I wanted to write these breastfeeding tips for new mothers because I believe that in order to be successful and get through those first difficult weeks, you NEED to be educated.
While breastfeeding is natural, meaning something that nature intended, it definitely doesn’t FEEL natural at first.
Four in 10 breastfeeding mothers stop before their baby reaches 6 months old.
Try different positions.
Your baby might like a certain hold better. You might too.
Expect it to hurt.
I know this sounds like a terrible tip, but KNOWING that it will hurt, is so helpful.
Relax.
Being tense while you’re breastfeeding can affect your letdown and can cause you to have lots of shoulder, neck and back aches and pains.
Have a support team.
It’s a miracle that I made it through the beginning of breastfeeding.
Use a nipple shield sparingly.
Nipple shields are a great thing. They helped my second child get a deeper latch.
Unlatch if necessary.
If your baby didn’t latch well, unlatch and retry.
Use nipple cream EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Keep a tube of nipple cream everywhere.
Don’t wash your nipples.
Washing your nips can cause drying and cracking. Just rinse them with water.