Nursing bras/nursing wear are very useful for convenient feeding in and out of home. A nursing cover too, if you intend to breastfeed outside.
You’ll need good nutrition (carbo, proteins) and lots of fluids (aim 3L/day) so don’t stinge on taking care of yourself:) you’ll also need some rest and to avoid stress because these can affect supply quite a lot. Breastfeed on demand (even if it’s every hour initially), not at fixed intervals. This helps build a healthy supply. In between direct latching (if the intervals are longer), pump your milk. Power pumping also helps build the supply.
As for storage, if I’m going to use the milk within 24hrs, I usually store the milk in reusable storage bottles and keep that in the fridge. If I’m going to store the milk in the freezer for the future (usually within 2 months), I use disposable breastmilk storage bags. Milk bottles are of course needed for bottle feeding, and the teats need to be upsized at the suggested ages because if the flow gets too slow, baby will reject the bottle.
For nipple cracks, I used Medela Purelan ointment. It worked wonders. Even when there was pain, I would apply it just before feeding, and latch on immediately after, and it felt okay. Then after feeding, I would apply it one more time, so the cracks healed pretty quickly.
All the best and have fun:) remember that you get to decide when to start and stop breastfeeding. Hope you find joy and fulfilment!
Read more
