Nursing tips for new moms come a dime a dozen and can get a little confusing. That’s because some of those pieces of advice contradict each other. The best breastfeeding tips for new moms take their current family life and physical health into consideration.
First time moms do not need to be overwhelmed with information.
What first time moms need to know about breastfeeding
- First time moms need to know that breastfeeding can start differently for every mom. Some moms do not get to try to breastfeed as soon as the baby is born, for various reasons.
- It is very important for first time moms to know that if they are unable to continue or even begin their breastfeeding journey for any reason, they have not failed. The important thing is that their baby is fed and growing at the appropriate rate.
- First time moms will find it helpful to know that, try as they might, they will sometimes feel overwhelmed by the wealth of breastfeeding information online and offline.
I have listed below the most important tips for successful breastfeeding. Of course, if we counted the number of breastfeeding tips for new moms online, we might hit 200. However these, to me, are the most useful ones that helped me in my own breastfeeding journey.
Disclaimer: At no additional cost to you, I may gain a tiny commission from purchases made through links on this page.
10 tips for successful breastfeeding
- Have a breastfeeding caddy
I made mine up in a matter of minutes. Just throw in all the things you think you might need while you are nursing. It could be anything from nipple cream to your phone charger to a couple of muslins for your baby. They can all go into a simple basket or any other container that is big enough and has a handle.
You’ll be grateful for your breastfeeding caddy when you’ve made yourself comfy for breastfeeding and realize that the item you thought you forgot in the other room is actually right next to you in your caddy!
- Take a breastfeeding course
Taking a good breastfeeding course will give you the opportunity to feel empowered. This is because you will be armed with all the information that you need. You need a course that is thorough and gives you the facts rather than focusing on the possible negatives you might experience while breastfeeding.
The Milkology Ultimate Breastfeeding Class is an awesome online course because it teaches you how milk production works. Understanding that gives you a great starting point in your lactation journey. It goes into detail on positioning options, latching and even expressing and how to store your expressed milk.
It is an excellent course for any mom starting her nursing journey whether it is her first or not. Particularly for the price. It is very good value for your money.
The fact that you do not have to leave your home to take this course makes it even sweeter!
- Drink plenty of water
This is one of the best things you can do for yourself when nursing. It is one of the most important breastfeeding tips for new moms. In breastfeeding, you are naturally losing a lot of your fluids to your baby and you must continue to replenish those fluids throughout the day.
Also, it is very unlikely that you will be producing good quality milk if you are yourself dehydrated.
- Make sure you are well fed
Just as important as making sure that you are well-watered, you must make sure you are also eating properly. This is not just about quantity but also quality.
READ: The best late night snacks for breastfeeding moms
- Good breastfeeding chair or support
Trust me, your back will thank you for this. It is something I did not think about before my first child and it took me a long time to sort it out. I’m still dealing with the back pain from that time to this day.
Your back needs support because you will be in sitting nursing positions very often. You cannot always lay down to breastfeed. A chair specifically for breastfeeding is ideal to have in your room or wherever you tend to nurse your baby most frequently.
- Get a nursing pillow
This will help with your positioning but it is especially important because it will help you by lessening the stress or pressure on your back and shoulder muscles when holding your baby to nurse them. Particularly as they get out of those newborn months and get to be heavier.
- Invest in a few nursing-friendly tops
There are button-up shirts and then there are tops and dresses made specifically to facilitate breastfeeding. Invest in a couple of those. You don’t want to be caught out in public in something that is really difficult to nurse in whether you have a cover up or not.
Make sure they are the type that you can continue to wear even after you have completed your nursing journey.
- Nurse more to prevent drop in supply
Nursing is about demand and supply. Of all the breastfeeding tips for new moms out there, this is probably the one that you may hear these least of. Well, I was told this very few times anyway. It is important to know so that you do not give up if you ever feel like your supply is dwindling. Just keep going with the nursing if this ever happens. Just keep going.
RELATED: Breastfeeding tips for producing more milk
- Hair band tracking
You will hear how important it is for you to drain each breast before nursing from the other. How do you keep track of which boob you last nursed from? This handy trick is a free and simple one that you can manage even when you’re half asleep!
When you finish nursing from your left boob and you think it is drained, for example, put a hair tie or hair band on your left wrist as a reminder to yourself that you last fed from your left breast.
- Think about them
You know how you hear some moms say they feel their milk coming in when they think of their babies or hear a stranger’s baby cry? It’s real and it is very helpful for when you are starting to nurse your baby and want your milk to come.
Focus on your baby’s face. Think about all the wonderful ways in which you love them and that will help with your milk let-down reflex.
These, in my opinion, are the best tips for successful breastfeeding.
What are the best breastfeeding tips for new moms that you have heard?
0
278
