Boobies, boobies, boobies!

Now, I don’t claim to be a nursing expert. I’ve only been at it three and a half months, and I’m sure there are other mamas out there with more experience and therefore, sager advice. However, I thought I’d share what has gotten me through the first three months, which are really difficult. It’s tough being the only person who can feed your child, especially when you are sleep deprived and just want to run to the store or take a shower by yourself.

Before I delve into my list of tips, I want to let you know about two products that every nursing mother should have. 


First is a nursing cover from Udder Covers. Sure, it looks like a really stylish apron, but the top has a flexible but sturdy band in it that allows you to see baby while you nurse. You can nurse in private while you are in public!

Second is Baby D drops by Carlson Labs. I've tried giving Baby Tri-Vi-Sol, which should really be renamed Tri-Ur-Luck. It smells awful, and I end up with more of it on me than in the baby because my guess is that it tastes awful, too. Tri-Vi-Sol has vitamins A, C, and D, but baby gets vitamins A and C through your breast milk. The only vitamin that doesn't transfer is D. Put one drop of Baby D drops on your nipple before breast feeding, and baby gets his full 400 IUs of vitamin D for the day. It is tasteless and odorless, and one bottle lasts a whole year.


Now for the tips:

1.) Buy the nursing tank tops at Target. They are great with cardigans or button-downs, as well as underneath regular T-shirts. When you need to nurse in front of other people, when you lift your T-shirt, the tank keeps your midriff covered, while your T-shirt covers the top of your boob. The nursing tanks aren't super supportive, so don't go jogging in them, but I wear a tank almost every day.

2.) When you buy a tank or a nursing top, I recommend the "side sling" instead of the "full sling." This is how your breasts are supported inside the bra/tank. The side sling offers some breast support with much easier access than the full sling. The full sling just leaves holes for your nipples, which makes it hard for mom to control and hard for baby to latch correctly. It's also awkward with a pump. I'm sure bustier ladies need the full sling, but not being terribly well endowed, I enjoy the side sling much better.

3.) Wear a nursing bra or tank to bed with your nursing pads. I just wear the tank I wore during the day to bed (less laundry!). Target also has sleep bras (Gilligan & O'Maley) which I found online. They are a little tight across the back of the shoulders but you just pull each side down as you need it--no clasps or clips to deal with. I bought two packages of two so that I can have several in the laundry before I run out.

4.) Johnson and Lasinoh make really good nursing pads. I tried the organic cotton washable nursing pads, and they just leak right through. You need a pad that will absorb the wetness and wick it away from your skin, because--believe me--there will be milk EVERYWHERE!

5.) If you can find a breast feeding support group, go! I was skeptical at first and didn't really think I needed it, but a fellow mama pushed me to go and I'm so glad I did. The first few weeks I was getting advice from everyone else, and now I'm also giving advice. I always leave there with something valuable, and it's not always about breast feeding.

6.) Take advantage of the lactation consultations in the hospital. We had three different lactation consultants in the hospital and made an office appointment a week after we came home. It was so nice to have the one-on-one. Each consultant offered me a different piece of valuable advice, and I was really glad that I went through the trouble.

7.) Buy The Nursing Mother's Companion. My lactation consultant said it was the best resource out there. I've found it very helpful.

8.) I bought the Medela Swing pump, which does one breast at a time. I chose that one because I'm home with little dude save for two afternoons a week, and because I need to pump while holding Little Dude sometimes, using a double pump didn't make sense to me (plus, it's about $50 cheaper than the double pump). However, if you are going to go back to work, I'd get a double pump and the special bra that allows you to pump hands free. The lactation consultant at the hospital should be able to hook you up with one.

9.) Wait a few weeks after giving birth to invest in a couple of good nursing bras. You don't know what size you'll end up. I did found uber-supportive nursing bras at JCPenney. The selection wasn’t great in terms of colors, but these bras are like a pair of hands supporting you all day. Accessing the nipple and getting baby to latch are more difficult because the bras are stiffer, but if you need extra support, you should give it a try.

10.) Buy a shower caddy and make it your portable nursing station. My husband bought me a shower caddy after the c-section because it was tough getting up and down the stairs. With the caddy, I could carry everything I needed in one hand, and use the other hand to support myself with the banister. Key items include a bottle of water, a snack, a book, your pump, extra breast pads, and eye drops to soothe tired eyes in the middle of the night.

11.) Be prepared to have a midnight snack. For the first couple of months, breast feeding takes so much out of you, so expect to be ravenous when you wake up at 3 a.m. to feed the baby for the third time. I found a cereal bar did the trick for me--it’s portable and doesn’t need to be refrigerated, is quick and easy to eat, and there is no peel or rind to worry about. I also went through about two liters of water each night. After a while, your body adjusts, and you won’t need the snack anymore, but you will need the extra water. 

12.) Say goodbye to your modesty. In the hospital, a nurse mistook my brother for my husband and pulled down my underwear in front of him. The poor guy is scarred for life, but I was so hopped up on drugs that at the time I didn't care. Since I had the baby, so many people have seen my boobs, including my dad and brother (poor guys!). I pump while eating dinner, nurse in the (parked) car, and walk around the house with one forgotten boob sticking out of my shirt. I once even took a picture of myself holding the baby and sent it to my husband while he was at work not realizing that I hadn't put my left boob away. It happens.   

Happy nursing!