GETTING ORGANIZED FOR NEW BABY: BREASTFEEDING TIPS
- Ask your childbirth instructor if the hospital has a lactation consultant to help you get started.
- Make sure the baby latches on to your breast properly for your comfort and baby's effective feeding.
- Know how to monitor your baby's intake and output so you become confident in your ability to nourish your baby.
- Get support to help you manage and prevent problems.
- Expose your nipples to air or light to toughen them. Let breast milk dry on your nipples to lubricate them and prevent infection.
- Consider purchasing the following supplies:
Nursing bras: Be professionally fitted at a maternity shop, and purchase the bras toward the end of your pregnancy.
Nursing pads: Disposable nursing pads are available. Less-expensive alternatives include cut-up diapers and cut-up sanitary pads. Washable pads are also available at most maternity shops. Less-expensive alternatives include men's handkerchiefs, cut-up toweling, and dishcloths.
Waterproof pads: Protect your mattress against stains created by leakage at night.
Supplies for expressing milk:
- Pump (electric or manual)
- Bottles and nipples
- Breast milk storage bags or bottles for freezing
- Practice nursing discreetly so you can feel confident and relaxed about feeding your baby whenever and wherever he or she is hungry. If you like, carry a small blanket for extra coverage when nursing in public.
- Wear clothes that are convenient for breastfeeding:
Separates (One-piece outfits, as well as some jumpers and overalls, require disrobing to nurse.)
Easy-care fabrics (You'll be more relaxed about nursing if you're not worried about wrinkles, stains, and so on.)
Prints (Patterns hide leaks better than solid colors.)
Soft, light- or middle-weight fabrics (Scratchy, heavy, or bulky fabrics can be difficult to maneuver and/or uncomfortable for you and baby.)
Stretchy fabrics (If a shirt has some elasticity, you can position it as you like, and it'll stay put.)
Loose or oversize shirts (You can drape the extra fabric as you like to provide coverage.) Front-buttoning shirts or dresses (You can unbutton just a couple of bottom or middle buttons to nurse with minimal exposure.)
Any front-opening shirt that can be worn over another shirt (For example, in the winter, you might wear a zip-front vest over a turtleneck. To nurse, you unzip the vest and lift the turtleneck. The vest keeps your exposed midriff warm and provides side coverage when nursing in public.)
Clothes designed especially for breastfeeding, with strategic openings for easy and discreet nursing.
*28/292/5*
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