The first months of breastfeeding were very challenging for my family. I want to share breastfeeding tips and benefits for the whole family.

The first time I tried breastfeeding my newborn she wouldn’t suckle on my nipple. She would latch but she would just sit there and look at me like she didn’t know what to do. I knew did NOT want to give her formula if I didn’t have to. Fortunately, after speaking with a lactation consultant she gave me a Nipple Shield. With the nipple shield, my newborn finally began nursing correctly. I cried happy tears.

After about a month, we still had other breastfeeding issues. She would cry and kick when I would nurse her, she always seemed hungry, and I could never get in a comfortable position. 

I felt like I was doing it all wrong and thought my milk supply was low. I spent every waking moment (which was basically 24/7) researching breastfeeding tips and advice. After about 8 weeks, breastfeeding became effortless.

Before you learn how to breastfeed you should know the many important benefits of breastfeeding.  The benefits of breastfeeding kept me from giving up because I knew the struggle would be worth it!

Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby:

• Protects against allergies and eczema.
• May cause less stomach upset, diarrhea, and constipation than formula.
• Reduces the risk of SIDS, viruses, urinary tract infections, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis, ear infections, and respiratory infections.
• Protects against diseases such as spinal meningitis, type 1 diabetes, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Can help prevent obesity.
• Breastfeeding while baby begins solids can cut down baby’s risk of developing allergies, including food allergies.
• Bonding

Breastfeeding Benefits for Mothers:

• Lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
• May help you lose pregnancy weight.
• (I lost all my pregnancy weight in the first week and have been losing weight ever since.)
• Helps uterus to shrink back to normal quicker
• May lower your risk of osteoporosis
• Heals your body after delivery
• Delays menstruation
• Natural birth-control protection
• Saves you time and money
• Eco-Friendly
• Bonding

I am so thankful I did not give up, even though I was sleep deprived, hormonal, and was told formula was easier.

Colostrum

During the first two or three days of breastfeeding, you may have a thick yellowish fluid coming out of your nipples.

That is colostrum and it’s everything your baby needs for nourishment.

Colostrum contains high levels of antibodies that boost your baby’s immune system so she can fight off infection.

Breastfeeding Tips

Hunger Cues

If you see your baby making these moves, offer your breast right away.

Don’t force these positions.

Your baby might prefer a different nursing position.

Just make sure that your baby is comfortable and can breathe while she nurses.

Get Comfortable

Make sure you are comfortable when you nurse. You can comfortably nurse on a bed, reclining chair, or a couch with plenty of pillows to support your back and arms.

I love my breast friend pillow because it supports your back and the baby.

Find a position that’s right for you. If you get uncomfortable or your baby starts falling asleep try switching positions.

Feed on demand

I remember when my newborn baby was nursing all the time or cluster feeding. (Nursing often for long periods of time) I thought she wasn’t getting enough milk because she was nursing for hours at a time.

I read that newborns should be eating every 1-3 hours for under 15 minutes per breast. This information can be misleading because every baby is different.

Her pediatrician told me she was steadily gaining weight and was overall healthy, therefore she was getting enough milk. She was falling asleep during every feeding so it took longer for her to get full.

It is very common for newborns to cluster feed, especially during growth spurts, so don’t deny your baby food just because not enough time hasn’t gone by.

It’s all about that Latch

If possible, your baby should latch onto the entire areola, not just the nipple and her chin should be right up against your breast so so she can breathe through her nose.

Push your nipple against baby’s upper lip so baby lifts her head up and back to open up really wide. When the tongue is down and the mouth is open, bring the baby up to the breast.

At least a half inch of your breast plus your nipple should be in your baby’s mouth.

Bad Signs

Your nipples/areolas can become dry, chapped, irritated, and cracked which can make breastfeeding painful. After nursing, you can hand express milk and rub it on your nipples and areolas.

You can also apply coconut oil or nipple cream for moisture. Let your breasts air out occasionally to avoid irritation.

Nursing problems should be resolved immediately. Nursing isn’t supposed to be painful. If you are experiencing pain or your baby isn’t latching or sucking correctly get help from a Doctor or lactation consultant right away.

Before you leave the hospital, ask if your baby has a tongue or lip tie and if it can cause an issue so you can get it fixed immediately.

Engorgement is a painful swelling and hardening of your breasts that can happen when you produce more milk than your baby consumes.

The swelling can actually make it harder for your baby to nurse.

The best way to avoid this engorgement is to nurse as often as possible. If you do become engorged, you can hand-express your milk.

You may want to express milk under a warm shower, which helps the milk flow better.

You can also try using a pump until your breasts soften and you feel comfortable again.

Good Signs

While nursing, your baby should suck and swallow. When she gets full or falls asleep, she will stop swallowing.

At the end of a nursing session, your baby should let go. Your baby’s diapers should be wet often.

It’s common for breastfed babies to only have one bowel movement or less per day as they get older. As long as the bowel movements are soft, your baby is peeing frequently, and gaining weight, there is no reason to worry.

You can weigh your baby once per week at home or at your pediatrician’s office. I bought my own scale because it eased my anxiety.

Don’t Worry!

Don’t worry too much about your milk supply. Milk production depends on your baby’s needs. Sucking stimulates the release of hormones that stimulate milk production. The more your baby nurses, the more milk you’ll produce.

More Demand=More Supply

Leaking

It’s normal for milk to leak from your breasts. It can happen when you hear a baby cry, when your baby hasn’t nursed in a while, when you think about your baby, or even when you feel a strong emotion. You can place a nursing pad in your bra to absorb the leaks.

Pumping

You don’t need to pump all the time. You can end up with clogged ducts, mastitis, or a forceful letdown. Unless you plan on going back to work, you should only a have a small reserve in the freezer for emergencies. I use the Haakaa. It catches your let down, so you can build a supply without extracting too much milk.

Download my Breast Milk Storage guide for Instructions on how to properly store your breast milk supply.

Grab your FREE Printable Breast Milk Storage Guide. Print it and stick it on your fridge for quick reference!
GET ACCESS!

Milk Supply

It’s hard to know how much milk you’re producing because you can’t visually see how much your baby is getting.

Many new breastfeeding moms think that if they aren’t pumping much milk that it means they have a low milk supply. This isn’t necessarily true.

When I pump, I only get about 1-2 oz of milk even though there is nothing wrong with my milk supply.

Before self-diagnosing or choosing to switch to formula, speak with your doctor, pediatrician, and/or a lactational consultant for an exam. They may be able to help you find ways to produce more milk or show you a better position to breastfeed.

There are quite a few factors that can lower your milk supply, such as:

• Birth Control Pills
• Having fewer than normal milk ducts (ex. from surgeries or cancer)
• Bad positioning during feeding
• Incomplete latch
• Tongue or lip tie in baby
• Supplementation (giving formula or bottled breast milk after baby feeds at the breast)
• Using pacifiers or nipple shields
• Mom’s health issues (postpartum reproductive issues such as retained placenta; others such as anemia)
• Mom’s medications (antihistamines, etc.)
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking tobacco
• Cutting feedings short (instead of letting the baby decide when he/she’s done)
• Scheduling feedings rather than feeding on demand
• Baby sleeps too much/through the night (lessens the frequency of feeding – wake baby up more often to feed)

Here’s a list of foods and herbs are known to help Increase milk supply:

• Fenugreek
• Blessed Thistle
• Alfalfa
• Oatmeal
• Vegetables/Leafy greens
• Garlic (too much can change the taste of your breast milk, so be careful)
• Sesame seeds

Before trying any herbal supplements, talk to your doctor regarding safety and dosing.

Here are other actions to boost your milk supply:

• Avoid alcohol and smoking
• Practice hand expressing/breast massage
• Promote skin-to-skin with baby
• Breastfeed on demand (or more if the baby is not very demanding)
• Offer both breasts for each feeding
• Switch multiple times from breast to breast if the baby is tired/falls asleep too quickly
• Make sure the frequency of nursing is enough (8-12 times every 24 hours, at least every 3 hours at night)
• As the mom, get plenty of rest, try to eat a balanced diet, and drink plenty of water

Clogged Ducts

Avoid anything that puts pressure on your breasts, including diaper-bag straps, laying on your stomach, and even sleeping on the same side every night.

I have had clogged ducts on my left breast 4 times and it hurts! It feels like a hard lump and is very painful.

When I realize I have a clogged duct, I use warm compress before each feeding, massage around the lump, and try to drain that side frequently.

Bleb

If you see a small white bump on your nipple treat it as a clogged duct. This little white spot is called a bleb and it should eventually go away.

Put a warm moist towel on your nipple before nursing to loosen the milk. If you feel a burning sensation, like I did, you can try to carefully peel it off with clean hands after trying the steps above.

I had a painful burning sensation in my nipple for weeks. After I peeled off the nipple bleb it scabbed and healed and I haven’t had anymore clogged ducts.

Nipple Confusion

It is recommend by lactation consultants to not to use pacifiers or bottles until you have successfully established breastfeeding to avoid nipple confusion. This usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

If you have to use a bottle, I recommend the Comotomo brand. Comotomo bottles mimic breastfeeding and have a slow flow for newborns.

When you use a bottle, don’t forget to pump while someone else feeds the baby, so you don’t affect your milk supply.

Get Support

Let your friends and family help you when they offer. If they don’t offer don’t be afraid to ask.

I ended up in the hospital shortly after going home because I was sleep deprived and dehydrated. If I had asked for help sooner I could have avoided a trip to the hospital and being away from my newborn. (Mom guilt talking)

Join a Breastfeeding support group or Moms group at your local hospital or online. I joined a local moms group and breastfeeding support group on Facebook.

It’s nice to talk to other moms who know what you’re going through, and they are always ready to give advice and help.

You are not alone. Don’t give up!

For my breastfeeding product recommendations check out my list of Must-Have Breastfeeding Essentials!

Please leave a comment if you have any breastfeeding recommendations, questions, or tips.

Resources

https://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/tips/31-breastfeeding-secrets/

https://www.mustelausa.com/breastfeeding-tips

https://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/basics/the-benefits-of-breastfeeding/

Do I Have a Low Milk Supply?