3 Top Breastfeeding Hacks your Body and Baby will thank you for

This is my second breastfeeding journey and as enjoyable as it is, it is equally hard and tiresome. Even so, I wouldn’t change a thing. Today’s post will be a short one because both babies are asleep so we must maximize on time given!

Today we will go through my top three breastfeeding hacks:

1. Collecting Letdown
2. Storing Breastmilk
3. Get a Chair or…

1. Collecting Let-Down

For this, I used The Trove (you can find it on amazon) which is a silicone cup applied to the breast while the baby is nursing on the other. The cup collects the letdown that would have otherwise been lost in a nursing pad or bra. We simply cannot waste our precious breastmilk so try to save it at every opportunity.
I like the boon specifically because it does the job of collecting milk well, it is designed uniquely to go just over the nipple so there is a low chance of spillage.
It’s discrete. It fits right in your bra and even though it is round, it is designed to stand upright.
Can’t get better than that.

2. Storing Breastmilk

The CDC set out guidelines about breastmilk storage which you’ll find handy when you decide to save your breastmilk.
Breast milk may be stored at room temperature for approximately four hours.
In the refrigerator for 4 days and in the freezer for 6 months to 1 year. It is important to note that if the breastmilk was previously frozen and thawed then it is safe for 1 -2 hours at room temperature, 1 day in the refrigerator BUT it should NOT be frozen again.  If there is milk left over from a feeding, this should be used in 2 hours or discarded.
To store your precious liquid gold, I would recommend using the lasinoh breastmilk storage bags (link here). I’ve used this brand with my son and now I’m still using it with my daughter. Let me tell you why, starting on the outside and going in.
1) the bags store quite well
2) aesthetically pleasing
3) they open easily
4)clear markings
5) easy to pour in and out of

3. Get a chair or…

Your back will thank you for this,
Nursing slumped over will only cause your neck, upper back, and shoulder pain in the long run, try to get a proper chair if you can afford a new one (and use the chair as much as you can! – lol, I’m preaching to myself here) but you get the drift.
Sometimes we may breastfeed in the bed or the couch so I’d like to add to this some tips for those positions.
When breastfeeding, the ideal position is to be sitting upright in a chair with knees bent and feet touching the floor with your sweet baby propped up on a pillow, or you can use The Boppy (you can also find this on amazon). Having the baby closer to you means you don’t use your upper body to look down at your baby so your posture would have been improved.
Sometimes the ideal isn’t possible for eg. when the baby wakes in the middle of the night. So if you are breastfeeding laying down on your side, put a pillow under your neck for good support. This will save you the pain when you wake up.

Summing it up:
• Don’t forget to collect the letdown from your other breast when breastfeeding. You’d be surprised how much goes to waste in a nursing pad.
• Knowing how to store breastmilk is important because we only want to give our children the best.
• Maintaining proper posture helps to prevent upper back and shoulder pain. I hope that by reading this, we will be more mindful of our posture while breastfeeding.

Thank you so much for reading. Leave a comment down below on your favorite breastfeeding hack. I would love to hear it!

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’til next week,

Abby