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