Breastfeeding tips can be so helpful for those that may be struggling with feeding. First of all, I would just like to say that breastfeeding isn’t for everyone…and that’s absolutely ok!!!! Whatever way your baby is fed – breast or bottle and it works for you and your baby then thats what is most important. As they say, FED is best!
I would like to share with those who need some advice or tips with breastfeeding, my experience and the tips and tricks I picked up along the way. I always found breastfeeding tips so helpful especially in them early days, whether from the internet or from friends and family. Don’t be afraid to get the help you need!
With my three children, I attempted to breastfeed them all. My first, I fed for 4 weeks then introduced combi feeding for a couple more before he was bottle fed from around 6 weeks. With my second and third I breastfed them both for 6 months with combination of bottle feeds too when needed. I think that if you can and want to breastfeed, then attempting it is fab. Give it a go, see if it works – if it doesn’t then at least you can say you gave it a try. If it does work then continue and enjoy it. If it becomes something that is not enjoyable for you then chances are your baby is picking up on this and properly isn’t enjoying it too. I always have said and still say to myself – Happy Mama, happy baby! So always follow your gut and do whats best for the baby and for YOU!
Tip 1. Get comfortable! It’s so important – you may be sitting there for a while! Find a good spot where you can get good back support, either the sofa or a rocking chair and before allowing your baby to feed, make sure you are happy and comfy. We had a gliding chair in Baby K’s nursery. In the first few weeks, latching on can be very painful and the last thing you need is to be in pain anywhere else such as your back or neck!
Gliding Chair from Mamas and Papas
Tip 2. Use a feeding pillow! I found using one of these a life saver. Shaped in the style of a boomerang, this pillow will sit firmly around your front, with cushion support for both yourself and your baby. You can either rest your arm across the pillow and allow baby to be supported above your arm and lie against you or if confident enough, allow baby to be supported by the pillow itself and give you hands free!
My daughter showing how its done!
Tip 3. It’s all about the latch. That bloody latch! When I first started breastfeeding my first I think I over thought it. Nose to nipple nose to nipple NOSE TO NIPPLE was what I got told constantly. Which is kinda true…but I’d get myself all worked up and stressed around the latch and whether his nose was to my nipple! With my second and third I just put the baby on making sure their whole mouth covered my nip. I didn’t over think it. I just went with what felt right. Yes it does hurt for the first few weeks but in time it should become pain-free. If it doesn’t then your latch isn’t right and you must seek support.
Tip 4. Make sure you have your phone, book, glass of water and a snack to hand. It’s nice to be able to relax and feed rather than either be stuck without something to eat, or drink. Yes, like me if you have more than one child and you’re trying to breastfeed you can pretty much guarantee that as soon as you sit down to feed you baby, chances are your other children will want a drink/snack/toilet – and you have to just carry on, most likely feeding baby on the move whilst tackling the other children’s needs. But if all allows you to, make sure you have what you need to hand, saving you from having to awkwardly move position or disturb baby.
Also – bonus TIP! you can eat a further 500 calories a day!!!!! Woop Woop ( I mostly ate Pate on toast!!) A perfect time to have that extra stack is around 5pm which will give you that extra milk boost for the baby’s bedtime feed. Which leads me on to my next tip…
Tip 5. One of my important breastfeeding tips for YOU is to drink water…lots of it!!! Ok so when that little bundle is feeding away he’s/she also making you super dehydrated and is sucking all the fluids out of you! So make sure you are drinking lots of this stuff!!! Get yourself a big water bottle and just carry it around with you. I must admit it can be easy to forget and often I’d much prefer a cuppa tea than a glass of water! But try. It helps with the constipation!! TMI
Tip 6. Ok nipple cream. Your gonna need it. (Like drinking water, nipple cream comes close second to what you need stacks off). This stuff is great in the first few weeks for sore nips. Lansinol is the bees knees and I would use this each time after baby’s feed (it’s safe for baby’s!) it’s a really cooling gel type cream and works wonders on cracked split and dry nipples.
Tip 7. Breast pads – Ok so totally unglamorous breastfeeding tips here but needs must. Stick them in your bra and be done with them. No one wants to leak milk in public (I did in Aldi carpark – thankfully was a cold day so had a huge coat on! Phew…) OR if breast pads are not for you, you could use ultra thin sanitary towels! Yes stick them in your bra!
Tip 8. Get yourself a good nursing bra. Get yourself a couple if you can. Its far easier whipping you boob out from a nursing bra than it is a standard bra. The clips allow you to drop down the front part of the bra which will free your nip ready to feed. Theres several places to get nursing Bras – H&M being one store.
You’ll know if your baby is satisfied if your baby is putting on weight and filling their nappy with that lovely yellow poop. They’ll also seem content in themselves after a feed. If you are feeding on demand, then there is no set time for babies to go between feeds. You really just have to feed when baby is hungry! If any worries, then always contact your local health visitor.
I am sure there are loads more breastfeeding tips and tricks out there but I hope I’ve been a help and support to some! I’m no expert so always seek advice when needed! Thanks for reading xxx
Hi and welcome to The Willow Tree. I’m Michelle, also known as Shel and I am a mama to three beautiful crazy kids – I have two handsome boys and a wild and wonderful girl.
I really wanted a concrete place to share my love for travel, in particular Disney and offer my readers a chance to gain some knowledge around what we love to do as a family of 5.
I share our family adventures which include days out, travel advice and tips, holiday reviews, restaurant visits and of course, our love for Disney, including Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World.
Life is about creating memories, and here we are sharing them with you
xoxo
Fantastic advice, keeping it real as ever 👌😘
It’s brilliant that you’re sharing all these tips. I desparately wanted to breast feed but a combination of medical things, poor latch and sleep deprivation made it impossible and after 3 weeks of combi feeding I ended up exclusively going with formula. In the unlikely event I get pregnant again, I would definitely try again. Thanks for sharing in #fortheloveofBlog
I breastfed my youngest for 18 months and I love the point you make about not over thinking it. In the early days I was like you and constantly checking his nose was to my nipple and whether the latch ‘looked correct’ etc and it became so stressful. In the end I just went with what felt most comfortable for us both and it worked out a whole load better! I know midwifes mean well with these sayings but sometimes they just need to trust mothers to know whether a latch feels right or not! x
This are great tips! Reading them has reminded me of how much I loved breastfeeding my daughter, those two and a half years went too fast and ended too soon!
I got such a numb bum in the first few weeks with the long feeds and there were many times I sat there desperate for a wee. I was more confident feeding my second though and even managed to keep her latched while I went for a trip to the loo!
Fantastic tips for any expecting mum or mum looking to breastfeed. Sadly my little girl decided she didn’t like it so after two weeks we changed to full bottle feeding. I dont know if I’d try again for my second but we shall see x
Such fantastic tips! I remember feeding my son, whilst changing batteries in my daughter’s Ewan the Dream Sheep with one hand (screwdriver and all) haha! xx
Amazing tips! I love how judgement free you’ve been too, new Mums need more posts like this !
Fantastic advice. I was never any good at breast feeding but I know now that my sons autism made it even harder to get the hang of. Bottles worked well for us which is what we decided to stick to with our second x
I still regret not breastfeeding my 3 children as I so wanted to but felt so stressed and judged harshly for struggling so gave up after 2 weeks with my first and did not even try with the other two. So I salute you for sharing tips that will help others and the hydration one was totally new to me. #AnythingGoes
This is a great post and there are so many tips here for breastfeeding Mums. It’s so hard at first, but if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter, fed is best. Thanks for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Great advice! I loved breastfeeding both my girls. What I loved the most the first time around, was I got tot sit on the sofa, eat, drink and watch TV and not feel guilty as I was feeding my baby girl. It wasn’t quite as relaxing the second time around with A toddler to entertain at the same time. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
I get so so thirsty when I’m breastfeeding, especially in the early days – I always had to feed with a big glass of water on hand! I think that it should be more common knowledge that in the early days it does hurt. I know I worried so much that we were doing it wrong because it hurt – I think a big part of it is just adjusting to the sensation. I agree with you too – I don’t think stressing about the latch is always helpful either – I’m a worrier and it gave me something to worry about! Thankfully I’ve been able to be more relaxed about that second time around. Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
great advice. I’ve breastfed 2 babies and agree with all your tips. #sharingthebloglove
Some great tips here. I wish someone had told me to be more patient with it. When we didn’t get the hang of it right away I got frustrated and the more frustrated I got the harder it was. It didn’t help that I had some rather unhelpful people on my ward (but that’s another story). Anyway, it was only when I gave myself a break and relaxed about it all that we finally worked out what worked for us. #sharingthebloglove
This is spot on! I breastfed both my babies and what I always tell people is – it hurts at first. All the books imply that it’s going to be really natural and the baby will instinctively search for your nipple and if it’s hurting, the latch is wrong. That is simply not true – the first few weeks really hurt (hence the cream!) and it takes a lot of practise from mum and baby to get it right. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Thanks for sharing your experience #sharingthebloglove
Great tips and it’s always more reassuring coming from someone who has been there and done it. Thanks for sharing this with #TriumphantTales, hope to see you again on Tuesday!
Great tips! I was always so amazed by how much water I needed to drink. I watched so many box sets in those early days … if only I had started blogging then. I could have written so much in those hours on the sofa!
#ThursdayTeam
great pointers! sometimes breastfeeding can be a drain, it’s important to embrace it and remember it’s not forever and provides great bonding time.
#thursdayteam
Katelynn, hampersandhiccups.com
Some great tips, for me getting comfortable was the most important thing as I found feeding quite difficult! I loved my breastfeeding pillow, it made a huge difference! Thanks for linking this to #thursdayteam
These really are such great tips! Deffo the kind of post I would have loved to read when I was pregnant and expecting my little boy! x
Thank you! I think having such advice available is so beneficial!
Loved the practical advice here! I attmeted to breastfeed my three. I felt completely let down with the first but I felt much more confident with G and really enjoyed the freedom it gave me and cuddle time with him!
Ah yes its lovely to have that one to one time isn’t it!
I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the cream, there are some great tips here.
Yes it was amazing couldn’t have survived with out it haha!
Great post! Breastfeeding can be hard work so this post will really help some mummies x
Yes any advice and support it always so helpful 🙂
Oh what a great and informative post for breast feeding mother’s. I’m going to share this one.
Thank you!