I'm no breastfeeding expert, but between my two children, I've logged quite a bit of experience so far. I nursed my first-born for 14 months and I am currently 7 months (and going strong) nursing my second born. During those 21 months of nursing, I've picked up a few tips and tricks to make things easier. These might be no-brainers to some vets in the breastfeeding game but not everyone has access to a support system full of knowledge and experience.
In case that is you, we hope these things make your journey easier!
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1. How To Nurse Comfortably And Confidently In Public
People who've never nursed, and a select few that have, don't understand that nursing in public is a thing that happens when you have a breastfed baby. At some point in the next few months, you will be out in public shopping, eating, or minding your business in general and your baby will start the hungry cry. It has happened to me plenty of times and at first, I would get nervous but now I know exactly what to do.
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The Double Shirt Method is a good way to discreetly nurse without feeling the need to run to a dirty public bathroom or quarantine yourself in the car. It’s also a good way to avoid spending money on nursing shirts.
Essentially, you wear a tank or camisole under your regular shirt and when it comes time to breastfeed, you pull the top shirt up and the undershirt down around the breast you plan to nurse with. You then latch your baby. This way you can nurse your baby with only a small amount of skin exposed.
Another tip is to use a fitting room as a nursing room. A lot of malls and large department stores have family restrooms with a nursing station or two but if not, this is always a great option. Fitting rooms usually always have a chair or a bench, privacy, and they are a lot cleaner and better smelling than a public restroom.
If you find yourself in a store that doesn’t have a nursing or fitting room and you forgot to double up those shirts, you can always do the discrete cross cradle. I have had to do this a few times while my baby and I were stuck on an airplane.
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I’d pull up my shirt on the side I want to nurse, just enough to let the baby latch, and cradle her across my stomach. This is best done while sitting in a high back chair. You’ll want to position yourself and the baby so that little to no skin is showing. Most people won’t even notice you’re nursing as it looks like you’re just rocking the baby to sleep.
Alternatively, you could always plan your day 3 steps ahead and have a pumped bottle for every outing and never, I repeat NEVER, stay out longer than the full time that bottle allots your baby. As a mom of more than one with a full schedule... good luck with that!
2. How To Pump On The Go
The thing about breastfeeding is that your milk is there whether you need to use it or not. On the few occasions that I find myself out for hours without my baby, I always bring my manual pump. Being caught without it for too long, and the resulting painful, engorged, leaky boobs taught me that lesson early.
Going too long without emptying your breasts can not only cause wardrobe malfunctions and be painful but it can also affect your supply if it happens too often. Remember that this is a supply and demand game. Not emptying your breasts enough tells your brain that your baby doesn’t need it and subsequently, you’ll produce less.
Avoid this by getting a manual pump and leaving it in your car or carrying it in your purse while you’re out. This way you can pump in the car while riding shotgun or in a private place so you can comfortably enjoy your time away from your baby, without any negative side effects. A lot of retailers and brands sell coolers and ice packs specifically for storing milk for a few hours. These are all good investments for breastfeeding mamas.
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3. Using Nipple Shields To Help You Through It
I always tell new moms that nipple shields are the way to go. I hadn’t heard of them before I was pregnant, nor was I told about them by the lactation specialists I saw while in the hospital. These things saved my breastfeeding journey!
Dealing with an infant and the engorgement that comes with your initial milk production is hard enough, but adding sore, cracked and bleeding nipples to the mix is enough to make any mom consider quitting the nursing game altogether. I almost became one of those moms until I stumbled across an amazing invention during a desperate late-night google search.
Essentially, a nipple shield is a soft silicone barrier you place over your nipple while breastfeeding. This helps your baby latch correctly, which avoids damage to your nipple while allowing already damaged nipples to heal more quickly. These are also a big help with inverted nipples and for babies with tongue-tie. If you find yourself in need, you can order these or pick them up in-store at Walmart. I used them with both of my children for the first few months until they learned how to latch properly.
4. How To Stockpile Your Milk
This one is for us lazy girls! If I knew then what I know now, I would have tried harder to pump and save my milk during the first 2-3 months of nursing. Generally, this is the time when you are producing a ton of milk. Your baby is eating around the clock so you are constantly full and need to release some pressure.
I would suggest you buy a Haakaa or nipple shells to catch all of the milk that lets down from your idle breast while you nurse your baby on the opposite. If you don’t have either, you can also pump on the opposite side or pump both sides for a few minutes after each nursing session.
Catching this milk instead of soaking a breast pad allows you to save milk for your baby later on. If you have to return to school or work, having a stockpile of milk in your freezer helps out a ton!
If you ever find yourself with a dwindling stockpile and a low milk supply, there are always lactation snacks and supplements you can take. They really do work for most women when used properly
5. How To Find Help
Finally, the best way to ensure you have a long, stress-free breastfeeding journey is to find help and support from your friends, family or other moms around the world via social media. There are so many Facebook groups for moms, and specifically moms of color, that you can join to feel supported.
If you need help with the technical side of nursing, many hospitals offer classes and hold support group meetings that welcome new moms and their babies. Consider joining one of these during your maternity leave to get help and socialize with other moms. Having mom allies is always a great idea. No one gets you more than someone going through exactly what you are at the same time!
Brittany Wright, B.A in Creative writing and English – University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, is an aspiring writer and creator of the She’s Wright blog. This black, millennial mom loves everything beauty, motherhood, and marriage related!
