All the things you wish your big sister told you to get you started on your nursing journey, below.
Isn’t nursing supposed to be that all-natural, instinctive, and super-easy way to feed your baby? Ha! Although it eventually becomes second-nature, having the proper support to get your started is really important. We’ve gathered some hard-accumulated wisdom here; share your best tips in the comments!
- Latch:
Getting your baby properly latched is key! If your baby latches correctly from day one, baby will be able to get milk effectively and you’ll have less initial pain. Get support for this! Especially if it’s your first baby, getting a proper, full latch is less instinctive than you think. Ask your postpartum nurses, find a lactation consultant, do whatever you need to do to make sure your baby is latched well. *Tip: some babies are born with a slightly recessed jaw. To help baby latch properly, you can gently put a finger on their chin to pull their mouth open wide as they latch.
- Positioning:
Positioning goes hand-in-hand with latch. If you’re holding your baby correctly and positioning yourself correctly, this will be so much easier! While you may want to ask the hospital staff or a lactation consultant to help you position properly, make sure in any position you choose that you’re bringing the baby up to you (shop nursing pillows below for help!) rather than leaning down. Different positions work better for different women, so try different options to find your favorite. Make sure your baby’s tummy is against your body so their head/neck/trunk are aligned.
- Supply:
Ah, the worst! Postpartum may not be the best time to start a diet. Your nutrition directly impacts your supply, so grab a water bottle and a snack… you’re going to be hungry. It can take a few days after giving birth for your milk to come in, and your baby may want to nurse and nurse and nurse…and nurse. This non-stop cluster-feeding is exhausting, but think of it as your baby telling your body to produce milk. Wanting to nurse often can be a good sign! If you’re worried about your supply or if your baby is getting enough milk, reach out to your pediatrician.
- Pain:
Discomfort in the beginning is normal, especially if baby had a hard time latching. Make sure your latch is good, moisturize with lanolin, and do your best to nurse through it. The discomfort usually peaks during your baby’s first week and only gets easier with time. Many people find that Silverettes/ Silver cups worn the first few weeks are a life saver. If you feel the pain is more than discomfort it’s best to check with a doctor or a lactation consultant if you have an infection.
- Engorgement:
On the topic of pain, engorgement can happen any time, but it’s most likely to happen as your milk transitions from colostrum to mature milk in the first 2-5 days. One technique to help milk flow and baby latch better is called Reverse Pressure Softening – it involves gently, but firmly massaging outwards to soften the tissue. Any warm or red pain and tenderness in the breast, may be a sign of an infection and must be treated immedietly.
- Pumping:
In the beginning, you don’t need to pump (unless advised by your care team, or you specifically want to!). Your baby can stimulate milk production and effectively empty you. Eventually, you’ll want to start pumping a bit so baby learns to take a bottle, but that doesn’t have to be another thing you’re taking care of immediately postpartum.
What’s most important is a happy Mommy and a happy baby. So reach out for support if you need it, and don’t forget that fed is best!
- Is your baby having trouble nursing – What is Tongue-Tie?
- Nursing Moms Who Work Out of the Home – Eight Tips
not a great name, but I loved the my brest friend nursing pillow (that’s how it’s spelled)
https://amzn.to/4aAvDcv
it goes all the way around and has a comfortable arm rest. i found that the boppy slid down after a while
Thats funny. it didnt work for me. the Boppy worked better. I guess i was too short. i found it too big for and my baby was too high…
The best pump is the Zomee wearing pump!!!!!!! it goes into your bra while pumping so your hands free…
It didn’t work for me. You can’t see where to position it so you don’t know if it’s really centered or not until you take it off.
Anyone ever have a mastitis infection that turned into an abscess? I had to stop nursing at 6 weeks after a long recovery and wondering if anyone knows the chances of it recurring now that I’m expecting and hoping to nurse. Any information wouid be helpful.
Yes, I did have mastitis and an abscess. I actually treated it naturally and continued nursing afterwards. But regardless of how you treated it, I dint think it sold be an issue for future babies. The real question is what caused the mastitis? With Well latched healthy nursing babies it should not be an issue, so it’s worth exploring whether there was an undiagnosed latch issue, or tongue tie etc to reduce your chances of another infection.
Madela swing maxi is amazing!! its hands fee, but not wearable (meaning it has a separate motor that you can wear on a lanyard) gone are the days of holding bottles!! and your not connected to the wall!!
Also SILVERETTEs are known to be super helpful in the beginning between feedings… expensive bec. real silver…
Agreed! My breast friend is the best pillow! My lactation consultant recommended it and I never looked back! I also find a pump bra very helpful because then you can pump handsfree
https://shopstyle.it/l/clUWv
These really can relieve engorment pain and discomfort with the hot and cold option.
https://shopstyle.it/l/clUVl
These are amazing for the first few days of recovery.
Very helpful for new moms… nipple shields. Put some of baby’s saliva on yourself before applying. Helps for pain and to get nursing started.
Reason for saliva is your body reads your baby’s needs and adjust the milk.
Yes! Hashem made our bodies incredibly.
Another helpful tip is to know nursing is hard at the start! It just is. Keep going you got this!
My baby had a very hard time latching in the beginning and the lactation consultant in the hospital gave me a nipple shield to use but we both became too used to it (he was my first) and I never really figured out how to nurse without it… so just be careful that you don’t become too reliant on the shield and that your baby can latch without it. It also can affect your supply because the suck is not as strong directly on the breast
I had same with my first in the hospital. It was yom tov, so I had nobody to ask. I was completely reliant on shield for the next 5 weeks. Then I actually called down a lactation consultant from the WIC office who came to my house free of charge and helped me latch on a few times without it. BH never went to shield again
easynurse works way better than lanolin. a game changer!
Love my breast friend!
If you have any doubts about nursing it is worth every dollar for a lactation consultant to give peace of mind because what they teach you can help you for a year or however long you plan to nurse!
Tips on nursing nicu babies please
Please send exclusive pumping tips too bc nursing doesn’t always work out…
Remember fed is best and there is no pressure to nurse you are a great mom if nursing doesn’t work out.
Something really important to bring up here is tongue tie. Lots of babies are born with tongue ties, and it makes nursing much harder. If you’re positioned correctly and baby is still having a hard time latching, get him/her checked out for a tongue tie. Clicking while nursing, a high palate, and a callous at the center of baby’s top lip are all also signs that a tongue tie may be present. Hospital lactation consultants don’t always pick up on it (nor do pediatricians, to be honest). Seek out a lactation consultant who is familiar with tongue ties and make sure you advocate for yourself!
Yes! I had 3 tongue tied babies and the hospital staff missed two of them. Getting their tongues clipped was a game changer. If you’re doing all the right things and still struggling reach out to a lactation consultant. It’s a relatively easy procedure that can make the world of a difference if needed.
Two more signs of tongue tie – the baby’s tongue looks white. I was in so much pain and my baby’s tongue was white long after he finished nursing – I was sure it was thrush but it was milk residue. When baby’s tongue is unable to touch the roof of his mouth, this results in the lack of friction which causes a buildup of milk residue.
When the baby finishes nursing your skin is white and/or pinched or flattened on one side – like the tip of a tube of lipstick.
Another tip: Fed is best!! Don’t drive yourself and your family crazy to nurse if you can’t do it. And don’t feel bad! Not everyone can!
Yes maybe that is what works for you but Hashem created the world that the mother nurses the baby this is a special opportunity for a mother and baby to bond! When else do we get this beautiful gift. So even if it is difficult, push yourself!
This is a really painful comment to make. Hashem made the world so that mothers are meant to nurse, but He also created the potential for bottles and formulas for those who need. I had one child who physically was unable to nurse and bH he was able to take a bottle and eat and grow. Would I have preferred to nurse him? Absolutely. No reason to shame mothers who can’t or babies who can’t.
No. Just no. You are not the boss of nursing to tell people that even if it’s difficult, they should push themselves. That isn’t the correct decision for every mother. Some need to give themselves grace to be the best mother they can be, as long as they’re lovingly feeding their baby. Nobody is required to be a martyr. Hashem gave us wonderful ways of feeding our babies in the 21st century that may not be the same way we had to feed our babies over the ages. Stop adding to the pressure!
Chanchy, I think you left out one thing. Push yourself, only if you can handle it! Balance is important in every area of life. Pushing yourself to do something you cannot handle is a disservice to yourself and the rest of your family, including your sweet little newborn.
Chanchy,
I don’t mean to start a whole discussion on the pros and cons of nursing/fomula feeding. I don’t think anyone will tell you that formula feeding is better. However, for some people it isn’t just hard, its virtually impossible. Please be understanding.
Chanchy and Shira’la I hear you both, but I side with Chanchy. No in a personal way- virtually because it just makes more sense! Though, whatever you choose should be with Sy”d!
I also thought that way. I was BH able to nurse my first five kids with the regular bumps on the road (read- used a nipple shield by one for a while, got really sore and bleeding by another…) However, my sixth was a whole different story. She was low toned and just had a hard time sucking- even bottle feeding was hard initially. I drove myself crazy for three months to get her to nurse- and I succeeded. She BH nursed beautifully for a year. But I also had PPD from not recovering from her birth. If I had to do it again, I would give it a real shot- but recognize my limits and call it quits before it affects my health and my family. There’s nothing quite like nursing a baby- and there’s noting like a healthy Mommy to nurture a baby and the rest of the family.
Hey! I nursed my first kids past a year, my later kids less… My babies BH latched on right away (literally in the delivery room) but after I came home with my eldest I realized every time I sat down to nurse him I would feel this deep intense wave of extreme sadness, aloneness and sometimes fear. It was super sudden and extremely intense. It would completely consume me and then pass… It took me a while to realize the correlation between this wave of sadness and nursing. It wasn’t until my second was born that I finally realized its a real thing! Apparently the fluctuation in hormones caused by milk being let down affects some women in this way. There’s an official name for it, I forgot what. Honestly just understanding what it was coming from helped me face it better. I know now that when I sit down to nurse I will have 2-3 minutes of intense emotional pain and then it will pass. I can literally time it, and knowing it’ll be over and that it’s normal makes such a huge difference. Posting in case this brings anyone relief. May we all be able to feed our babies with abundance and tranquility!
yes Layie!!! I posted this below! Can’t get over how you continued nursing amid going through this!
I’d also like to spread awareness about D-MER, which is dysphoric milk ejection reflex (read more about it here: https://www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/dysphoric-milk-ejection-reflex#symptoms). If you feel very down (emotionally) when your baby latches on, please know it’s a physiological response, and it’s not just in your head. I personally felt like a dementor entered the room (Harry Potter reference iykyk) every time I nursed! You’re not alone and there’s ways to address it. Yes nursing is hard work, but it shouldn’t be horrible! It should ultimately be an incredible experience; you and your baby both deserve it. Please get help if this applies to you! Sending hugs to all!
So validating to read these posts. I can relate to you both so well… Yes, just like dementors… My solution is to half nurse and half formula feed for 6 weeks and that is the absolute maximum I can do whilst prioritizing being emotionally present for my baby, other children, and husband. Sending chizuk and understanding to anyone who might be experiencing this!
Better than lansinoh, or any over the counter cream is… coconut oil!! Smear on your nipples starting from your ninth month or at least once you start nursing. It is life changing and I feel sorry for all those moms in pain who don’t know of this remedy!
Also if you don’t know if you have a yeast or bacterial infection, triple nipple ointment from refua pharmacy in Lakewood is great. You need a script from your baby’s pediatrician. Also side lying nursing is great! You need to lie at an angle between flat on your back and all the way on your side so the babies mouth is level with your nipple.
Westgate pharmacy now also sells the Triple Nipple Cream. It is the best cream out there and provides instant releif for cracked nipples, bleeding and soreness.
Thanks for this article! I’d love to spread awareness about IGT- insufficient glandular tissue (read more about it here: https://llli.org/news/insufficient-glandular-tissue-2/), it’s common amongst women with PCOS but not exclusive to just us. It means that some people are structured in a way that they don’t produce enough milk for their baby. By my first, I was so excited and motivated to nurse and couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working. I tried everything in the book; supplements, pumping round the clock, lactation consultants, etc. My baby was nebach starving! It was really hard to accept, but ultimately I recognized that bH Hakadosh Boruch Hu created formula for this reason and clearly my baby didn’t need to be nursed to maximize his potential, otherwise I’d have full supply. If you are struggling and your baby is hungry, please look into whether you could have IGT, as it’ll save you a lot of heartache! Sending tons of love to all the incredible Yiddishe mamas, no matter what way you nourish your baby!
Oh my gosh , as I was reading the comments I was like, no one mentioned IGT, I have bh 5 beautiful kids and I only found out about my igt problem with my 3rd baby, it was quite a journey to accept that I will never be able to fully breastfeed, but bh I have found ways to breastfeed and increase my supply and be happy that bh formula exist and my babies are always well fed and thriving, if you have igt, you are not alone, I would like to start a support group for Jewish women with IGT, if you are interested please email me : bchaya755 @ gmail.com
Hi!! Another IGT mom here. Alot of people, doctors and even lactation consultants are very not educated about IGT. So thank you for bringing it up!
right E! the first lactation consultant I used hadn’t mentioned it. Many are unfamiliar with it! It was only by my second that a lactation consultant at the hospital told me about it! beautiful ladies, please be your own advocate and bring it up if need be!
I finally figured out that I had IGT by my 7th (!!!!!). I literally tried EVERYTHING in the book till then. It was a very skilled and experienced Lactation Consultant that confirmed my suspicion after I did a ton of research..so yes Thank you Hashem for formula. Otherwise my babies would’ve starved.
Thank you Chaya! I’d also like to spread awareness about D-MER, which is dysphoric milk ejection reflex (read more about it here: https://www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/dysphoric-milk-ejection-reflex#symptoms). If you feel very down (emotionally) when your baby latches on, please know it’s a physiological response, and it’s not just in your head. I personally felt like a dementor entered the room (Harry Potter reference iykyk) every time I nursed! You’re not alone and there’s ways to address it. Yes nursing is hard work, but it shouldn’t be horrible! It should ultimately be an incredible experience; you and your baby both deserve it. Please get help if this applies to you! Sending hugs to all!
I wanted to also let people know – if you are having a supply issue and are on birth control CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR LACTATION CONSULTANT – I lost my supply because I told my doctor I was nursing and wanted birth control. He put me in an estrogen pill – first time mom I was dumb not to research – and I lost my milk. I pumped and nursed every hour. Then my baby was losing weight and I gave up. I never knew till much later it was all due to the birth control…
Please consult a/your LOR before using a lanolin product which does not bear a hechsher..
If you had any metabolic issues during pregnancy or in general (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, diabetes, etc.), please know that research is showing a HUGE link between these issues and low milk supply. There is really not much you can do to build your supply, so don’t make yourself crazy. This was such a relief for me to learn, and I’ve accepted that my babies will need supplemental formula. If you need to supplement with formula, it is really ok! Your baby and you still get all the benefits from nursing so please, please don’t stress out!!
Another vote for coco out oil- works better than the creams and really does wonders to sore nipples !!! Start during your ninth month … a really important tip about latching your baby right : u must use the hand of the side of the breast you want the baby to nurse from to latch him …. So if you wanna nurse the right side u must use the right hand. Most ppl will use the opposite hand and my lactation consultant showed me how when using the right hand you automatically latch your baby much better ….
Just had my third one BH. And I was VERY scared to start nursing. As with my first 2 I had min 2-3 weeks of intense pain, bleeding etc. BH I had a great lactation consultant in the hospital, she listened to my previous experiences, and showed me to latch her on in football position. Once baby is feeding you can switch your hands to whatever is most comfortable for you.
BH it worked!
If you’re already bleeding, for me the only way to heal was nursing with a shield, putting bacitracin on after every feeding and wearing cups ( shells?) with holes so skin can breathe. Only problem was it increased my supply like crazy ( I BH have an oversupply and it comes with its own set of struggles…) But for me it was the only way to heal once it was already bleeding…
Which is the best nursing pump?
Love the swing maxi from Madela!!
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For anyone who’s interested, Dr Jack Newman has an amazing book on breastfeeding: Amazon link here https://amzn.to/42xPrLo. He has a clinic in Canada and responds to email questions (I’ve asked him questions twice). There’s also a website with lots of material on different nursing issues.
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Anybody can recommend a portable pump that u can work with around the house doing chores…prefer discreet and good guality…
Theres an amazing book: “much more than milk”. A must for every nursing mom!
Milkflow really worked for me I definitely had more milk when taking it. I saw a huge difference when pumping. https://a.co/d/bWyZ49T
An Amazing natural remedy for engorgement is cabbage leaves. Put a whole head of green cabbage in your fridge and slide one leaf inside each cup of your bra when you feel engorged. It is so soothing and softens you up almost immediately. Replace the leaves when they feel soft and warm. I have not found that it reduces milk supply at all; it just relieves symptoms. You won’t believe how well it works until you try it! What is also amazing is the niflaos haboreh that it is the perfect size and shape.
Any suggestions of a bottle to use for supplementing nursing? What’s least confusing for baby?
My experience as a mother with igt that totally relies on a bottle was that the least confusing ones were the simple ones, not the fancy ones , watch this video and you will understand what I’m talking about :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZQKFDHyvx4&t=175s&pp=2AGvAZACAQ%3D%3D
Hatzlacha!