![\"breastfeeding\"](\"https:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/08\/BreastfeedingLarken.jpg\" "\\"tips")
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While breastfeeding may come easily for some, it doesn\u2019t for all moms. And no matter the journey or its length, nursing and pumping take tremendous amounts of time, energy, and commitment.<\/p>\n
Here are five tips for successful breastfeeding to help aid you in the journey:<\/p>\n
While nursing right after birth is ideal, it\u2019s not always an option for some moms, especially after a C-section. But if possible, hold your baby close to you, skin to skin, covered lightly together. Babies are often more alert and interested in feeding in the first hour following birth. The skin-to-skin touch will help your milk production and your baby\u2019s feeding reflexes will be triggered.<\/p>\n
For caesarean births, the mother or father can hold the baby skin to skin until the baby can enjoy his or her first feeding. Keep in mind it can take several days for your full milk supply to come in, so don\u2019t get discouraged. Speak with the Lactation Consultant at the hospital after you have the baby to help assist you and answer any questions.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that it doesn\u2019t always come as easily or naturally as expected, and the first good latch can take some time, but Lactation Consultants are there to help guide you and help you on your road to breastfeeding\/pumping success.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to have comfortable, easy-to-nurse\/pump bras and clothing. Fortunately, there are really great options in nursing bras and other wearables that are made without irritating elastic, snaps, or zippers, now making nursing and pumping an easier and more enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n
Get a good nursing pillow, one that wraps around your body and helps with positioning. It will also relieve stress on your back, neck and shoulders. Keep a number handy for a lactation consultant in the event you have questions or problems.<\/p>\n
Also, keep a few important items close by in a couple of spots in your home where you\u2019ll be nursing and\/or pumping. Include snacks (like trail mix, fruit and granola bars), bottled water, nursing pads, nipple cream, burp cloths, your phone and magazines and books.<\/p>\n
When selecting your pump, your best bet is a hospital-grade double breast pump with graduated suction-level settings (rather than just high, medium, and low) and several sizes of flanges (breast shields). Check with your insurance company to see what type of pump is covered and to find out if your insurance covers hospital-grade pump rentals.<\/p>\n
The more powerful the pump, the better chance you\u2019ll have of getting going pumping. If you\u2019re able to produce enough milk pumping, it will allow others to feed the baby so you can have breaks away.<\/p>\n
Busy, overtired moms tend to skip self-care and not give themselves proper attention. Drink plenty of water while breastfeeding (aim for about 8-10 glasses a day) and make sure you\u2019re eating as well! Breast milk is made up of about 90 percent water, so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids. Drinking enough water or other fluids will keep you healthy and hydrated. It will also help you to make and maintain your breast milk supply.<\/p>\n
Take the phrase \u201cit takes a village” to heart.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid to accept and ask for help with housework, meals and care of your new baby and your other children from family and friends or just some help with the baby while you can sneak in a nap or step outside for a walk and fresh air.<\/p>\n
Remind yourself that you\u2019re doing an incredible job, giving your baby an amazing gift and this is no easy task. Though we often expect breastfeeding to come naturally and hopefully it does, it can bring challenges as well. Trust your mama instincts and don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help, whether that\u2019s from family, friends, lactation consultants or medical resources.<\/p>\n
Katie Blouin and Maggie Phipps are former attorneys and moms who co-founded the brand Larken and Larken X<\/a>\u2014the all-in-one nursing and hands-free pumping bra\u2014while pregnant with their youngest daughters. Both struggled with breastfeeding and pumping for their oldest daughters, finding undressing and redressing in and out of uncomfortable pumping garments with clips, zippers and snaps several times a day to be both time-consuming and stressful. Frustrated with the options on the market, Katie and Maggie took a methodical approach to learning the field and designing a solution. The very first prototype arrived on Maggie’s doorstep the same day that Katie went into labor with her youngest daughter. The brand now offers a full selection of ultrasoft, hardware and tag-free essentials that can take moms through pregnancy, nursing, pumping and beyond. <\/em><\/p>\n Like what you read? JOIN the Mommybites community<\/a> to get the latest on\u00a0FREE online classes<\/a>,\u00a0parenting advice<\/a>,\u00a0events<\/a>,\u00a0childcare listings<\/a>,\u00a0casting calls<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0raffles,<\/a>\u00a0and our\u00a0Parents With Nannies Facebook group<\/a>. SIGN UP NOW<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While breastfeeding may come easy for some, it doesn\u2019t for all moms. And no matter the journey or its length, nursing and pumping take tremendous amounts of time, energy and commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4937,"featured_media":28397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"schneps_byline":"","schneps_post_style":"","schneps_post_source":"","schneps_syndicated_read_more":"","schneps_post_source_sitename":"","schneps_post_source_shortname":"","schneps_post_source_url":"","schneps_post_source_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,54],"tags":[345,841,842,839],"class_list":["post-28389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moms","category-baby","tag-breastfeeding","tag-breastfeeding-tips","tag-feeding-baby","tag-new-baby"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/5-tips-for-breastfeeding-success\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"5 Tips for Breastfeeding Success","url":"http:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/5-tips-for-breastfeeding-success\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/5-tips-for-breastfeeding-success\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/08\/BreastfeedingLarken.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/mommybites.com\/newyork\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/08\/BreastfeedingLarken.jpg"},"articleSection":"Moms","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Blouin and Maggie Phipps"}],"creator":["Katie Blouin and Maggie Phipps"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mommybites New York","logo":""},"keywords":["breastfeeding","breastfeeding tips","feeding baby","new baby"],"dateCreated":"2025-08-15T14:00:48Z","datePublished":"2025-08-15T14:00:48Z","dateModified":"2025-08-22T13:32:07Z"},"rendered":"