Breast feeding tips

I've only been breast feeding for about 2.5 weeks and I've had some struggles. I'm not writing this as an expert. I'm writing this from my experience in the very very beginning (which I have found it difficult to find information about how to handle the very beginning g of motherhood)



- the football hold was the only thing that worked for me in the beginning... Selfishness took over and me and Adeline figured out how to make the cradle hold work for us (much more comfy and relaxing ) my wrists were killing me with the football hold!

- I love the boob pillow! Ok it's called utterly yours and you put it under your boob and it helps make it a little easier to bf one handed (in my opinion)


-Don't be afraid to use the nipple shield. I have a love/hate relationship with it. But ultimately my love for it wins. Without it my nipples cracked and hurt. Also Adeline and I are a little more sloppy when we don't use it.

- if you have to supplement like I did (she lost too much weight) for a little bit, and your baby fights "the boob" like mine did, keep trying, don't give up. She now goes between bottle and nipple like a champ! I was so close to giving up and just exclusively pumping, but I kept trying and every feeding she fought less and less.

- make sure your comfortable, then have baby latch. Sometimes Adeline can eat for 30 minutes.. If I'm not comfortable it feels like an eternity.

- drink 8 ounces of water every time you nurse! At least! I have never been more thirsty in my life! My lips are constantly chapped and my mouth always dry! I can guzzle 20 ounces in a sitting no problem!! The problem is refilling it and having it near me wherever I am! But seriously drink 8 oz every time you nurse if not more!

- shower/bathe daily. I don't always wash my hair or shave but I do always wash my body. I feel like I always smell like milk and bathing helps that, also my hormones have me dripping in sweat in the middle of the night ( and freezing 5 minutes later). It just helps with sanity all around to bathe.

- nursing tanks and zip up hoodies are what I live in. Oh and pj pants! I never realized with nursing how normal shirts would just be really inconvient!

- sometimes baby's want to eat every 20 minutes.. No joke. Let them, and they may surprise you with a 4 hour sleep streak in the middle if the night!