New to Breastfeeding?

If you are new to breastfeeding read on. I wanted to provide a few tips, having breastfed both of my children up until the age of 18 months.

1. I never bothered buying expensive ‘maternity’ clothes. Buying low cut dresses and shirts with buttons is a far more cost effective way of feeding your baby. As well as this it provides far more choice for your wardrobe! Otherwise you can fall into the trap of wearing clothes that just make you look like plain old ‘mum’. Avoid this – you are a yummy mummy, so dress like one!!
2. After being pregnant, giving birth, and then nursing your baby, it can sometimes feel that your body is no longer your own, and a bit mechanical! Its hard not to look in the mirror and feel disconnected with the person staring back at you, especially if you add a few sleepless nights into the mix. Make sure you make time for yourself, and either express some milk, or make an hour or two for yourself in between feeds.I would make the mistake of not doing anything because I was worried about the need to feed! It’s important to have a bit of time for yourself if you can, even if it just allows you to walk to the shop and get some air.
3. Invest in a scarf and/or poncho. I found these really useful when feeding out in public!
4. Don’t feel embarrassed about nursing your baby in public, and don’t let friends or family impact on your decision to feed out in public either. You’re doing the most natural thing in the world, and during my time feeding in public, I did not once have a complaint. I think most of the population is behind those breastfeeding mum’s. And to be honest, the one’s that aren’t are the one’s with the problem!!!
5. Instead of spending out a lot of money for hideous looking bras, I bought the wireless ones from Primark for £2.50! They were just as comfortable, and I didn’t have any issues wearing them. I still inserted breastfeeding pads inside, and can thankfully say I had no leakages! Better still they looked better then the maternity bras.