Breastfeeding Essentials: You'll Need a Stocked Spot!
Breastfeeding Essentials
Hello Mommas!
This is an articles for new moms who plan to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a beautiful and wonderful thing to do for your child(ren) and I want to congratulate and thank you for making this choice if you're able to do so.
My daughter is now thirteen months old and we're still nursing. Extended breastfeeding is something I never would have pictured myself doing. I was almost as afraid of breastfeeding as I was of labor and giving birth. I don't know why I was as scared as I was. I was afraid that it was going to hurt, feel weird or that I wouldn't be able to do it. It was a little tricky at first, but it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
One fun thing about breastfeeding is that you're going to be stuck in one spot for extended periods of time. In those first few months, you'll most likely be feeding on demand, and newborns demand a lot. So the point of this hub is to tell you how to set up your "Breastfeeding Habitat"!
My Spot
What you Need in your Breastfeeding Spot
Sometimes, you're not going to be able to get up for hours of time between all the feedings and consoling / trying to get the child to sleep! Find a comfortable spot and claim it for yourself and your newborn for the foreseeable future. Here's how to put one together:
You'll need a Glider, Rocking Chair or similar place to sit - I highly recommend one with arm rests that comes with an ottoman. You'll also need a Table right next to it.
Various Items to have in your Glider:
* Washcloth - I shoved it in the armrest - you'll need it in case of spit up, boogers, etc
* Pillow, Boppy and Blanket
* Secret Stash of snacks - sometimes my husband ate the other snacks so I had secrets. (haha)
Various Items to keep on the Table:
* A Laptop / iPad - so important... it gave me something to do! (You might get hooked on the Internet... I certainly did!)
* Pills - if you're like me, you came home from the hospital with 4 bottles of pills. You can also take acetaminophen (if you have a headache or anything) while breastfeeding (it's safe for baby).
* Water - STAY HYDRATED!!
* Changing pad - just in case
* Cell Phone
* Pacifiers - if your baby is into that kind of thing
* Tissue
* A book - for you if you'd like, and one to read to your little one
* All the Remotes
* A Notebook - to record feeding times
* Snacks - it's important to eat enough in these first months. A new breastfeeding mom needs between 500-800 extra calories during the day. My baby didn't like me to put her down long enough for me to eat full meals so I had a lot of healthy snacks including:
- Granola Bars
- Trail Mix
- Fruit
* Lastly, an informational book on Infant Sleeping!!
