17 Best Breastfeeding Tips and Tricks You Need To Know Now

Breastfeeding success isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. That’s why we at Mama’s Choice have scoured the best breastfeeding tips and tricks from real Mamas so you, too, can have a successful breastfeeding journey.

Breastfeeding isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. As beautiful as this experience is, it’s also a journey riddled with huge bumps, sharp turns, and shady hitchhikers determined to bring you down. Brutal but beautiful, it tests every new mama’s determination, perseverance, and pain threshold.

At Mama’s Choice, we support every Mama’s choice—pun intended. 🙂 Whether it’s to embrace the challenges of breastfeeding or welcome the joys of formula feeding. But in this article, we’re sharing with you 17 breastfeeding tips and tricks to help make breastfeeding easier for you and your little one.

1. Take a breastfeeding class

Besides learning practical breastfeeding tips such as positions and hunger cues, taking such a class is also a great way to pick up valuable knowledge that helps you navigate the journey more confidently.

In an article published on Parents.com, Dee Kassing, an IBCLC lactation consultant based in Missouri, highlighted that meeting with a lactation consultant before delivery allows you to pick up “tips that will help in the beginning, and you’ll know whom to call if you have a problem.”

2. Take care of your nipples

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No breastfeeding mama skipped the period of sore and cracked nipples. It’s common during the first few days of nursing, around the time you and your baby are still learning to breastfeed together. Don’t let painful nipples stop you from breastfeeding!

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3. Start as early as possible

The World Health Organization recommends that “early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact” between mamas and babies should be encouraged as soon as possible after birth. Ideally, within the first hour after delivery. Doing this helps you bond and establish breastfeeding. In addition, many hospitals encourage rooming-in, allowing you to breastfeed more and establish breastfeeding as early and naturally as possible.

4. Add breastmilk supply-boosting foods to your diet

Breastfeeding is easier when you don’t have to worry about your milk supply constantly. Oats and fenugreek are two of the most common milk-boosting foods. They’re present in nearly all lactation cookies!

But apart from these, other foods known to help with lactation include barley, carrots, asparagus, brown rice, salmon, moringa, chickpea, lentils, beets, tofu, and holy basil.

5. Ease breast engorgement with a cabbage

Breast engorgement is one of the painful sides of breastfeeding, which causes many mamas to give up breastfeeding altogether. One of the numerous ways to overcome this is simply placing cabbage leaves over the breast, avoiding the nipple area. It helps reduce the pain and bring down the swelling.

6. Full breasts? Pump milk to help your baby

Who wouldn’t want the feeling of knowing you have milk, right? But unfortunately, not all babies are comfortable with the overabundant flow of milk. So, if you notice them coughing or sputtering at the start of each feeding, it’s a good idea to hand express (and ideally store them for later!) and reduce the amount of milk in your breast.

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7. Talk to a breastfeeding pal

Nothing beats the support of a friend. If you have a pregnant or breastfeeding friend, talk to them about your struggles. Your sister, cousin, sister-in-law, and even mama are great people on your breastfeeding support team! Besides an open ear, they may even be a fountain of knowledge with their past experiences. So no matter what happens, don’t bottle in all your feelings–find someone to help you in your journey, mama.

8. Invest in a nursing pillow

Breastfeeding itself is rewarding, but boy, can it be incredibly uncomfortable. So many mamas recommend investing in simple comforts such as a breastfeeding pillow. A regular pillow can work fine, but breastfeeding pillows wrap around your waist area and provide the best support so your baby can nurse comfortably while your arms and back aren’t straining too much.

9. Create a breastfeeding corner

Feeling relaxed and comfortable is one of the essential tips to make breastfeeding easier. It’s crucial for a smoother breastfeeding experience. If your space permits, set up a cozy little corner with a comfy couch, pillows, music, snacks, water, and other essentials you need when breastfeeding.

10. Wear nursing-friendly tops or bras

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When caring for a newborn, expect to nurse round the clock since they’ll be breastfeeding on demand. So make it easier for you, mama, with nursing tops and bras with discrete lits for easy nursing access.

In addition, some tops provide sufficient coverage to allow you to breastfeed in public without needing a nursing cover.

11. Change your breastfeeding positions

It’s not true that you need to stick to one breastfeeding position. Instead, learning different breastfeeding positions such as side-lying, cradle, and more can help you down the road when encountering common breastfeeding issues such as mastitis or sore nipples. Did you know that most breastfeeding pain can be remedied by changing your position?

12. Use a milk catcher to save every drop

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Breast milk is precious, so don’t waste a single drop! When nursing, you can attach a let-down catcher like Mama’s Choice Breast Milk Collection Shell to save milk leaking from one breast while you nurse. It’s a great way to build up your supply too slowly.

13. Try a nipple shield

An ingenious creation for mamas struggling to get a good latch with their babies, a nipple shield helps alleviate painful breastfeeding. This tip to make breastfeeding easier is handy if you have flat nipples or dealing with sore nipples.

14. Avoid using a pacifier too early

Pacifiers are perfectly fine to use, but waiting until a mama’s milk supply is established is generally recommended before you introduce a pacifier. Typically, this would be after six to eight weeks. But here are a few pointers when using a pacifier: try not to use a pacifier as a way to keep a baby from the breast. During the newborn stage, babies nurse anywhere from eight to 12 times per day.

15. Rely on your baby’s cues, not the clock

For first-time mamas, timing every nursing session may be the safest way to ensure you feed your baby appropriately. However, many health professionals suggest observing a baby’s hunger cues, not the clock. In addition, each baby’s feeding pattern differs. For example, some babies nurse in short intervals, while others may nurse longer.

According to Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC lactation consultant, “it’s typical for some babies to take one breast at some feedings and both breasts at home.” To ensure you breastfeed your little one at the appropriate times, look for signs of hunger, such as licking the lips or putting their hands to their mouth.

16. A little massage goes a long way

In a previous article, we discussed how an oxytocin massage could work wonders for your let-down reflex. But if you don’t have anybody to do the said massage, you can go for a simple breast massage which you can do by yourself. This helps to drain your breast more effectively, telling your body to make more milk! Plus, massage can also help soften your breasts when they’re engorged.

17. Look after yourself too, mama

From getting enough sleep to eating a healthy diet, breastfeeding is a journey best taken when you’re at your best. And so don’t be afraid to ring grandma or ask for a timeout from your hubby to collect yourself or catch some sleep.

With these tips to make breastfeeding more accessible, we hope you are one step closer to a successful breastfeeding journey and reap the breastfeeding benefits for mamas and babies.

In addition, here’s a quick reference guide about different breastfeeding positions and which scenarios they work best for. We hope you find this helpful, mama!

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