What you can do to prepare for breastfeeding

As a postpartum nurse, experienced breast feeder and lactation consultant, I absolutely love giving mamas tips to make them feel more prepared for their own breastfeeding journeys!

I find that a lot of mamas focus so much on preparing for birth, that preparing for breastfeeding often becomes as afterthought, or is sometimes altogether non existent. I completely understand this. Birth itself and preparing for all it’s possibilities can be overwhelming! However I do feel that preparing for breastfeeding can make a huge impact on breastfeeding success. If you’d like to know what you can do to prepare for breastfeeding while you're pregnant, keep reading!

#1 ATTEND A BREASTFEEDING CLASS

Attend a breastfeeding class either in person or online. This will help you gain more knowledge about the basics of breastfeeding, including proper latching and positioning, breastmilk production, pumping, common breastfeeding struggles and how to overcome them, etc. If possible I really would recommend finding an online one, that way you can go back through the information once baby comes! You can also check if the hospital you will be delivering at has a breastfeeding class.

#2 GET YOUR BREAST PUMP

Get your breast pump beforehand and LEARN HOW TO USE IT! Watch a video online, often available on the company’s website. Typically insurance will cover the cost of a breast pump! I personally used babylist.com and they submitted the pump request to my insurance for me and it was super easy!

#3 SET UP A NURSING STATION

Set up a nursing station in the various locations around your house that you plan to breastfeed! Items I recommend: coconut water or your favorite drink, snacks that are easy to open/eat with one hand, lanolin/nipple cream, hand sanitizer, burp rags, pacifier if using and whatever else you might want near when breastfeeding!

#4 GET A BREASTFEEDING PILLOW!!

I love my boppy because I have been able to use it for other things as well (tummy time and assisted sitting) but I have heard from many moms that they felt that the breast friend pillow was much better in those early weeks/months. Either way, it is such a useful tool when getting baby set up properly at the breast.

#5 SET UP EXPECTATIONS

Set up expectation with your support person BEFOREHAND regarding helping with breastfeeding. Examples: getting baby ready for breastfeeding by changing diapers/undressing. Get mama snacks and drinks while breastfeeding. Attend breastfeeding classes beforehand so they have more knowledge about breastfeeding (how it works, expectations, how often to feed baby, possibly challenges and how they can help). Set up expectations regarding bottle/pump part cleaning if intending to pump or bottle feed at all during the breastfeeding journey.

#6 UNDERSTAND THAT BREASTFEEDING IS NOT ALWAYS “EASY”

It is important realize that, contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding does not come easily to everyone. You are learning, baby is learning. It is HARD. It is draining, time consuming, stressful but it is also beautiful. Give yourself grace if it is not going the way you thought it would. Reach out to support people you have hopefully set up beforehand (See #8)

#7 MAKE A PLAN

Make a plan BEFORE on what you would want to supplement with if it came to that (formula, donor milk, expressed breast milk). This way you have time to really think it through and don’t have to make a rushed decision if for any reason the pediatrician recommends supplementation for your baby.

#8 SEE A LACTATION CONSULTANT

If you are able to, seeing a lactation consultant BEFORE delivery can be a game changer! They are able to educate you on what to expect, what can affect milk supply, any risk factors to supply you may have (depending on your medical/surgical history) and they can be your resource for after delivery - you will already have a relationship and good rapport with them, making it easier to see them postpartum. 

#9 FIND OUT IF LACTATION IS COVERED BY YOUR INSURANCE

If you are unable to see a lactation consultant BEFORE delivery, try to contact your insurance provider while pregnant to inquire on what steps will need to be taken to see one once baby is born. I made the mistake of struggling through breastfeeding for almost a month on my own because I did not know my insurance would cover 100% of a lactation consultant visit. I was too tired and overwhelmed to call them myself, and I was lucky enough to have a spouse that called for me. 

• Around the same time I ended up discovering The Lactation Network. All I had to do was submit a request online, including my insurance information, and they were able to tell me my coverage and set up a home visit! It honestly made the BIGGEST difference.

#10 GET A BACK-UP PUMP

If you end up with an electric pump, I still recommend having a hand pump as backup. Hand (manual) pumps have shown to increase milk supply, and are a great thing to have on hand in case your electric pump isn’t charged, you have suction problems with your electric pump, or you are waiting for replacement parts for your electric pump. A hand pump is great, especially at night if baby only nurses on one side, you can pump the other side! You can also use breast compression while pumping with the hand pump, increasing breastmilk output. It is a great backup pump to have. I always toss mine in my diaper bag when I head out the door, just in case! This has come in handy for me when pumping at work more than once -it’s easy to forget to charge an electric pump!

#11: NIPPLE RELIEF

Have some good nipple relief products on hand: lanolin or nipple butter, gel pads or silverettes (these have mixed reviews, some people swear by them, some don't feel they helped). While these products can help ease some of the nipple discomfort at the beginning of your breastfeeding journey, it is important to note that these items are for relief, not healing. Healing a sore or damaged nipples involves fixing what damaged it in the first place (damage done by a pump or latch). It is so important to address the reason for the pain FIRST.

#12 NURSING PADS, BRAS, TOPS

Nursing pads for leaking along with nursing/pumping bras and tops. The goal: easy access for breastfeeding!

#13: GET A HAAKAA

Ladybug Haakaa letdown catcher! This is great to have on hand, especially if you find that you have a strong letdown on the opposite breast that your baby is nursing from. These Haakaa products don’t work for everyone, you won’t know until you try it. Personally, I found that these products don’t work for me. However, I do not feel my letdown and I have never leaked. Like I said, everyone is different, but A LOT of mamas find that these work great and they are able to catch extra milk to help build up a freezer stash. Remember, if it is creating suction and pulling milk, it is working as a PUMP! I have seen moms end up with an oversupply using this!

#14 FREEZER BAGS

Make sure you have some breastmilk freezer bags. Having a large freezer stash is NOT normal for a lot of breastfeeding mamas and is also not necessary for a successful breastfeeding journey. I would recommend having at least one box of these on hand, if you end up needing them you can’t necessarily wait for them to come in the mail. Breastmilk does have an expiration (should only be at room temperature for up to 4 hours and in the fridge for up to 4 days), so it is better to have them on hand just in case.

#15: UNDERSTAND YOU MAY NEVER FEEL FULLY PREPARED

And most importantly, realize that you will never fully be prepared. It is great to go in with a game plan, but it is even more important to realize that you honestly have no idea what is going to happen. Sometimes breastfeeding comes easily to both mama and baby, and sometimes it is hard, hard work. There are also times when exclusive breastfeeding is not recommended by the medical staff (premature baby, smaller than average baby, baby has low blood sugars, jaundice, etc..) It is so important to understand you will never be fully prepared, and you really need to give yourself grace in your breastfeeding journey. Not only do you need to learn how to breastfeed, but so does your baby! It is hard work, and it is good to start this journey with the understanding that it may be challenging, which is why I always suggest connecting with lactation support BEFORE baby arrives (if possible)

I wish you the best on your breastfeeding journey!