Ten Must Haves for Nursing Moms

thing breastfeeding moms need

You are beginning a beautiful new journey with your baby. Breastfeeding will nurture her and allow the two of you to bond. Establishing a nursing relationship may come very naturally or may take a lot of work, especially for first-time moms. These ten products will make breastfeeding easier, particularly if you are very active or plan to return to work after your maternity leave.

1. Nursing bras and nursing pads. Nursing bras are more comfortable for breastfeeding moms than ordinary bras and provide easy access to your breasts. Parents Magazine recommends buying three or four nursing bras of different colors. Nursing pads fit inside of your bra cup and absorb leaking milk, preventing embarrassing stains on your shirt (Richards, 2012).

2. Nursing tops. Unless you plan on running around in a nursing bra the entire time you breastfeed your baby, you need to purchase a few nursing tops. They are designed to allow you to nurse inconspicuously without revealing too much skin. A good alternative to nursing tops are button up shirts.

3. Nursing pillow(s). Nursing pillows (Boppy pillows) fit around your waist and are created specifically for making babies comfortable. They keep your infant positioned at your breast and are convenient because you don’t have to support the baby’s head while nursing. Isabella Knox, a doctor at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, says this about nursing pillows, “The general idea is: you bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby. That way, mom doesn’t have to contort herself to get into the baby’s mouth” (WebMd, 2012).

4. Breast pump. Having a breast pump is essential if you plan to go back to work, leave the house for over two hours without your baby, or travel. On top of that, breast pump is the best solution to relieve engorged breasts. Pumping can also stimulate breasts and increase milk production if you have low milk supply and the stimulation from your baby is not sufficient.

5. Nursing cover. Nursing cover is designed to cover your chest and your baby while you nurse to give you some privacy. It can be irreplaceable for active, on-the-go moms who frequently nurse in public. Some babies don’t like nursing covers and will refuse to breastfeed. It may help to experiment with different types of nursing covers to find the one that your baby is comfortable with.

6. A couple of bottles for breastfed babies. Even if you plan on breastfeeding exclusively, it is best to buy a couple of bottles that are specifically designed for breastfed babies. If you are not available to feed your baby, he is not going to wait. These bottles have slow flow nipples and the shape of the nipple mimics mom’s breast, so they are unlikely to cause nipple confusion. They are usually more expensive than ordinary bottles, but are well worth it, especially if you plan to nurse your baby for an extended period of time.

7. Milk storage bags. Milk storage bags are designed to store breast milk and are very convenient if you produce more milk than your baby needs, prefer to bottle-feed in public or plan on returning to work. Milk storage bags can be laid flat in the freezer or stored in the refrigerator upright.

8. A cooler bag. These cooler bags are smaller than a regular lunchbox and are designed specifically to store baby bottles. They are very convenient for transporting frozen breast milk or freshly pumped bottled milk.

9. Nipple cream. Nipple cream is a must have when you first begin to breastfeed – it moisturizes and heals irritated and cracked nipples. It is lanolin based and you don’t have to wash it off before nursing your baby.

10. Prenatal vitamins or nursing vitamins with Omega-3. Nursing provides the best nutrition for your infant and it makes sense to capitalize on that by continuing to take your prenatal vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Parents Magazine; Jennifer Richards (2012). 14 Things You Didn’t Know About Breastfeeding.

Retrieved on July 2, 2012 from http://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/problems/breastfeeding-soothing-solutions/#page=10 .

WebMD. (2012). Breastfeeding: 11 Things That Can Help. Retrieved on July 2, 2012 from

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/breastfeeding-items-that-may-help

Thank You Thursdays: Hot Mama Gowns

***UPDATE: We had an issue with our servers last night :-(  It deleted your comments but we have them recorded and you will still be credited for them. Also, have extended our giveaway by 24 hours to accommodate anyone who couldn’t enter.

***UPDATE: Congrats to Laiken G for winning a Hot Mama Gowns!!!!

Happy Thank You! Thursday!!! Today, we are SO proud to offer you something from our friends at Hot Mama Gowns. Hot Mama Gowns are SUPER stylish, 100% organic cotton hospital gowns that make breastfeeding easy and discreet.

The hot mama behind Hot Mama Gown is Deidra and we couldn’t be more thankful that she gives mamas all around the world the luxury of looking FAB during the childbirth. I even ROCKED my very own Hot Mama gown during the birth of my son eight months ago.

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You! Lingerie founder, Uyo, wearing her Hot Mama Gown

One lucky Mama will win a Hot Mama Gown . To enter, use the widget below to “like” Hot Mama Gowns on Facebook and tell us why you’re a Hot Mama and which Hot Mama Gown is your favorite in the comments below (You can see the collection here: Hot Mama Gowns Shop). Earn more chances to win by “liking” You! Lingerie, “liking” this blog post below and more. Open to Mamas in the U.S. only. Contest ends August 3, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Be sure to check back to find out if you are a winner and remember our basic rules apply.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are chosen as a winner, we will send you an email alerting you of your winnings. If we do not hear back from you within 48 hours, we will pick another winner.

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Hold On, Baby: Getting Your Little One To Latch On

When you first bring your baby home, you may find that he is having trouble nursing. At this stage, most difficulties that babies have stem from latch-on problems. This can be stressful for mom and baby, but if your baby is healthy, there is no need to worry – there are proven ways to correct his latch.

To get your baby to latch on properly, follow these guidelines from La Leche League – a nonprofit organization that advocates nursing and offers breastfeeding support. First, position your baby comfortably and tickle her lips with your breast. This will encourage her to open her mouth. When she starts rooting, insert your nipple into your baby’s mouth aiming towards the roof of her mouth and bring her rapidly towards your breast. If her nose is touching your breast, at least ½ inch of your breast is in her mouth, and you hear her swallowing – you have accomplished a good latch (La Leche League, 2012). Pain-free breastfeeding is another sign of a good latch – nursing should not hurt.

To rectify common latch problems, you may need to:

  • Make sure your breasts aren’t engorged. According to Dr. Sears, when your breasts are engorged, the baby cannot get enough of the breast tissue into his mouth to compress the milk sinuses and his sucking stimulates more milk to enter the breast while he is unable to empty it, which further engorges it (Sears, Sears, Sears, & Sears, 2003). You may have to express a little milk with a breast pump or by hand first to make sure that the baby can get a good hold of your nipple.

  • Try different nursing holds. Babies are different and may need to lay a certain way to be able to latch on well. Experiment with different holds, like the football hold, the cradle hold or the cross-cradle hold until you find the one that works best for your baby.

  • If your baby continues to have trouble latching on, call a certified lactation consultant. She will meet with you at home or at her office and will guide you through the process by helping you position your infant, observing how the baby latches on and suggesting how you can correct her latch. Most likely, by the end of the visit, your little one will nurse like a pro.

Some infants have trouble latching on due to various health conditions, such as developmental problems, illness or difficulty breathing. If your baby doesn’t want to open her mouth wide enough to nurse, doesn’t seem to get any milk or you suspect that she is having trouble breathing with her mouth full, contact your pediatrician and notify your lactation consultant if you are working with one. Ultimately, most latch problems are easily corrected with practice or with a help of your lactation consultant.

La Leche League. (2012, May 29). LLLI- How do I position my baby? Retrieved July 1, 2012, from La Leche

League: http://www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html

Sears, W., Sears, M., Sears, R., & Sears, J. (2003). The Baby Book. New York: Hachette Book Group.

4 Tips for Nursing in Public

Ecard on Breastfeeding in PublicWhile nursing in public is often criticized, this criticism is unfounded and stems mainly from people’s cultural beliefs. Breastfeeding in public is legal in the United States, regardless of where you are1. Because nursing is the primary function of your breasts, and hungry babies are impatient and will not wait to get home to eat, you should nurse your baby when she needs it, even if you are at the mall. That being said, it helps to always offer her your breast before leaving home.

Unless you stay home throughout your entire nursing relationship, you will undoubtedly have to nurse in public every now and then. If you are uncomfortable with public breastfeeding, here are a few ideas that will make it easier.

  • Always wear a nursing top and a nursing bra when going out with your infant, even if you don’t plan on being out long – you never know when your baby is going to need a meal. Having easy access to your breasts is key. People will look at you, and having to pull your shirt up and get your breast to come out of a full coverage bra can be quite awkward. Nursing bras have convenient snaps on their straps and nursing tops are usually looser and are designed to provide quick access, so you will reveal surprisingly little skin.
  • Keep a nursing cover in your diaper bag. If you are not comfortable with passers by looking at your baby while he is eating his lunch, you can try using a nursing cover. Some babies are principally against them though.
  • Keep a Boppy pillow in the car. Nursing in the back seat of your car at a grocery store parking lot can be very convenient, especially if you have a Boppy pillow – a “U”-shaped pillow that fits around your waist. It allows your baby to get comfortable and gives your arms a break.
  • La Leche League suggests being on the lookout for convenient spots to breastfeed your baby when arriving at a new public place. It will save you the hassle of running around with a crying infant, looking for a perfect place to nurse2.

All other things aside, your baby’s health and well-being are most important, regardless of who is looking at you and what they may be thinking.

 

1Anne Robb Pugliese. (2000, December). LLLI-Breastfeeding in Public. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from, La Leche League: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbnovdec00p196.html
2 Michaelene Gerster Trocola. (2005, December). LLLI-Breastfeeding in Public. Retrieved July 30, 2012, from La Leche League: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbnovdec05p238.html

 

Thank You Thursdays: Undercover Mama

***UPDATE: Congrats to Jessica M for winning our Undercover Mama Giveaway!!!

Happy Thank You! Thursday!!! Today, we are proud to offer something from our friends at Undercover Mama. Undercover Mama is the maker of nursing undershirts that turn any shirt into a modest nursing shirt. This ingenious patent pending creation was developed by partners Elisa Op’t Hof and Elena Leppard.

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The Undercover attaches directly to any bra (including your favorite nursing bra brand, em, ahem…cough), keeping your stomach, back, and sides covered when you nurse. Undercover Mama is the stylish and affordable alternative to an expensive breast feeding wardrobe.

How to Use an Undercover Mama Undercover with Your Favorite Nursing BraOne lucky Mama will win an Undercover Mama . To enter, use the widget below to “like” Undercover Mama on Facebook and tell us your favorite Undercover Mama nursing cover you would match with your favorite You! Lingerie bra in the comment section (You can see the collections here: Undercover Mama Shop and You! Lingerie Shop)Earn more chances to win by “liking” You! Lingerie, “liking” this blog post below,  joining our You! newsletter and Undercover Mama mailing list. Open to Mamas in the U.S. only. Contest ends July 20, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Be sure to check back to find out if you are a winner and remember our basic rules apply.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are chosen as a winner, we will send you an email alerting you of your winnings. If we do not hear back from you within 48 hours, we will pick another winner.

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