Emma’s Diary Feature – 5 Things That Made My Breastfeeding Journey Easier

Today, I am so pleased to share this breastfeeding story with you from Emma’s Diary. Check out all of my Emma’s Diary posts here.

When I was a little girl, I dreamt of having a baby of my own. I always knew I wanted to be a mummy.

Fast forward and here we are. Our beautiful baby boy Jack was born in February via emergency C Section.

But, if I thought the long birth, emergency surgery, and the newborn days were tough, it was NOTHING compared to breastfeeding. 

My Early Breastfeeding Experience

To say that it was tough is the understatement of the century. Breastfeeding is hard mentally, emotionally and physically. 

I’ve had days where the pain would bring a tear to my eye. There were nights of exhausting cluster feeding. At times, I doubted that my baby wasn’t getting enough, doubts, plenty of tears and feelings of dread.

Jack is turning 3 months old and I am proud to say that we are still exclusively breastfeeding and expressing. Those early days are a distant memory and we have clicked into a routine of feeding, bonding and growing together.

Here are the 5 things that made my breastfeeding journey easier – some of which I’d known about before my boy arrived. Today, I’m sharing those top 5 things with you!

Silver Cups

There is no two ways about it: breastfeeding hurts. There is light at the end of the tunnel, now, 12 weeks in. There is little to no pain, latching is almost perfect each time and we’re used to each other.

But when your hungry newborn is ravenous (stomach the size of a marble? I don’t think so!) and you feel like you can’t face it, it’s time to invest in some handy little silver cups.

Cluster Feeding Woes

Jack was the king of cluster feeding. My nipples were left feeling suer sore, cracked and with plenty of trauma. 

The day we registered his birth, the wind was hurting my nipples through my clothes! I was sensitive, sore and uncomfortable – even when he wasn’t feeding. I needed help QUICK!

My lovely midwife recommended silver nipple cups and I bought them online there and then. The silver has healing properties that help your sore boobs get some relief and they also act as a barrier between you and your clothes.

Even now, three months later, I wear my silver cups every single day!

Sturdy Nursing Bras

When you have a newborn and you’re breastfeeding, you NEED to invest in good quality nursing bras. Get rid of your underwire bras, get easy access clip bras and ones with huge cups that will hold your swollen boobies, breast pads and silver cups.

I have tried a few branded nursing bras since my pregnancy and the birth of my son and there is a clear distinction between a few.

The ones that ruffle up and get all squashed in the washing machine are NOT the ones for you.

Try the softer shelled, sports bra like bras, they are a win for me.

Being able to unclip my bra and flip the bottom up with one hand is handy – especially when Jack is super fussy and absolutely must eat right here right now!

Before my milk was fully established, my boobs would inflate within hours and then deflate once I’d fed or expressed. Bras that will accommodate that, not squeeze me too hard and grow with my ever changing form was essential.

I highly recommend Cake Maternity for nursing bras!

My Breast Pump – My Best Friend!

While I was pregnant, I attended a handful of breastfeeding classes and an NCT class. My midwife advised me not to express breast milk until your new baby is at least 6 weeks old.

Naively, I took this as gospel and even refused a posh breast pump as a baby shower gift.

When Jack was seen by the midwife team on day 5 and then discharged on day 10, I was told it was ok to invest in a breast pump.

And, honestly, without my pump to take some of the pressure and pain off, I think I would have given up on my breastfeeding journey by now.

Pumping With A Newborn

As I mentioned, Jack was incredibly hungry when he was first born (he still is now) and I felt that my milk levels just weren’t cutting it.

As soon as I invested in my Bella Baby pump, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, I was able to pump my milk after each feed and slowly but surely fill bottles for Jack. My husband would feed him with the expressed breast milk and give me a rest.

The continued pumping helped to bring on my milk and bring up my supply, making feeding quicker and easier and filling those bottles with liquid gold less painstaking.

I’d pump as often as I had the energy and give Jack bottles of my milk with the knowledge of exactly how much he was drinking per feed.

Pumping Update…

Twelve weeks later, my fridge has a constant rotation of breastmilk ready to feed my baby as soon as he is hungry. My freezer is bustling with frozen stores for later in the year when I’m ready to leave him for date nights and my baby loves both boob and bottle.

When we’re at home, he loves being breastfed and we do it all through the night. For ease, I try to bottle feed him my breastmilk when we’re out and about.

We’ve got that perfect balance and I’m so happy with it!

A Feeding Chair

In the first 6 months of your baby’s life, they will need to sleep in your room with you. We got Jack’s room ready and decorated before he was born and one thing we insisted on buying was a feeding chair.

When he arrived, my C Section recovery meant that feeding was tough and my chair was a haven in the middle of the chaos. His room was peaceful and my chair was comfy with a gentle rock.

Now, when Jack wakes in the night for a feed, we stroll into his room and rock in his chair while we feeds. 

On the nights when my husband stirs, my feeding chair is a God send – we snuggle and cuddle in his room, Jack feeds, gets back to sleep and I transfer him back into his next to me cot.

Comfort when breastfeeding is key and my chair is my little slice of heaven.

Breastfeeding Friendly Clothing

My friends know that I’ve never been shy but the prospect of whipping my boobs out to feed my baby was daunting when he first arrived. Soon I came to realise that I had to invest in some breastfeeding friendly clothing – suitable for the changing seasons, ease of access and style.

Summer, I am ready for you!

If you’re breastfeeding, just know that you are a ROCK STAR! You’re doing an amazing job, you should be so proud of yourself and your baby loves you insane amounts!

LoveRosiee

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