Breastfeeding Tips, Diet and Essentials For Any Mom

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The new topic on the block is breastfeeding. With all the formula shortage hysteria, the AAP(American Academy of Pediatrics) has now extended their breastfeeding recommendations to 2 years of life. Get ready to review these updates, our breastfeeding tips and essentials that’s helpful during this stage of your motherhood journey.

The policy was last updated June 27, 2022.

The AAP now recommends:

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. There is no need to introduce infant formula or other sources of nutrition for most infants. Beyond 6 months, breastfeeding should be maintained along with nutritious complementary foods.
AAP recommends that birth hospitals or centers implement maternity care practices that improve breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity.
There are continued benefits from breastfeeding beyond 1 year, and up to 2 years especially in the mother. Long-term breastfeeding is associated with protections against diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancers of the breast and ovaries.
Mothers who choose to breastfeed beyond the first year need support from their medical care providers, as well as protections against workplace barriers.
and breast pumps; on-site child care; universal workplace break time with a clean, private location for expressing milk; the right to feed expressed milk; and the right to breastfeed in child care centers and lactation rooms in schools are all essential to supporting families in sustaining breastfeeding.

This updated policy supports what many parents have been vocalizing for years. Due to the health benefits associated, parents have wanted to keep their babies on human milk for as long as possible. However, society has vocally criticized breastfeeding mothers for their actions, often stating babies should be detached from mom’s breast, generally by walking or talking age.

Over the years, we’ve seen more parents breastfeed their children up to toddler age. A well-known and criticized celebrity parent is Coco Austin, who still breastfeeds her 5-year-old daughter. In a previous interview, she defended her parenting choices, saying “it’s bonding time for her and her little one”.

Although not every parent can breastfeed, including myself, as explained in a previous article, it’s comforting to know this policy change, may change the negativity associated with breastfeeding walking or talking toddlers, as it’s the right of a parent to determine what’s best for their baby.

After reading this update, are you considering breastfeeding your baby longer as recommended by AAP?

Do you need helpful breast feeding tips to continue your journey?

Keep strolling, we got you mama!

Breastfeeding Tips To Use Now

Check out our 5 tips to help you along your breastfeeding journey. Although it can be frustrating, these practical tips may help you if you’re having a difficult time producing. But no matter what (breast or bottle), always do what feels right for both you and baby.

These are tips that I would use, if I could do it again!

As previously mentioned, I’m a mother who attempted to breastfeed but was unsuccessful. During the first hours of my first son’s life, he was on my breast, which produced very little colostrum and ultimately, his blood sugar levels began to drop. At that moment, I decided to start formula feeding. Eventually, his vitals were on the right track, but, I still desired to breastfeed, so I met with the hospital’s lactation specialist to educate and assist me with lactation.

Remember, it’s a process and it can be difficult for some moms and babies. So I wanted as much help as possible from an expert… to assist me in real time, so that when I was on my own, I felt comfortable and confident.

Fast forward, my milk came in almost 1 week post delivery.

Since my baby was already bottle feeding, I pumped.

When pumping, I was getting small amounts of milk (VERY small). So it wasn’t enough to sustain his life. Which then led me to supplementing formula and breast milk.

I knew the benefits of breastfeeding, therefore, I wanted him to receive as much of the benefits as possible. And to me, anything was better than nothing.

I did this until I ran completely dry… Meaning, when I pumped, there wasn’t nothing in the bottle.

Unfortunately, this was the case for both of my pregnancies. Although, I produced substantially more milk for my second son (I didn’t do anything different to produce more). It still wasn’t enough to only breastfeed.

Looking back, if I had to do it again, I would better hydrate and change my diet during pregnancy.

Specifically, I would eliminate processed foods, as many are loaded with chemicals; and I would incorporate hydrating fruits/liquids (coconut water, cucumber water) watermelon, cantaloupes, strawberries, berries, etc. Which I BELIEVE, would have carried into post pregnancy to help hydrate my body, for better milk supply.

In addition, I would rest more. Post delivery, I was like Speedy Gonzales, ready to go, even with help. I didn’t allow myself to rest and recuperate. Our bodies are naturally designed to feed when we create life. Often, we run ourselves to the ground, unconsciously, and just because we’re seemingly fine, we never stop moving. However, our body needs time to replenish itself, in order to functionally do as it’s designed.

5 Breastfeeding Benefits For Mom:

1. It can lower your risk of postpartum depression

2. Breastfeeding can reduce your risk of breast and ovarian cancer

3. It releases hormones that can help reduce uterus, which can reduce bleeding

4. Breastfeeding can save you time, as it’s super convenient

5. It burns calories

5 Breastfeeding Benefits For Babies Receiving Breast Milk:

1. Breast milk has moms’ antibodies

2. Breast milk is easier for babies to digest

3. Breast milk supports cognitive development

4. Breast milk builds stronger immune system

5. Beast milk naturally has more nutrients

Breastfeeding Diet To Consider

What’s a good diet to follow when breastfeeding? Check out this list of foods to increase and avoid/limit:

Breastfeeding Essentials You’ll Love

As you know, we love Amazon and found the top rated breastfeeding products for moms to enjoy during their breastfeeding experience.

1- Lansinoh TheraPearl Breast Therapy Pack, Breastfeeding Essentials, 2 Pack

Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy packs provide therapeutic relief for the most common breastfeeding challenges. Nursing moms can use Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy packs in three ways: 1) Cold therapy relieves engorgement commonly experienced by nursing mothers. 2) Hot therapy helps relieve plugged ducts and mastitis and encourages milk let-down for breastfeeding. 3) As a pumping aid. It’s the only product of its kind designed to work with a breast pump to encourage let-down and reduce time spent pumping.

Pros	Cons
simple and easy to use	melts if over heated
helps with clogged ducts	too small
can be used hot or cold	can not return
easy to clean, sanitary	questionable quality

2- Lansinoh Nipple Shield for Breastfeeding

A Lansinoh breastfeeding nipple shield can help during the nursing process with latch-on difficulties related to flat or inverted nipples, tongue or lip tie, and overactive let-down. These breast shields for breastfeeding are made out of ultra thin, super-soft, flexible silicone that’s BPS and BPA free. Each set of nipple shields comes with a protective case for hygienic and convenient storage between uses.

Pros	Cons
protects your nipples from dryness	no suction to help baby
easy for babies to latch	too thin
works with flat nipples	doesn’t stay on (fit)
multiple sizes	n/a

3- Haakaa Manual Breast Pump 4oz

The ingenious Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is a popular product and is a must-have breastfeeding tool for each mama. Squeeze, press to your breast and let the pump do the work for you as it draws your milk using natural suction!

Haakaa Silicone Breast Pumps are the most portable and travel-friendly pump you’ll find. It doesn’t require any cords, cables or batteries and are 100% silent. They’re super green-friendly and are safe for mums, babies and our environment.

Pros	Cons
convenient	easy to spill
simple pumping	small in size carries 4 oz.
easy to use, clean, and store	manually have to pump

4- Suekaphin 5PACK Nursing Bra Wireless Bra Women’s Sleeping Maternity Bra Breastfeeding Bra

The Suekapin Nursing Bras is an affordable set of maternity bras that’s convenient when breastfeeding. Fabric Content: 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex, Breathable fabric is supper soft and skin friendly, providing the bra with a comfort fit.

Pros	Cons
convenient for feedings	too stretchy not a great support
stretchy and breathable	not true to size
supports unique shape with adjustable straps	n/a
variety sizes (s to 6x)	n/a
great quality for price	n/a

5- Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads for Breastfeeding

This package comes with two boxes of 100 pads for a total of 200 breast pads. Each disposable nursing pad absorbs up to 20 times its weight for confidence day and night. With these nursing pads breastfeeding is easy, simply pull off the adhesive tab and apply to any of your regular or nursing bras. Stay Dry nursing pads are the #1 selling disposable pad in the United States. Lansinoh nursing pads are also disposable, so you can toss when your done.

Pros	Cons
super absorbent	Not hyproallergenic
stays in place	Silica can leak out if not changed
Individually wrapped	n/a

6- Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding

This Lansinoh nipple cream is a 1.41 ounces (or 40 grams) of pure lanolin. This nipple butter is safe for nursing and dry skin. To use, soften a pea-sized amount of breastfeeding nipple cream between your fingers and apply to the entire nipple area. This nipple cream is organic, a defiant stable for moms breast feeding.