Beginners Breastfeeding Tips

Breastfeeding Baby Made Easy

At Everyday Maternity know that the idea of breastfeeding baby can be slightly intimidating, especially if you're a first time mother. So we've prepared a handy guide for those who want some extra tips and advice and facts about breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for mother and baby. Research has shown that it can help protect mothers against breast and ovarian cancer, as well as weak bones in later life. It provides all the nutrients your baby needs for the first six months, and can also protect them against infections. But best of all, breastfeeding allows you and your baby to get physically and emotionally closer.

Preparation is key

In the first couple of weeks, be prepared to breastfeed frequently. In the early stages, your baby will be feeding very often which means that you need to be able to breastfeed quickly and without any discomfort. Breastfeeding tops, loose fitting clothing and halter neck tops are ideal as they allow quick access to the breast at a moments notice.

Breastfeeding can be hungry and thirsty work; so don’t forget about feeding yourself. Have a supply of easy to reach snacks and drinks, and stock up on quick meals. As well as preparing sustenance, remember to prepare for unexpected visitors. Although you are in the privacy of your own home, many new mothers can feel uncomfortable about exposing their breast in front of male relations or guests. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a sarong or light blanket handy, so that you can cover any exposed areas that you aren’t happy with showing.

Breastfeeding on the go

Exposing your boobs in public can be a worry to new mums, it needn’t be. There are a myriad of products to help make breastfeeding easy and discreet, the trick is having them close to hand when they are needed. When you are out and about you need to ensure that you have everything organised in order to nurse comfortably anywhere. It’s a great idea to invest in some good quality nursing bras. These will provide quick and easy access to your chest and ensure that you don’t do a mini striptease every time you need to nurse! Take a cover such as a sarong or blanket in case you feel nervous, and most importantly remember you have nothing to feel uncomfortable about – you are providing nourishment, love and comfort to your child.

Working and breastfeeding

Since breastfeeding works on supply and demand, it will be important for you to pump and store your milk while at work if you cannot actually go to breastfeed your baby. Try to speak to your employer before you go on maternity leave so it is one less thing for you to worry about when coming back to work.

The most helpful thing here is a breast pump. A good quality breast pump will allow you to pump out milk so your baby can still be fed on your breast milk when you aren’t around. You may need to pump during the day so talk with your employer and explain that you need a clean and private location and time in which to pump. Pretty soon you will be able to build up stock and retain your milk supply for as long as you want to continue breastfeeding.

If possible, you should start pumping and freezing your milk about a month before returning to work. This will give you a stock of milk for your baby. Plastic bags, such as Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags, are specially designed for freezing expressed breast milk.

Getting Comfortable

Proper positioning of both mother and baby can help prevent sore nipples and insufficient milk supply. Make sure that the baby’s head and body are facing the breast. Baby should come onto the breast chin-first, aiming the nipple to the roof of the mouth when the mouth is open wide. Your baby needs to take a good part of the areola tissue (darker in colour) into their mouth in order to be properly latched on. Proper positioning (where the nipple goes deep into the baby’s mouth and so is protected at the back of the mouth) can ease the pain of sore nipples and help ensure your baby is getting the proper amount of milk.

Some mothers like to use a breastfeeding cushion to raise their babies to breast height, others use the natural nurturing approach of holding their babies diagonally across their bodies.

Others use the Rugby Hold where the baby's legs lie alongside your hips.