{"id":918,"date":"2018-08-02T13:00:40","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T18:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neverdonewithfun.com\/staging\/5228\/?p=918"},"modified":"2019-11-23T12:35:42","modified_gmt":"2019-11-23T18:35:42","slug":"what-every-breastfeeding-mom-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neverdonewithfun.com\/staging\/5228\/2018\/08\/02\/what-every-breastfeeding-mom-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"What Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Breastfeeding<\/a>10 Essentials for Breastfeeding Success<\/em><\/span><\/h6>\n

It\u2019s World Breastfeeding Week and it\u2019s the first one in more than 5 years that I haven\u2019t been either pregnant or nursing someone through. I\u2019m feeling that pang, missing the incredible bond of nursing my babies. Though I wouldn\u2019t go back to those sleepless nights for anything, there was something indescribably peaceful about being awake at 3 AM when the whole world is quiet, feeding your baby in the stillness of the night. It felt like you and your little one were the only two in the world awake.<\/p>\n

But anyone who\u2019s breastfed knows that it\u2019s not all snuggles and sweetness. Breastfeeding remains one of the single hardest things I have done in my life. It\u2019s painful, frustrating, exhausting, beautiful and infinitely rewarding all at the same time.<\/p>\n

Breastfeeding did not come naturally for either of my boys. With Easton, it was painful every single feed until he was 8 weeks old. We saw lactation consultants. We tried new techniques and positions. Many things helped but nothing solved the problem. Then I got a round of mastitis \u2013 a truly humbling experience \u2013 and after that, something changed and suddenly breastfeeding was easier. We kept going until Easton was 17 months old, when he weaned himself.<\/p>\n

With Sawyer, I was prepared for the worst. And yet I wasn\u2019t, because babies always find a way to surprise you. At first, breastfeeding seemed to be going well. My milk came in right away and there was tons of it. But the feeds got progressively more painful and my nipples more damaged. I saw several lactation consultants until one finally diagnosed Sawyer (instantly!) with a lip and tongue tie. He was 8 weeks old.<\/p>\n

We got his ties revised and continued our breastfeeding journey, but the pain persisted. I\u2019m incredibly stubborn, so I persisted too. Somewhere around 5 months old, the pain finally went away. (Our LC theorized that his mouth was finally a right size to eliminate the pain.) It seemed like Sawyer might be my nursling forever, and he nursed at night until well after 2 years old. In true second-child fashion, I lost track of exactly when he self-weaned.<\/p>\n

But finally, he did and my body was my own once again. After four combined years of nursing, it was time. I was ready for it.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

Nothing can prepare you for the realities of breastfeeding beforehand, but there are definitely some things that can help to ease your journey. Here\u2019s my list of essentials for every breastfeeding mom.<\/p>\n

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em> Read my full\u00a0<\/em>disclosure policy<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for all the boring details<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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10 Things Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs for Success<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

1.\u00a0 A breastfeeding pillow (or three)<\/strong><\/span>
\nYes, I breastfed for an endless amount of time, but I can say that me and my babies were never particularly good at it. Both of my boys like to lie on a nursing pillow while breastfeeding for well longer than they needed to.<\/p>\n

In the newborn days, a breastfeeding pillow is essential to get the position correct. The Boppy<\/a> is the most popular \u2013 a C-shaped pillow that lies on your lap and baby lies on top. Boppy didn\u2019t work for me because I\u2019m long-waisted. I simply couldn\u2019t get my babies high enough on the Boppy. Boppy, however, did work great for us for lounging, tummy time, and help working on sitting. So even if it doesn\u2019t work for you for breastfeeding, it\u2019s one of my newborn essentials.<\/p>\n