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The Ultimate Guide to Breastfeeding: Tips, Tools, and Hacks

Breastfeeding is a beautiful way to nourish and bond with your baby, but it can come with its share of challenges. From positioning to milk supply, the journey can be full of questions and trial and error. This guide provides a well-rounded look at the essentials for breastfeeding, covering practical tips, must-have tools, and clever hacks that can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable.

1. Getting Started with Breastfeeding: The Basics

The early days of breastfeeding are all about establishing a routine, figuring out positioning, and helping your baby latch effectively.

  • Start As Soon As Possible: If you haven’t had your baby yet, check out our blog post with tips and tricks for preparing to breastfeed while you’re still pregnant.
  • Skin-to-Skin Contact: Start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, if possible, with skin-to-skin contact. This can help stimulate milk production and encourage your baby’s natural instinct to latch. And if baby isn’t quite ready or latching correctly, you can use your hand to express milk (see more about this genius tip below!)
  • Finding a Good Latch: A good latch is key to minimizing discomfort. Your baby should have a wide-open mouth and latch onto both the nipple and a large part of the areola. If latching feels painful after the first few seconds, gently break the suction and try again.
  • Experiment with Positions: There are several breastfeeding positions you can try, including the cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, side-lying, and football hold. Each position offers different support and can relieve pressure on sore spots.

2. Essential Tools for Breastfeeding Success

Having a few key tools on hand can make breastfeeding easier, especially in those early weeks. (Find specific product recommendations at the bottom of this post!)

  • Nursing Pillow: A good nursing pillow supports your baby at the right height, helping to reduce strain on your back, neck, and arms.
  • Breast Pump: Even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, a pump can help if you need to increase your supply or have a stash for when you’re away from your baby. Electric pumps are efficient, but manual pumps are handy for occasional use.
  • Nipple Cream: Soreness is common at the beginning, so keep a safe, soothing nipple cream nearby to help prevent and heal any cracking or irritation.
  • Milk Storage Bags: If you’re pumping, invest in quality, leak-proof milk storage bags. Label each bag with the date, so you can use the oldest milk first.
  • Nursing Bras and Pads: Nursing bras offer easy access, and nursing pads can help absorb any leaks. Washable or disposable, these pads can be a lifesaver for your wardrobe!

3. Breastfeeding Tips for Common Challenges

Many moms encounter hurdles along the way. Here are some tips for navigating common breastfeeding issues:

  • Dealing with Low Milk Supply: If you’re concerned about low supply, try nursing more frequently and emptying one breast before switching to the other. Certain foods, called galactagogues (like oats and fenugreek), may help boost supply. Reach out to a lactation consultant for personalized advice.
  • Managing Engorgement: If you feel engorged, try hand-expressing a small amount of milk or use a cold compress to relieve swelling. Warm showers can also help soften the breasts and make feeding easier.
  • Handling Nipple Pain: Ensure your baby’s latch is correct, and give your nipples time to air-dry after each feeding. If pain persists, reach out to a lactation consultant to evaluate your latch and positioning.
  • Addressing Breastfeeding in Public: Practice at home with a cover or in front of a mirror to get comfortable. Many moms find wearing a nursing-friendly top and using a cover (or not!) helps them feed confidently in public.

4. Hacks for a Smoother Breastfeeding Experience

A few simple hacks can make the breastfeeding journey easier and more enjoyable.

  • Track Feedings Easily: Apps like Baby Tracker or feeding log notebooks can help you track feeding times and durations, making it easier to spot patterns and monitor your baby’s intake.
  • Set Up a “Nursing Station”: Have a designated space stocked with essentials like water, snacks, burp cloths, and your phone. This can make those frequent feedings much more comfortable.
  • Use a Haakaa Pump: This silicone pump attaches to one breast to catch milk while you feed on the other, helping you build a stash without extra pumping sessions.
  • Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Keep a large water bottle nearby and stock up on healthy, filling snacks. Hydration and nutrition play a key role in milk production.
  • Keep Burp Cloths Everywhere: Spit-up is part of the deal, so stashing burp cloths in multiple rooms—and even in your car and diaper bag—can help you handle messes on the fly.

5. Taking Care of Yourself While Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is demanding, and taking care of yourself is crucial to maintaining your energy and mental health.

  • Rest When You Can: Sleep when the baby sleeps, and accept help from family and friends when possible. Sleep is vital for milk production and recovery.
  • Eat a Balanced Diet: Aim for a diet rich in protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. You’re feeding both yourself and your baby, so try to fuel up with nutrient-dense foods.
  • Consider Joining a Breastfeeding Support Group: Many new moms find it helpful to share experiences and learn from others. Look for online or local groups where you can ask questions, get advice, and find support from those who understand what you’re going through. (New Mom School offers free breastfeeding support classes! Find a location near you here.)

6. Knowing When to Seek Help

It’s normal to need extra help with breastfeeding, especially in the early weeks. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a lactation consultant if you’re experiencing issues with latching, supply, or any other concerns. Lactation consultants offer professional support, often providing personalized guidance and hands-on assistance to make breastfeeding a positive experience.

NEW MOM SCHOOL RECOMMENDED BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES

  • New Mom School’s FREE Breastfeeding Support Classes (open to anyone!). Find our locations here.
  • Droplet: We know that making plenty of milk is the key to successful breastfeeding. But did you know that the first hour after delivery is the most effective time to begin? Discover the best tool to begin breastfeeding: your hands.

  • New Mom School’s in-house expert in Newport, CA, Shelly Jacobs, is an incredible resource – not only because of her expertise but also because she struggled to breastfeed herself. She gets it! Check out her website, sign up for her emails, book time with her (IRL or online) and check out her digital “Early Milk Matters” course.
  • Breastfeeding parents rave about Milkology. The site features a huge freebie library packed with checklists, cheat sheets, guides, printables, and more.
  • La Leche League is the OG of support for breastfeeding parents. The organization promotes breastfeeding worldwide and helps parents to breastfeed through support, encouragement, information and online education. Their popular local breastfeeding support group meet-ups have gone virtual–simply check the organization’s Facebook page to find one local to your area.
  • With over 100,000 members, the Milky Mamas Breastfeeding Support Group on Facebook is another great place to ask questions, share your struggles and get support from other breastfeeding parents.

NEW MOM SCHOOL BREASTFEEDING PRODUCT PICKS

We hope we’ve given you the tools and resources to have a successful breastfeeding journey, but we also recognize it’s not in the cards for every mom. (Check out Alex’s story.) Sometimes it just doesn’t work out, no matter how badly a mom wants it. AND. THAT’S. OKAY. Remember it’s not an either-or choice. Doing a combination of breastfeeding and formula-feeding is an option, too! (Learn more about that here.) And if that doesn’t work out either, remember “fed is best.” And, you’re a great mom in a million ways. Don’t ever forget that!