My must-haves for breastfeeding

If you're not breastfeeding, never have, or never will, don't bother reading the rest of this post.  If you are currently breastfeeding (don't worry, it DOES get better), or if you plan to (it may be the hardest thing you'll ever have to do), read on! 


I remember wondering, numerous, numerous times, whether I would survive breastfeeding. 

I also remember wondering, many, many times, whether I had enough breastmilk for Kiyomi.

Well, I did survive!  But, I needed a lot of help.  Here are my top five must-haves for breastfeeding success!

1.  A lactation consultant.  Yes, go to the breastfeeding class, the clinic, go again and again until you feel comfortable doing it on your own.  For most people, breastfeeding is ONE THOUSAND PERCENT a learned skill.  Practice (I know, your sore, cracked, bleeding nipples don't want to, but IT WILL GET BETTER!), practice, practice.  Practice through the toe-curling and excruciating pain.  Remember how bad labour was in comparison (even though I know you don't remember it right now).

2. Nipple shields!  These brought back so much dignity to my life.  I couldn't wear a bra, let alone a shirt, without these!  Confession:  For the first month or so of Kiyomi's life, I went topless around the house.  Why?  I couldn't stand ANYTHING getting near my poor, sore nipples.  Then, I discovered these!  Put them on, slip on a bra, welcome back normality!  But don't hug anyone too hard, as they will feel these rock-hard knockers.  Apparently they are now available in a softer, more natural feeling silicone, but mine were hard plastic.  Second confession: I still use these sometimes, instead of breastpads, because they collect any leakage.

Breastshells saved my life.  I mean, my nipples.

3.  A breastpump.  If you can afford it, get the double pump.  If you think you'll be traveling with it, like I did, still, get the double pump, because who are you kidding...are you going to be traveling that soon?  I spent an enormous amount of time pumping in my early days to increase my breastmilk production, and to supplement Kiyomi's feeds with my own breastmilk (instead of formula).  I have a single pump, which takes 10-15 mins. per side.  That means 20-30 mins. total pump time.  That was on TOP of a 2-hour feeding time.  Seriously.  Get the double-pump.  I ended up renting one from the breastfeeding clinic for about a month, and now that I'm back to my single pump, I really miss the double days.

4.  A Milksaver.  You know the saying, "Don't cry over spilt milk"?  Well, you will.  You will cry over the barely 2 mL of breastmilk that you worked 10 mins. to squeeze out, when you spill it on the floor 10 seconds later.  You will cry when you accidentally dump it down the drain thinking it was expired formula.   Breastmilk is liquid gold, people, and this Milksaver helped me save every last bit.  I won't go into too much detail, but if you want to see what it does, go to their website.

5.  Faith and lots and lots and lots of prayer.  Unless you're weighing your baby before and after a feed, there's really no way to know how much milk the baby is drinking.  I was terrified that I didn't have enough milk for Kiyomi.  Breastmilk production is such a sensitive and personal issue (I HATED it when people asked whether I was producing enough)!  I really just had to have faith that God was helping me produce enough (and when I wasn't, that it was okay to supplement with formula).  I had many, many people praying for me, and I prayed SO many times, "Oh please please please let me have enough milk for Kiyomi."  God answers prayer!  Kiyomi definitely had enough wet and dirty diapers to indicate she was getting enough to eat.

I'm sure there are so many other things that make for breastfeeding success, but these were my top five!