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Breastfeeding top tips By ThinkBaby |  | |
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Your midwife, breastfeeding consultant and ThinkBaby can help you with the basics of finding a good latch-on position and getting started with breastfeeding, but ThinkBaby members have put their heads together with the experts' to offer you the wisdom of their collective experience.
1) Get support - the more support you have from those around you, the longer you're likely to keep breastfeeding. It's a fact. Enlist the support of your: midwife, breastfeeding counsellor, partner, trusted friends and local breastfeeding support group. Make sure they know how long you intend to keep breastfeeding so they can help see you through the difficult parts with encouragement. And don't forget the other mums on the ThinkBaby forum are always on hand for advice and support.
2) Eat well, take on fluids & snack - if you're breastfeeding you should forget the word 'diet': you need extra calories to keep your strength up. In fact, doctors recommend that nursing mums take on an extra 500 calories a day, but you'll want to take these on through healthy sources, so sticking to the nutrition guides you followed during pregnancy is a good idea.
You'll also need to keep your fluids and energy up during a feed, a healthy snack & plenty of water kept on hand will help you through.
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3) Ease sore & cracked nipples - these are a common problem for nursing mums, particuarly in the early weeks. You can reduce soreness by expressing a little milk pre-feed and spreading it over your nipples. Health providers do not recommend nipple shields as they can reduce milk supply by decreasing the stimulation the breast receives, also babies may get used to the nipple shields and need to be weaned off them. However, several ThinkBaby mums have found nipple shields helpful in allowing them to continue breastfeeding. Lanolin-based creams are soothing and also very popular with ThinkBaby mums who have suffered in the early weeks of feeding.
4) Easing mastitis - if you're unlucky enough to develop the infection of mastitis it's not just antibiotics that can help: chilled Savoy cabbage leaves placed over your breasts or in your bra cups will help soothe the pain. It sounds loopy but several ThinkBaby mums can vouch for its effectiveness.
5) Put baby & self first - try not to worry about other people and their convenience when feeding. Your baby's nutrition comes first, so feed whenever and wherever you feel comfortable. If that means whipping your breasts out - discreetly of course - when you're in a cafe, on a train, or in any other public place, then go ahead. And don't feel you have to shut yourself off in a dingy loo to feed your child.
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6) Peace and quiet - A bit of peace and quiet can help you settle into feeding and give you a chance to use feeding time as a time to relax, so helping your milk production. Finding said peace and quiet can be difficult when subsequent children come along, but if you've got a busy household then putting your feet up for a feed can be a golden opportunity for rest. It's also a great excuse for getting rid of guests who've outstayed their welcome!
7) Pillow support - it can be difficult to find a comfortable feeding position that you can settle down to for the whole feed. A support pillow can help with this. Some mums find normal pillows fine, but many ThinkBaby mums strongly recommend special banana-shaped nursing pillows, particularly when breastfeeding after a caesarian section.
8) Invest in a breastpump - these are great to help with expressing. If you're planning on going back to work, or you just want someone else to be able to feed your baby occasionally while still breastfeeding, then you'll find a breastpump a huge boon. They're available in electrical or hand operated form, and once you get over the feeling of being pumped like a dairy cow you'll value the limited, but vital, measure of independence from your baby they bring.
9) Persevere - Breastfeeding can be hugely rewarding for you, as well as giving your baby a great start in life, but it isn't always easy and no-one knows that better than the other ThinkBaby breastfeeding mums. Their advice is to not give up at the first hurdle and take heart from the fact that most mums find it difficult and struggle at times, particularly with soreness at the outset, but it does get easier and when it does, it's great!
Have your say!
These tips were taken from numerous forum threads on the ThinkBaby forum and from emails from members. If we haven't covered your top tip for successful breastfeeding then why not add it to the forum thread below and help out other mums?
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| | Discuss this article, 1 of 26 messages, read more: |  Maria | |
| Posted: 02/11/05 10:06:13 13 | Hi everyone,
We want to put together some top tips for breastfeeding mums, but not just from feeding experts, from all you real mums too. So if you've got a top tip to pass on to other mums post it down here for inclusion.
Thanks! |
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I suggest this to any mum I talk to... We have one and we readily welcome Mums-to-be with any questions - or even just hoping to get a look at how it's done! With the right suport you should be fine!
, MummyGoth, still breastfeeding Jacob into month 7
