clothes or a new blanket, anything really! Crochet, quilting, etc.

--> Make cooking more fun. Learn how to can and preserve food. Make a new meal. Bake some goods and bring them to a neighbor with whom you can bond with. Build a chalkboard and start menu planning.

--> Find a way to get out of the "mom" routine. Volunteer, have a girls night out, get a part time job, or an at home job, etc. (The key here is to do something without your precious wee one, but even if you have to haul them with you do something to change things up!)

--> Visit a grandparent, family member, or a nursing home.

--> Set goals for yourself that will help you become the mom, wife, and person you have always dreamed of becoming with a specific way to achieve said goal. (Make it S.M.A.R.T.) You can also start up an accountability group that consists of close friends or family members to help you maintain responsibility for your goals.

--> Read a book!

--> Gardening! Plant some flowers and/or plants in or out of your house. This is possible no matter where you live.

--> Journaling. Write in a journal, on a blog, on your phone, record videos, etc.

--> Go to different types of ball games in the community or get involved in them yourself!

--> Join a class of some kind, aerobics, Zumba, sewing, sign language, etc. A lot of public libraries have free classes.

--> Learn something new! A new language, a cooking technique, how to run a business, new parenting techniques, etc.

--> Teach your kids new songs, numbers, colors, etc. and go around the entire house finding new things. You can use nap time to prepare props that will be age appropriate for your kid so they will get more involved and have more fun. Depending on their age you can hide things or store certain objects around the house that they can go find.

--> Go on a walk. If the weather is terrible walk around the mall, a store, on a treadmill, etc. get creative!

--> Start a project. Most of my projects are things to decorate my home (like this map I made), or decluttering, organizing, deep cleaning, building something, etc.

--> Serve someone. Make it more thrilling by doing so anonymously. Take your time to study what the person truly needs and then make it happen!

If you have anymore ideas to add, please let me know! There can never be too many ideas. (:

By the way, I just read today that, "Children that play outside in all weather grow up resilient." After reading this I immediately felt inspired to get outside no matter what. Read this article and feel inspired, too. So basically if you remember only one thing from this post, let it be this...GO OUTSIDE! You will not regret it.