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!