5 Breastfeeding Tips that Every Nursing Mom Needs to Know
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Here are 5 simple tips, that every nursing mom should know.
- When your milk comes in…
When your milk comes in, you are likely to experience engorgement. Your breasts may feel firm, larger than normal, and heavy with milk. Don’t worry, your body will begin to self-regulate within 1-4 days and your milk flow will adjust to your baby’s needs. You may need to pump a few ounces to give yourself relief….but don’t empty your breasts fully, because that will signal your body to create MORE milk.
- Ways to soothe engorgement.
When breast fullness is not relieved, additional fluid builds up and breast tissue may become inflamed. When this occurs, you may feel swelling in your armpit region. To relieve this swelling, you should apply a cool compress the affected area. When it’s time to nurse, apply a warm compress to your breast prior to feeding, this softens your breast, so your baby can latch on more easily. We offer a BPA free breast soothie for moms struggling with engorgement.
- If you’ll be away from your baby, get a good breast pump.
Hand pumps are fine and can be extremely convenient for expressing milk when you’re on the go, but they’re meant for occasional use. Realistically, they’re not as sophisticated as some of the electric pumps and could lead to nipple damage and potentially reduce milk flow over time for a variety of reasons. So be sure to invest in a quality pump.
- How to prevent breast conditions.
There are a few things you can do to prevent clogged milk ducts. Be sure to avoid tight restrictive clothing and when you nurse or pump, always empty your breasts as much as possible. In addition, do your best to maintain a routine feeding schedule; this is particularly important during holidays or other active times. Using your LatchPal as a nursing reminder clip, will help you remember which side you nursed from last.
- Oversupply can cause colic.
If your child is constantly hungry, fussy, gassy, and showing signs of reflux after eating; s/he might be struggling with colic. Interestingly, this often occurs when a mom has an overactive let-down. When a baby can’t keep up with the rate a mom’s milk is dispensed, the baby may be forced to eat a lot very quickly, which ultimately causes discomfort. Pay careful attention to your child’s cues, so you know if s/he is full or simply needs a break.
Written by Melissa LaHann, Founder and CEO of Happy Fig, LLC
Like many moms before her, Melissa cradled her hungry, crying baby as she clumsily adjusted her bra and sat uncomfortably holding up her shirt. Before she knew it, her baby was squirming, her shirt was falling, and the nursing session was interrupted. She needed a better solution, so she created LatchPal, the first nursing clip of its kind.
LatchPal is a breastfeeding shirt clip that holds up a mother’s shirt during breastfeeding. It eliminates shirt re-positioning and feeding disruptions, and helps a mom nurse hands-free in comfort to maximize milk flow. LatchPal was designed with moms in mind. The multi-use solution only requires one hand to latch. It’s a must-have breastfeeding accessory and essential for post-partum moms, pumping moms, and nursing in public.
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