World Breastfeeding Week 2015: 8 essentials for hassle-free breastfeeding

Do you have these items in your pre-birth shopping list?

Breast crawl, or allowing the new born to nurse by finding her breast, is an important way to kickstart breastfeeding. However, many new mums face a few bumps in setting a breastfeeding routine. Instead of getting frustrated, have these essential aids/ tools at hand. They will go a long way in making breastfeeding pain-free and smoother for you and your newborn. (Read: World Breastfeeding Week 2015: 10 breastfeeding myths busted)

• Nipple shield and/ or breast shells: It s only when trying to breastfeed their baby that many women realise that they have either inverted or flat nipples, which means that the baby cannot latch on. Not only that, feeding with such nipples can end in sore/ cracked nipples and give you extreme pain. This is when nipple shield comes to the rescue. As the name suggests, it shields and corrects the position of the nipples so that the baby can latch on with ease. It also helps with nipples that are too small. Breast shells are worn under your bra to soothe your sore breasts and reduce the friction with your clothes/ bra. Some breast shells also collect overflowing milk, thus saving your clothes from getting stained.

• Nipple cream: Newborns need to be fed every 2 hours, and each session lasts, on an average, for about half an hour. This means a lot of suckling almost round the clock. More so when the baby is having a growth spurt. After all this nursing, you are bound to have sore or cracked nipples. Using a nipple cream regularly can save you all the pain. Ask your gynaecologist to recommend a good nipple cream and keep it in your bedside drawer at all times. (Read: 5 ways to heal cracked nipples due to breastfeeding)

• Feeding bra and nursing gowns: Keep the process of breastfeeding as quick and hassle-free as possible. Buy a good number of feeding bras and nursing gowns well in advance and start wearing them right after your delivery. Feeding gowns open in the front and the feeding bras have removable cups, hence you don t have to awkwardly lift your dress or adjust your bra! (Read: 14 tips to breastfeed better)

• Breast pads: Many times, moms produce more milk than the baby requires, and the breasts expel the excess milk. This mostly happens at nights when the baby doesn t feed much. To avoid mishaps of your shirt getting stained, line your bra cups with breast pads. These are absorbent pads and should be kept readily available in your cupboard and diaper bag. They are available in reusable and disposable variety.

• Nursing pillow: Post-delivery, women are drained physically. Whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section, your body has undergone a lot of stress and needs ample rest. Apart from all your vitamin and calcium supplements, a feeding pillow is one thing that your post-partum body will thank you for. Designed like the letter C , it fits around your abdomen so that you can lay the baby on it and feed her without having to hunch over and worry about holding her the right way. You can also lay the baby in the hollow of the pillow so that her head and back is elevated as you bottle feed her (if you do).

• Breast pumps: They are a life saver for women who would like to go out and do not want to have the baby latched on the boobs all the time. Investing in a manual or electrical breast pump is a must as you can express and store breast milk and feed the baby on the go. Also, you can save yourself from the pain of engorgement. For new mums with scanty milk flow, pumping can stimulate the nerves, leading to increased milk production. Here's how to avoid breast engorgement when breastfeeding.

• Storing/ Freezing packs: If you plan to store the expressed milk for future use, you need to store it the right way. Storing/ freezing packs made of BPA-free plastic are a hassle-free way of storing expressed breastmilk. They are clear plastic bags on which you can write the date and time when you expressed the milk. They also have measurements marked so you know how many ounces of milk you are storing.

• Nursing cover: Babies need to be fed on demand, no matter if the hunger strikes when you are out shopping in a crowded mall. Nursing cover or cloaks are handy in saving any embarrassments and keeping prying eyes at bay. They are usually made of light, airy fabrics so that the baby does not feel suffocated. While using a dupatta or stole serves the purpose, cloaks are designed for the task and have a loop that goes around the neck, thus saving you any accidents of your baby throwing it away.

All these are easily available in most pharmacies, mom-baby stores and even online.

Here s wishing you a long and smooth breastfeeding experience with your baby. Remember your feeding sessions are a great way to bond with your child sing to her, and tell her loving things. Cherish this special time that only you get to share.

Here are 4 common breastfeeding problems and their solutions.

Image source: Shutterstock

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