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EDIT 06/21/22:
I wrote the following post back in October 2021, when I was in the thick of trying to survive breastfeeding during the newborn days with my Zoe girl. It was a challenging time, to say the least.
Zoe was only 7 weeks old when I originally wrote this, and I was still very much in the cracked, bleeding nipples, can’t stand to even wear a shirt or shower phase that anyone who has breastfed a baby knows all too well.
As of today, I am still exclusively breastfeeding my 9-month-old daughter! I am currently editing this post while hands-free nursing, something I thought was impossible 8 months ago.
Yes, this post has been sitting in my drafts for the last 8 months, OOF.
Instead of rewriting the entire post from my perspective as someone who survived the hell that is newborn nursing, I decided to leave it as is and just make a few updates to reflect where we are on our breastfeeding journey currently.
I still fully stand behind every product and recommendation here! Plus, I now have the added benefit of looking back and seeing what actually helped me survive breastfeeding in those early days. Because believe me, I tried it ALL.
It took about three months for me to really settle into exclusive breastfeeding, and for the pain to fully subside every time she latched.
There were some products that didn’t help at all, some advice that worked, and some that didn’t. And then there were the products and advice I absolutely could not have survived without during those first few months. That is what I share in this post.
There is so much uncertainty around breastfeeding. No matter how much research you do while you’re pregnant, nothing can actually prepare you for the reality of it.
And, even though every new mom’s journey with breastfeeding is so different, there are some common threads that most of us experience.
Whether you are currently breastfeeding and looking for solutions, or you’re pregnant and trying to prepare yourself for breastfeeding– I sincerely hope this post helps!
Here is the original post:
I will die on this hill- breastfeeding HURTS.
Even if your baby has a good latch and you do everything ‘right’, you might still experience pain. Even if all the books say pain isn’t normal.
I’m not a breastfeeding expert, but I am a mom who is currently exclusively breastfeeding my seven-week-old daughter.
These last seven weeks have been… painful, both mentally and physically.
This is my third baby, but my first time successfully breastfeeding.
You can read more about my hectic breastfeeding journey with my first two babies if you’d like.
I delivered our third and final baby on September 11th, 2021. I had made the decision to attempt breastfeeding about halfway through my pregnancy.
Once I decided I wanted to give it a shot, I was absolutely determined to make it work.
I did so much research and bought so many things to prepare myself for my breastfeeding journey.
I’m a Virgo if you must know.
As prepared as I thought I was before birth, nothing could have prepared me for the actual experience of exclusive breastfeeding.
I have been very lucky so far to not have dealt with mastitis or clogged ducts this time, which is why I was forced to cut my breastfeeding short with my first daughter.
However, this time I dealt with horribly cracked nipples. The pain is unreal.
Oh, and then there’s cluster feeding. Don’t even get me started on cluster feeding with cracked nipples.
We are almost at the 8-week mark of our breastfeeding journey, and I am finally feeling like I’ve got this thing down. (present-day Morgan chiming in here to say: oh how naive I was. It would be a few more weeks before I actually had this thing down)
I’m actually loving breastfeeding, despite wanting to give up many times early on due to the pain.
Zoe is definitely my last baby, and I am determined to breastfeed her for as long as I can.
There are some things that I absolutely cannot live without, and that have helped me tremendously in managing the pain and stress of nursing.
Here are all the things I wish I had known before I embarked on this breastfeeding journey.
Pain Management for Breastfeeding
SILVER NIPPLE SHIELDS
My number one recommendation to survive the first few weeks of breastfeeding, hands down, are these silver nipple shields.
These are an absolute must in my book. I don’t think I would have survived without them, honestly.
I actually didn’t end up using these until about four weeks in, but my god I wish I had had them sooner. They saved my nipples, and my sanity 100%.
My nipples were severely cracked and wounded early on, and after trying literally everything to heal them, these silver nipple shields healed them within days.
I wish I had known about them from the very beginning, as I believe they could have prevented most of my pain.
If there is one thing you should buy in preparation for breastfeeding, this is it.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the name-brand ones unless you want to!
I purchased these more affordable ones on Amazon, and they worked perfectly. They are about half the price of the ‘name brand’ ones.
EARTH MAMA ORGANIC NIPPLE BUTTER
This stuff is magic. There are lots of nipple creams and balms out there, but this one is definitely my favorite.
This nipple butter is made with all-natural ingredients, it smells like chocolate, and has been a saving grace for me during the last two months.
It’s super affordable as well, at just $8.99. Having a good nipple balm is essential for breastfeeding, and in my opinion, this one is the best.
I have also tried Lanolin, Coconut Oil, and Aquaphor. None of these worked for me as well as the Earth Mama. And honestly, the price point is great!
FRIDA MOM SALINE SPRAY
Another solution for cracked or sore nipples is a good saline soak.
You could make your own saline solution, but Frida makes it really convenient to just spray and go with this saline mist.
Coming in at number three on my list of pain management items for breastfeeding, I highly recommend having this on hand before you start breastfeeding.
It is very cooling, which is a welcome sensation when you’re dealing with sore nipples. I have been using this since my second week of breastfeeding, ordered during a middle-of-the-night nursing session when I was desperate for relief.
This Frida Mom saline spray truly has helped me, and the price is great at just $7.99.
GEL THERAPY PACKS
Something that I wasn’t prepared for when I had my first baby was how much it would hurt when my milk came in a few days after I had her.
No one really tells you that when your milk comes in your boobs are going to become so full that it hurts.
This usually lasts about 24-48 hours for most women, and I have found that to be the case for myself.
Cold therapy packs can help with engorgement, as well as breastfeeding as often as possible to drain the breasts.
These gel therapy packs can be used hot or cold, to relieve engorgement (cold) and help with milk flow (warm).
While these are essential for the first few weeks of breastfeeding, I also think they will come in handy throughout your breastfeeding journey.
Engorgement and milk supply issues could potentially happen at any point during breastfeeding, so having these on hand could save you from unnecessary pain and stress.
You can also throw a frozen one in your older kids’ lunch box in a pinch when you forget to refreeze their ice pack. Just saying 😉
Pumping and Storage
MANUAL AND ELECTRIC PUMPS
I was going to make these two separate items on my list, but I’m putting them together because I think you absolutely need both.
For a manual pump, the Haaka can’t be beaten. This silicone pump uses suction to pull the milk out of your breast and is great for collecting milk on one side while you breastfeed the baby on the other.
You can then freeze it and use it for bottles, baths, or on your baby’s skin.
An electric pump is something I think every breastfeeding mom should have handy no matter if they plan to pump or not.
I use the Spectra S2 currently, and love it.
I got mine free through my health insurance, so I would definitely check with your provider to see if they offer a free pump! Most insurances do.
My original plan was to EBF (exclusively breastfeed), and not pump. But I made sure to order an electric pump anyway because I know firsthand how incredibly engorged breasts and clogged ducts can be.
Not to mention, while it takes a while for us to be comfortable leaving our babies with dad or grandma for a few hours, eventually you might want to take a break!
Having an electric pump and teaching baby how to take a bottle will allow you to take a much-deserved break.
2022 UPDATE: My baby did not in fact take a bottle, ever. I did end up pumping and storing a lot of extra milk, but since she would not drink from a bottle, it stayed in the deep freezer until she was about 7 months old. Then she learned to drink from a sippy cup, so having all that extra milk came in handy when I left her with grandma for a while.
HAAKAA LADYBUGS (OR SIMILAR)
Another great way to collect extra milk that would otherwise go to waste is with these little silicone cups that go right inside your bra and collect milk throughout the day.
You’d be surprised how much milk slowly leaks out in between feeds!
I can usually collect around 2 oz after just a few hours of wearing mine.
The Haakaa Ladybugs are one of the most popular silicone milk collectors on the market.
I personally used these more affordable ones, and they worked great!
BREASTMILK STORAGE BAGS
If you’re planning to pump and store extra milk, you definitely need storage bags.
These Nano Bebe ones are my favorite, but you can find all different brands on Amazon or your local Target / Walmart.
Boosting + Maintaining Supply
When it comes to your supply, a lot of what determines whether you have a good supply is simply biology.
Some women are able to produce little to no milk no matter how hard they try. Some of us are overproducers, while others produce just the right amount for their baby.
That being said, there are some things you want to do to maintain your supply, if you have a good one, or help boost it if you don’t.
WATER + CALORIES
You should have no trouble drinking plenty of water while breastfeeding… you are going to feel like a freakin’ camel.
Especially during the first few weeks, you’re probably going to be SO thirsty. All. The. Time.
Oh, and you’re also going to be hungry. I feel like a bottomless pit, and I’m hoping it levels off soon! It’s crazy how much food and water I am able to consume all of a sudden.
Apparently, you burn about 500 extra calories per day from breastfeeding alone.
Your body needs extra nutrition and water to provide a good, healthy supply of milk to your baby.
And remember, if you are lacking nutrients or not eating enough, your body will simply drain you of those resources to give to your baby. The baby will take what it needs, whether you have enough for both of you or not.
UPDATE: the extreme thirst and hunger did subside after the first few months. I still drink and eat more than I would if I weren’t nursing, but that’s just to make sure my supply stays up.
My favorite water bottle is my Owala FreeSip. The built-in hidden straw is a feature I’ve never seen on any other water bottle.
MILK DUST
Milk Dust is a protein powder designed specifically for breastfeeding and weight loss.
I started using this when Zoe was around 3 weeks old.
Determined to boost my supply so I could stock my freezer up, I started using Milk Dust and saw my supply boost almost right away.
It does have a little bit of a strange taste, but nothing you can’t get past. Worth every penny!
I prefer to add my Milk Dust to a smoothie every morning, but you can use it in recipes like cookies and brownies, or even frozen coffee drinks.
BODY ARMOR
I can’t say for sure that Body Armor drinks have helped boost my supply, but I can tell you for sure that they hydrate better than any other sports drink I’ve ever tried.
You know how when you drink a Gatorade and you feel even more parched than before you drank it?
Body Armor is the opposite, in my opinion. I actually feel incredibly hydrated after having one.
Even if it doesn’t boost your supply, it’s still incredibly important to stay hydrated while nursing. Body Armor is a great way to hydrate and replace electrolytes + vitamins and minerals.
GOLI SUPERGREEN GUMMIES
This is a recommendation that I am adding currently in June 2022.
This one I actually discovered on a whim. I have been taking Goli ACV gummies for years, so when they released their new SuperGreen Gummies I had to try them.
After a few days, I started noticing my supply was increasing. I checked the ingredients and discovered that the SuperGreens contained several ingredients well known for boosting milk supply!
I was shook!
Check this out:
These are so good for you and truly did boost my milk supply.
I will warn you that these could make your baby gassy if they are sensitive to things like broccoli or spinach.
There is no one right way to breastfeed. It is a wild and intimate journey that looks different for all of us.
I just wish more moms were transparent about the fact that it is SO HARD at first. That it’s normal to feel like you’re failing. Like you want to give up because you haven’t slept and your nipples are bleeding.
Honestly, looking back, I wouldn’t necessarily say you have to “survive breastfeeding” because it sounds so ominous, right? But truly, in those first few weeks- you are just surviving.
That fourth trimester is no joke, whether you’re nursing or not.
There are a ton of challenges (for most of us) when it comes to breastfeeding. But there are even more rewards, I think.
However you choose to feed your baby, know that they will grow up to prefer Cheetos and chocolate milk anyway. So if you don’t succeed at breastfeeding, there is zero shame in that.
Go easy on yourself and take it one day at a time.
XO, M
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