Bun Maternity + 17 Breastfeeding Tips!

Did you know August 1 to 7 every year marks World Breastfeeding Week? It's celebrated every year to encourage and support breastfeeding in an effort to improve the health of babies around the world. The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life” — a recognition of the importance of breastfeeding to a baby’s future. We've all heard the stats about breastfeeding; it's great for the baby and it's great for the mom. Well, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action is trying to inform people about the links between good nutrition, food security poverty reduction and breastfeeding. 

Let's talk breastfeeding. Babies gotta eat, am I right? Even though we know the positive stats surrounding breastfeeding, there is still a stigma around breastfeeding, formula feeding and all of it in general. Women being shammed for breastfeeding their babies, women being shammed for feeing their babies formula. In a world where we are trying to empower women, why do we keep tearing them down based on the ways they chose to feed their babies?

Everyone always asks me if I plan on breastfeeding this little babe. The truth, yes I plan on breastfeeding. It's been proven to be the best way to feed your baby. But, at the end of the day, I plan on doing whatever I can to feed this little human. If that means chewing up food like a bird and re-feeding it to her, well damn, I'm gonna feed that baby. If that means formula, done.

I think World Breastfeeding Week is absolutely incredible. Feeding our babies should be our number 1 goal. But maybe we should focus on healthy babies and leave the mom-shaming out of it.  Yes, my best intentions are to breastfeeding, but my greatest intention is to be the best mama to this little one.

Now, let's chat Bun Maternity and some tips to breastfeeding. Their goal is to provide cute clothes to mamas everywhere, making breastfeeding easier.

I've been wearing this sweatshirt all through maternity! It's the coziest.

Since I'm a newbie to this mom thing, I recruited my best friends and family to help me with some breastfeeding tips. Luckily for me, I've got a plethora of amazing mamas who are helping me through this mama thing.

1. Stay calm! Go to a zen place in your mind and your milk will flow like Niagara Falls! Literally think happy thoughts because if you are stressed or upset (which is so easy to be at first when the baby won’t latch and you don’t really know what you’re doing) your milk will literally shut off. Be patient with yourself - this is new but your body does the work for you.  Give it time and know that you are doing good 
2. Massage your boobs before you feed when starting out. You have milk ducts all the way in your arm pit (you’ll find this out when your milk comes in and it’s rock solid over there for the first few days!) but massaging really helps get the flow to start and helps the baby want to latch if they get a little teaser taste. 
3. Count dirty diapers to ensure she's getting enough milk/food. 
4. Those first few days at home - try different places to nurse to find what’s comfortable for you.  
5. Get a milk grabber. These are pumps that aren’t really pumps but they suction onto your boob that you aren’t feeding on and catch the leaking! So no wasted breast milk!  I got this one: The NatureBond Silicone Manual Breast Pump Breastfeeding Milk Saver Suction.
6. Have pineapple juice handy, it helps alleviate mastitis.
7. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away! My first day breast feeding my daughter was amazing but then the second day was awful! She wouldn’t latch, she was screaming and I was super stressed out (and that was still in the hospital!) but I ended up breastfeeding her until 18 months so just try to stay positive.
8. Lansinoh nipple cream, trust me and disposable pads handy  - the beginning few weeks - you go through a few and the disposables where easier than the reusable ones at first.  Buy the disposables here. 
9. Make sure the nurses put the baby on your breast (kangaroo style - naked baby to your chest (no clothes) as soon as it is possible.  
10. Take a class before you deliver
11. The first few weeks it hurts (regardless of a good latch or not)- I had the pads that you could heat or freeze - they were so helpful throughout the entire time.  You can buy those pads here!
12. Ask for a lactation nurse at the hospital before you leave - maybe the second day after delivery (have them watch you latch multiple times - ask questions - take full advantage of their knowledge - have your partner/husband there taking notes (helps at home). 
13. Find a mom group - ask questions.
14. If the baby is crying while they eat or having a lot of spit up - look at your diet. Check for things like gluten and dairy, maybe even tomatoes. 
15. Try different breastfeeding positions - once my c-section got better - I loved laying down to feed.   But football was my go to in the very beginning because it didn’t have pressure on my c-section. 
16. You'll have to have a little humor when you leak or milk sprays all over - or when you shower and for a second think of the baby and there goes the milk.
17. Overall - trust your gut and be kind to yourself - there are a lot of changes after delivering and the 4th trimester is constant of them - ask for help! 

One thing I do know about breastfeeding is I will be wearing these darling sweatshirts from Bun Maternity. They are so cute and comfortable but have a secret opening to make breastfeeding so easy! 

This top is so soft and has such a cute back. 

The perfect little opening.

Did you breastfeed your baby? What are your tips? Tell me everything!