While preparing to welcome my first born, I got an indispensable advice from my mother. She pointed to the breastfeeding techniques which I was a bit reluctant to adopt. It seemed fussy. But all her advices came flashing when soon I had to nurture my new born.
Breastfeeding is an integral part of child care, particularly infant care. And the right tools and accessories can bring much comfort and relaxation for both the mother and her child. With the availability of a variety of products in the range, you can get more than you expect. Many of the items can be obtained within your house itself.
Since breastfeeding incorporates a considerable part of your daily chores, anything which could ease off the process would be a welcome. However, it is necessary to ensure that any of the techniques you adopt should not harm you or your child. Whenever in doubt, consult your doctor.
Below is a listing of some important tools which you can find helpful.
Nursing pillow
Many mothers can manage without it. But a nursing pillow can give you comfort and enable the child to feed better. Nursing pillow can be the right support for your arms and shoulders. You can use any of your usual pillows as a nursing pillow provided it has the correct firmness. Too loose or too tight a pillow would not give the required support.
Nursing pad
Nursing pads are very important when breastfeeding. Usually, mothers find some leakage or wet nipple area when they are not feeding the child. The nursing pads can help you remain clean and avoid staining your cloth. They also help to keep moisture away from the nipples, thus avoiding racking and chaffing.
You can have a washable or a disposable one as per your need. While the washable ones are comfortable, they may be more expensive than the disposable ones. Besides, they may be easily visible (or traceable). The disposable ones may give some discomfort but are barely traceable. You may experiment with both types and choose accordingly.
Breastfeeding bra
You may not realize the significance of a nursing or breastfeeding bra until you use one for yourself. It may be easy to breastfeed the child within the comfort of your home. But managing a constantly crying and restless child outside may be challenging. You realize the urgency to quickly unwrap the bra and satiate him/her. These specially designed bras can be extremely comforting. They save on struggling with all the straps and buttons in the apparel, particularly during winter when clothing becomes a bit cumbersome.
Breast pump
The breast pump can aid you if you wish to give your own milk to the child (even though you cannot be available throughout the day). The breast pump can help in expressing milk and storing it to be used later. A manual pump can be used if you do not intend to give expressed milk regularly. If you are expressing regularly, an electric pump would be more comforting.
Milk storage
When you are using expressed milk, you would be requiring appropriate containers to store and feed the milk. A container with measuring scales can determine the quantity of milk needed on regular basis, reducing the chances of wastage. A freezer bag can provide easy storage with sealing clips and labels for writing dates for proper storage and usage.
Clean cloth
A small piece of muslin or cotton cloth can be used when burping the child. It can clean any spills. You can also keep it handy for wiping the child’s dribble while feeding. Even otherwise, it is a good habit to keep a soft piece of cloth within your child’s kitty.
Nipple protectors
Sometimes, mothers may want to use soft plastic protection for nipples. The nipple protectors may be used as a temporary solution only. And it should be opted only after you have tried other options of breastfeeding. A silicon shield potentially works better than a rubber shield. Ensure that you contact a lactation consultant when opting for nipple protectors.
Nursing cover
A nursing cover can give you privacy while breastfeeding the child. Many times, the child easily gets distracted and discontinues feeding. A nursing cover can give a quiet atmosphere to your child dissociating him/her from all attractions. Sometimes, children do not willingly accept the cover. With some perseverance, you can adapt your child to the covered atmosphere.
Apart from the above accessories, the right posture is very important, both for you and your child. Usually, the advice is to breastfeed sitting relaxed with the child in your arms. Breastfeeding should be avoided while sleeping or sitting perched. A comfortable chair can help to avoid a neck or back pain.
Breastfeeding is an essential part of child care. It is a vital component of mother-child bonding and contributes for the betterment of both the mother and her child. Incorporating the essential breastfeeding accessories enables you to enjoy this unique bonding effortlessly.
