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I breastfed my first baby for eight months, my second baby for six months, and my third baby for 13 months. During that time, I figured out a lot of things that made nursing easier, and a lot of things that sounded cool, but really didn’t make a difference.

Since it’s always helpful to pass on information to new mamas, I wanted to throw together this list of breastfeeding essentials with all the things I loved having on hand for breastfeeding! Hopefully it helps a new mom who was just as unsure about what she needs as I was the first time around!

Breastfeeding Essentials

A Notebook and Pen

From the day we got home from the hospital to the day I stopped breastfeeding, I recorded what time and for how long my babies would eat. The doctor at the hospital recommended writing it down so I could make sure my first was eating often enough, and it was really helpful! I wrote down the times I started and stopped and what sides I started and stopped on (because I have a horrible memory!).

With my first baby, I also ended up recording when I gave him his vitamin D, when he had a bath, and how many wet and dirty diapers he had (only for the first few weeks). There is a lot to remember when you have a baby so writing down how often you nurse is really helpful. And I kept my notebook on a side table next to my chair so I would always have it handy.

A Clock

Preferably a digital clock so you can be more exact, but this goes along with writing down how long your baby eats. Of course if you’re using your phone and the notes section on your phone, that would count for the clock, too, but it really helps to have a clock right there so that you can know how long your baby is eating. Sometimes they may eat for less and you might want to remember that so next time they can eat more.

Nipple Cream

Nipple cream is a lifesaver, especially in those first few weeks when your nipples aren’t used to breastfeeding. There are few things worse than a dry, cracked nipple.

There are two kinds of nipple cream that I like. Lanolin was what I used with my first two babies. It’s like super thick, almost waxy, lotion (that you don’t have to wipe off before nursing) and it saves you. I used a little tube of Lansinoh lanolin, and since you don’t need a lot when you use it, I only went through one tube for each kid.

With my third baby, I used Earth Mama Nipple Butter. It’s lanolin free, organic, and doesn’t have any parabens or artificial fragrance. It works just like the Lansinoh lanolin, but it’s a little more natural. Whatever kind of nipple cream you get, just get it before your baby is born because even if you’ve nursed before, you will need it as soon as you start nursing your new baby!

Nursing Bras

You definitely want to invest in a nice nursing bra (or two). I can’t imagine trying to breastfeed without one. I actually got a cotton one and then a regular underwire one so that I had one to sleep in and one that was more supportive during the day. I talked to a lot of other mamas and even compiled a list of where to find the best nursing bras that you can look at if you have no idea where to start!

Nursing Pads

When you breastfeed your baby, you will leak. It can be a lot or a little, but you definitely don’t want to be out in public and soak through your shirt. Nursing pads are absorbent little pads that you just stick inside your bra and they save you from embarrassing leaks. If you don’t know how to choose the right nursing pad, there are disposable and washable nursing pads. What you choose will definitely be based on your personal preferences. I personally like the disposable ones more, but I know lots of mamas who like the washable ones more. It’s good to try out both and then see which you like more!

A Comfy Chair

A few months before our first was born we bought a new couch and recliner set and they were so comfortable. We decided to put the recliner in our baby’s room and use that instead of buying a rocking chair because once I was done nursing him we could still use the chair. I used it to nurse all three of my babies, and we still have it today. You could also get a rocking chair, but repurposing it after you’re done nursing might be a little harder. And whatever you get, make sure it’s comfortable enough that you can sit in it for long periods of time!

A Tablet, e-Reader, or Smart Phone

With my oldest son, I loved nursing with my Kindle Fire by my side. By the time my youngest was born, smart phones were fancy enough that I just used that while I nursed. Nursing can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes (especially in the beginning). And just sitting there watching your baby can get old, no matter how cute and precious they are. Having a way to get online or watch a show is amazing! And it really helped me during night feedings because it helped me from falling asleep while nursing!

Nursing Cover

If you’re the type who isn’t comfortable nursing in public, you’ll want one of these. I made myself a nursing cover for under $5 and it was super helpful whenever we went places for more than a few hours. But if you’re fine pulling your shirt up whenever, that’s fine, too!

Boppy Pillow

I used the same Boppy pillow to nurse all three of my kiddos. The few times we traveled and I didn’t have it with me, I tried using a regular pillow or nothing and it just wasn’t the same. Out of everything on this list, my Boppy is probably the most important of all breastfeeding essentials. The Boppy makes it so much easier because you don’t have to hold your baby up as much and you can have an arm free. And bonus, the Boppy can be used for tummy time and helping baby sit up too, so it’s got multiple uses.

Breast Pump

Regardless of whether or not you’re planning on pumping exclusively, I would recommend getting a breast pump. A breast pump can really help alleviate the pain and discomfort that comes along with engorged breasts, whether that’s from your baby not eating much, baby sleeping through the night, or something else. Another reason why having a breast pump is handy because if your baby has baby food for a meal or you have to be away from baby during a time you would feed them, you can pump and help yourself not get engorged. The website Aeroflow Breastpumps is a great resource for getting a breastpump through your insurance!

Breastmilk Storage Bags

If you are going to be using a pump, you will need a place to store the milk, and storage bags are the ideal choice because you can easily put them in the freezer and save milk for a few months if needed. Plus, it’s gut-wrenching to have to pour freshly pumped breastmilk down the drain. I used the Lansinoh storage bags and they were perfect.

Note: Another cool product that I’ve discovered since breastfeeding to store breastmilk are Milkies Milk Trays. They let you freeze breastmilk in 1-ounce increments. Super helpful for when you only pump a little bit!

Burp Rags

Burp rags are definitely a breastfeeding essential because if you have a baby who spits up when you burp them, you won’t want that getting all over your clothes. I also used my burp rags while I was nursing by tucking them into my bra so that if my babies didn’t quite get everything, it didn’t run down and get my bra wet. Burp rags are really handy and I definitely wouldn’t start feeding my baby without one close! I made a bunch of DIY burp rags for all of my babies, and they lasted the whole time I nursed!

So there you have it, my complete list of breastfeeding essentials! Breastfeeding can be awkward and hard at first, but it’s such a special experience and a great way to bond with your baby (not to mention a good excuse to go be alone for a few minutes!). And if it doesn’t work, it’s okay to stop breastfeeding. Formula exists for a reason!

This post was originally posted June 16th, 2014.

The post Breastfeeding Essentials appeared first on Life With My Littles.

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Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Did you even know that was a thing? Well now you do! It’s an annual campaign sponsored by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and the goal is to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding worldwide. 

I’ve been lucky enough to breastfeed all three of my babies, and I know from personal experience that breastfeeding can be made a lot easier and a lot more comfortable when you have the right products and accessories to support you! 

There are a lot of awesome products that I wish I had used with my babies that I didn’t even know about until after I was done nursing. I’m going to guess that a lot of mamas probably don’t know about them all, so today, in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I thought I’d share some of the best breastfeeding products that I have loved, that I’ve heard great things about, and that some of my mama friends have recommended! I’ve breaking it down into category (breast care, breastpumps and accessories, breastfeeding helpers, and things for helping make breastfeeding more comfortable). This post is basically just a great resource for any new or experienced breastfeeding mama! 

The Best Breastfeeding Products

Breast Care

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads. I was lucky enough to use these little things from day one of breastfeeding my first baby, and they were lifesavers. They’re basically like ice packs for your breasts, but without making them freeze. They’re soothing, cool, and perfect for nipples that are in pain and breasts that are aching. A must-have for the beginning of breastfeeding.

Lansinoh Lanolin. I used this brand of lanolin for all three babies and it was great. It helped my nipples feel better when they were raw and chapped, and I made one small tube last the entire time I nursed each kid. You don’t have to wipe it off before you nurse again, and it’s 100% natural and hypoallergenic!

Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter. I heard about this first on The Birth Hour podcast, and then again a few months later at Gearapalooza Minneapolis. It’s similar to lanolin, but it’s lanolin-free, restorative (unlike lanolin), moisturizing, organic, and non-sticky. You don’t have to wipe it off before nursing, and you can even use it on other dry parts of your body! I would definitely recommend this one and I haven’t even used it myself! But it sounds dreamy!

Motherlove Nipple Cream. I haven’t used this either, but it was recommended by another mama and sounds awesome! It’s similar to the Earth Mama Nipple Butter in that it’s organic, restorative, and you don’t have to wipe it off before nursing. It only has five ingredients (extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, and calendula flower), and the anti-microbial properties also make it an ideal salve for soothing baby acne! Cool!

Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads. I haven’t used these ones, but I had multiple people recommend them as the pads they used while breastfeeding (the pads I used for all three babies have actually been discontinued because Babies R Us doesn’t really exist anymore!). They have stickies on the backs so they won’t move around in your bra (very helpful for preventing leaking!), which is something I loved about the pads I used when nursing! I also pretty much only used disposable pads, so I very much support these!

Breastpumps and Accessories 

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breastpump. I don’t know if this breast pump is still as fabulous as I thought it was when I used it, but it’s like the Cadillac of breastpumps. It’s electric, is super easy to use, doesn’t come with a ton of pieces, has a nice tote you can discreetly carry it around in, comes with a portable battery pack, and lasted me through breastfeeding three babies over the course of almost five years. It’s wonderful. I had a few other mamas recommend Medela breastpumps, although none specifically, so I’m just highlighting this one, since I know it’s good.

Haakaa Manual Breastpump. As far as manual pumps go, this one is amazing. The pump itself is just one piece, it’s made of silicone so it’s comfortable, and it’s small so you can definitely bring it around with you wherever you go. You can attach it to the breast you’re not nursing on and it will catch milk expressed during let down, and all you have to do to clean it is boil it for 2-3 minutes. I haven’t used this one, but I would have if I’d known about it!

Spectra Silicone Breast Massager Inserts. I know this has a weird name (massager?!), but it’s a great product. If you’ve ever pumped before, you know that sometimes the flanges are too big or don’t fit quite right. These little babies go right into the flange and help make them fit your breast better! They’re compatible with 24mm and 28mm flanges, and they change them to 22mm. They also help cushion and massage the breasts during pumping, stimulating the milk ducts around the areola and breasts to increase milk flow and stimulate an earlier let down. If you’re a frequent pumper, I highly recommend checking these out! 

Hands-free pumping bra. I don’t have any specific brand recommendations here, but since pumping is already the worst (does it make anyone else feel like a cow?), a hands-free pumping bra makes it a little easier! Basically, it’s a bra that holds your pump onto your chest so you don’t have to sit there holding your breastpumps on! I’d also highly recommend these for frequent pumpers, especially if you want to do something else with your hands while you’re pumping (like read or work on your computer or something). 

Freezer bags. I loved the Lansinoh freezer bags, but I also have heard the Medela ones are great, so either one works! Even if you don’t think you’ll be pumping frequently, I would recommend getting at least a package of these (especially if you’re going to be using some milk catchers, which I’ll talk about below). Expressed milk is basically like liquid diamonds, and wasting even an ounce cuts you to the core. Save anything you express, preferably in the freezer so you can thaw it and feed it to baby later (and duh, you have to have somewhere to freeze the milk, hence freezer bags).

Milkies Milk Trays. Your other option besides freezer bags are Milkies Milk Trays. These things are GENIUS. If there’s anything wrong with freezer bags, it’s that you either have to freeze a decent amount of milk in each bag (which sometimes you end up wasting), or you have to freeze a little bit in each bag and waste a lot of space in them. That’s where Milkies Milk Trays come in. You freeze your milk in one ounce sticks that fit into the opening of any bottle. WHAT? I KNOW! This way you can thaw as many or as few ounces of milk as you want, and no milk gets wasted. Like I said, GENIUS.

While we’re on the subject of breastpumps, I also want to give a shout out to Aeroflow Breastpumps, which is an awesome company that helps mamas qualify for breastpumps through their insurance. This post isn’t sponsored in any way, but in my experience, getting a breastpump and dealing with insurance was dang complicated and the insurance and hospital were telling me different things and I ended up having to pay full price for mine, which was a huge bummer. Anyway, they do great work and I definitely recommend checking them out if you haven’t gotten yourself a breastpump! 

Breastfeeding Helpers

Milkies Milk-Savers. Another genius product from Milkies! You know how when you nurse and you have your let down and both breasts fill up and start leaking? Well that’s great for the breast your baby is nursing on, but what about your other breast just spraying into your nursing pad? Wouldn’t it be great if you could collect that milk and save it somehow? With Milkies Milk-Savers you can! You just slip one over your nipple on the side your baby isn’t on and it collects milk that leaks out while you’re nursing your baby on the other side! Think of all the ounces of breastmilk you could save using one of these! I wish I had had these when I was nursing because I probably could’ve saved up so much that I wouldn’t have ever have had to pump! 

Nipple Shields. Not everyone needs a nipple shield, but if you have trouble getting your baby to latch, your baby is premature, or you have flat or inverted nipples, a nipple shield might help. I haven’t ever used one, but my sister has, and she said it was the only way she could get her youngest to nurse. Just make sure you know how to use one properly before you use it!

Fenugreek. Fenugreek is an herb used for helping increase milk production. I had a few mamas recommend it, and I used it with my third baby and I think it helped. There are several breastfeeding supplements with fenugreek in them (The Honest Company, UpSpring), so do your research and decide for yourself if you want to try it. 

Lactation Cookies. Yup, these are a thing. You can buy them premade, buy mixes, or make your own. Some people might think they’re silly, but I think they helped me when I was nursing my third! Plus, why wouldn’t you want to eat more cookies in your life!?

Making Breastfeeding More Comfortable

RockerMama Ready Rocker. This was another thing I didn’t hear of until after I was done breastfeeding all of my babies, but it’s a genius idea! It turns any seat you’re in into a rocker! You can rock wherever you are, which is awesome for anyone who doesn’t have a rocker or who nurses their baby in other places besides the nursery! 

Boppy Nursing Pillow. This is what I used with all three of my babies, and it was amazing. I tried using a regular pillow when we would travel the first few times, and it was so uncomfortable and difficult to get positioned that I ended up taking my pillow with me when we’d travel! Mine lasted through all three of my babies, so it’s a great investment.

Luna Lullaby Nursing Pillow. A friend recommended this one, and it’s pretty similar to a Boppy, but it’s not quite as curved. Instead of a C, it’s more of an obtuse angle, if that makes sense. It looks comfy and would definitely work in the same way. You just have to decide which one is right for you! 

Nursing Cover. I know nursing covers aren’t for everybody, but if you nurse in public a lot and aren’t comfortable with just pulling up or pulling down your shirt, a nursing cover can be awesome. When my first baby was born I only had one that covered the front of me, and I hated it. I made a full-coverage one when my daughter was born and I was so much more comfortable with it. You can get the tutorial here (it’s so easy, takes less than five minutes, and all you have to do is sew a straight line). Or you can buy one like this (hint, it’s so much cheaper to make your own!).

If there’s anything else you’d like to recommend or you think should be added to this list of the best breastfeeding products, I’d love to hear it! Leave a comment and let me know! 

Breastfeeding is such an incredible gift we have. Not everyone nurses for the same amount of time, and that’s totally okay. Hopefully this World Breastfeeding Week you can remember to support everyone, no matter how they feed their baby, and hopefully you’ve found something helpful on this list to make your breastfeeding experience more enjoyable! 

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This post is sponsored by bamboobies®. All opinions are my own. $1 of every sale on bamboobies.com in the month of October will go to the Keep a Breast Foundation!

Last year I wrote a post all about what to expect during labor and delivery. It’s basically a big long list of things that I had no idea about before my first baby was born that would’ve been helpful to know. It’s already been viewed so many times that it’s my ninth most popular post of ALL TIME. Seriously, it’s insane. I thought that since it was so popular, it might be helpful to write a detailed post all about what to expect postpartum! I shared a few things in my labor and delivery post about the hours immediately following childbirth (you can read about delivering the placenta and getting stitches here), but I wanted to give more information and talk about what I wish I had known about the first few days and weeks postpartum, because mamas, IT GETS REAL, and you’re going to need all the help you can get.

For some reason, with my first baby, I didn’t even think about what it would be like to have a newborn. All I was focused on during my pregnancy was getting to the end and pushing him out. I didn’t prepare myself emotionally, physically, or mentally for all that would happen when I was actually holding my newborn baby in my arms. I didn’t even think about postpartum bleeding or my milk coming in or what my belly was going to look like after my son was born. My goal was just to get my son here healthy and safe, and anything else was irrelevant.

But once he was here and we were the parents of a living, breathing baby, there were a lot of things that happened that I did not expect. So looking back five years later, I have come up with this list of what to expect postpartum to help prepare any first-time mamas about to have their baby. It’s a mix of tips about what to expect in terms of your body and the changes you’ll go through and your new life and what it’s going to be like with a newborn in the house! Preparation and knowing what to expect will make a big difference in how well you adjust when the time comes!

1. After your baby is born, your sweet nurse will help you clean up. Birth is messy, and when it’s all over, you’re going to need to clean yourself up. If you had a hospital birth, your sweet L&D nurse will help you into the bathroom and she’ll show you what to do to take care of your nether regions postpartum. This includes gently rinsing off with a squirt bottle, using dermoplast spray to help ease the pain, getting some mesh cotton undies on, and putting a big giant maxi pad in your undies for the postpartum bleeding. As a first-time mom, it feels super awkward to have someone help you do something you’ve been doing on your own most of your life, but you’ll be so grateful!

2. You will probably be super thirsty and super hungry after childbirth. If you weren’t allowed to eat or drink during labor (which is standard for most hospital births), you’re going to realize that you’re ravenous and parched after things calm down. And if your baby is born in the middle of the night when the cafeteria is closed and restaurants around the hospital are closed, you might not be able to get exactly what you want. Just plan ahead, know your options, and know what you’re going to do (even if that means sending your husband out for a Big Mac!).

3. If you had an epidural and got a catheter, the first time you pee might take you a minute or two. Totally normal, but it’s hard to pee the first time post-catheter. You might have to sit there for a few minutes. Don’t be alarmed.

4. The first poop can be terrifying but actually isn’t that bad. While we’re on the subject of bodily waste, don’t stress too much about the first poop. Yes, people talk a lot about it. Yes, it can be hard. But if you take the laxatives they give you, drink lots of water, and just relax, it will happen. Just please don’t push too hard! You already did enough pushing!

5. Breastfeeding will be hard at first and you might not get it right away. And you know what? That’s okay. It’s totally normal, incredibly common, and not a reason to give up immediately. And of course, if you do decide eventually to give up breastfeeding and switch to bottle feeding, that’s totally okay, too! It’s okay if you decide not to breastfeed. The most important thing is that you figure out what’s best for you and your baby and not worry about what other people say or think.

6. Your boobs and nipples are going to HURT. Regardless of if you’re breastfeeding or not, they’re going to be extra tender and sensitive. Two lifesavers are using nipple balm and therapy pillows. The bamboobies® boob-ease® 100% Organic Nipple Balm is awesome because you just need a tiny bit, you don’t have to wipe it off before nursing again (it’s non-toxic!), and it helps soothe your sore, chapped nipples. Therapy pillows are something I didn’t discover until my third baby, but they are HEAVEN! The bamboobies®Soothing Therapy Pillows are gel-free and made of super-soft rayon from bamboo and flaxseeds (so they really feel like pillows for your boobs!). They can be heated in the microwave to soothe clogged ducts and increase milk flow or cooled in the freezer to provide therapeutic cooling to soothe sore new mama nipples and breasts. They’re seriously a lifesaver for new mama boobs. And if you’re reading this and you’re horrified by how many times I just said nipples, I apologize. But that’s postpartum life.

7. Your milk supply is going to be off the charts when it comes in, and your boobs will probably leak a lot. Until your supply adjusts (which can take a few days or a few weeks), you are going to feel giant (the word “engorged” is the official breastfeeding term) and really, really wet. Especially in the beginning, it’s important to wear nursing pads that you can change often and that you’re not going to leak through. I would definitely recommend using disposable pads (like bamboobies® EcoPure Disposable Nursing Pads because they’re both antibacterial and antimicrobial) in the beginning, and then switching to washable (if you want to switch) after you feel like you’ve adjusted and you’re not going to leak in between feedings.

8. Your body is going to cramp, feel weak, hurt, and be sore in places you didn’t even think could be sore. You just did something unthinkable. You pushed a bowling ball out of a whole the size of a golf ball. Girl, you’re going to be sore. You’re going to hurt. You’re going to be physically weak and exhausted. You’re also going to cramp as your uterus shrinks back down to size. It’s unpleasant, but it will go away.

9. Even after childbirth, you’ll have very little modesty in the hospital. Regardless of if you had a hospital birth or not, childbirth involves a lot of nudity. And just because your baby is out and you don’t have to sit there with an open hospital gown anymore, you’re still going to have very little modesty in the hospital after your baby is born. Nurses will come in to check your lady parts, nurses and lactation consultants will come in to make sure you’re breastfeeding okay, and your doctor will come in to make sure that things are looking good down south. Be ready to continue revealing yourself for a few days until you get to go home.

10. Be prepared for the nurses to come in, push on your stomach, and check your bleeding. While we’re on the subject of little modesty, this is something I really wish someone had told me to expect postpartum. To make sure your uterus is shrinking back down to size, your nurses will come in every few hours to push on your stomach and feel your uterus, and also check to see how much you’re bleeding. It’s super uncomfortable and you’ll probably hate it. They’ll also help you change the little puppy potty training pads that you get to sit on after childbirth so you don’t bleed all over the hospital beds. It’s a glamorous life, friends.

11. You’re going to have postpartum bleeding for about 4-6 weeks. It’s basically like a super long period where you’re not allowed to use tampons. As such, you’ll have to use giant maxi pads that make noise when you move. Hopefully your bleeding will be on the shorter end, but if it takes 6 weeks (or even a week longer like it did with my third), just know that it will eventually end and you won’t feel like you and your baby are both wearing diapers anymore. Although sometimes I do miss those stretchy, mesh undies!

12. You’ll have a “jello belly” for a while after your baby is born. Naturally, your belly won’t be flat and tight after your baby is born, right? In the place of your once round and stretched out belly, you now get to experience what I have affectionately termed a “jello belly.” You know how squishy jello is and how it wiggles around easily when you poke it? Imagine a skin colored bowl of jello on your stomach, and you’ve got a pretty good image of what’s going to happen to your belly. It’s normal, it will eventually get a little tighter and a little smaller, and it happens to everyone. Don’t stress about it.

13. You also won’t get much privacy in the hospital. This also comes with the whole lack of modesty thing, but there are constantly doctors and nurses coming in and out of your hospital room after you have a baby. People who want to check on you, people who want to check on your baby, and of course, if you allow it, visitors. It’s not going to be calm or quiet until you go home where you can lock the front door and really be on your own.

14. You’re going to feel like you’re feeding your baby ALL THE TIME. This is the stage I have dubbed “the milk factory” stage. When your newborn isn’t sleeping, they’ll probably be eating, and heads up, newborns take a long time to eat, and they eat a lot. Hence, you’re going to feel like a milk factory that runs almost 24/7. And if you want to cover up while feeding your baby, try using bamboobies® Chic Nursing Shawl. It’s pretty stylish so people might not even know it’s a nursing cover if you’re out in public with it (and it can be used as a car seat cover), and they just came out with an Open Nursing Shawl that is open so it looks kind of like a kimono. They both have UPF50+ protection so you can use it on sunny days and not worry about your baby getting sunburned! Because if you’re away from home for more than two hours, you’ve got to plan ahead and know that you’ll probably have to feed your baby on-the-go.

15. You can decide who you want to visit you. This is a big one that I don’t think a lot of people realize or understand. I actually have a whole post about how to handle visitors after childbirth. If you’re stressed about it, I recommend reading that post because I give a lot of tips about how to decide who can visit you, how to decide when they can visit, and being okay with the fact that you are the one who gets to say when people can come visit. To sum it up here, YOU are in charge and you shouldn’t worry about hurting someone’s feelings if you’re not ready or not feeling up to having visitors. You had the baby, not them, and it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you and your family.

16. You’re going to be exhausted. The times in my life when I’ve been the most tired physically, mentally, and emotionally all happened right after my babies were born. Since your baby eats every two hours, you have to be awake to feed them every two hours. And if they have a hard time going back to sleep after eating or their days and nights are mixed up, you’re going to be awake during those times with them. For me, this is the hardest part of having a newborn, because even though they’re cute, they require so much of your time and energy. The light at the end of the tunnel is that the newborn stage doesn’t last forever and you’ll adjust to getting less sleep (even if that means upping your caffeine intake!).

17. You will likely have very little bladder control. There is a reason they tell you to do kegels, mamas. Now I’ve shared this story before, but I feel like for the sake of keeping it real, I feel like I should repeat it here. One night when my oldest was a baby and we’d been home from the hospital for a few days, I got up to nurse him and had to go pee. I figured I’d wait and feed him first, because that was what a good mama would do. Well, of course I also had to change his diaper, and as I’m trying to hold it while changing my newborn, I emptied the entire contents of my bladder all over my feet and the carpet in front of my son’s dresser. It was humiliating, and nobody was even there to see it. The next day we went out and bought a carpet cleaner (that has come in handy MANY a time). Moral of the story, if you need to pee, go immediately. Don’t try to hold it, because after you have a baby, you may not be able to hold it.

18. You might go through a phase where you absolutely hate your husband. With all the hormones coursing through your body after having a baby, you might find yourself a little irritable. Now before I say this, know that my husband is an incredibly kind and loving man. But after my first baby was born, there were several instances when I just wanted to punch him right in his mouth. It wasn’t his fault, but those hormones, man, they are A-RAGIN’! If this happens to you, let him know how you’re feeling and that it’s just because of the hormones, then give yourself some time out or some space to cool off. And again, remember that it doesn’t last forever!

19. You won’t always know what you’re doing, and that’s okay. Having a newborn requires learning a lot of new skills fast. You have to swaddle them, bathe them, feed them, dress them, help them stop crying, change their diapers, care for every little thing they need, and take care of yourself at the same time. Sometimes, you won’t always know what you’re doing or how you’re going to get through the day (especially if your baby has colic, and if so, I feel for you!). Want to know a little secret? Nobody really knows what they’re doing! Sometimes, you’re not going to know how to help your baby stop crying. Sometimes, you’re not going to know how you can possibly cook dinner and do the laundry and sweep the floor and hold your baby at the same time. You learn something new about being a mother every single day, and just when you think you’re getting pretty good at parenting, something new will come up and you’ll be back where you started. That’s okay! That’s part of motherhood, and we all go through it. You are definitely not alone there!

20. This stage doesn’t last forever, and it does get easier. My oldest son is five, and as I write this, I still think the hardest stage of his life so far was the newborn stage. For all of the above reasons, and more. Yes, there are always going to be challenges, but at least when your child is older you’re (hopefully) sleeping more and you’re able to find time to feel like yourself again. The newborn stage only last for a few months, and then things start getting easier. That might sound like a long time when you’re right at the beginning, but it goes by so fast, and before you know it, your baby is turning one (cheesy, I know). So hang in there, keep trying, and know that it WILL get easier!

21. Colic is real, it sucks, and it eventually ends. Until my third baby was born, my husband and I didn’t think colic was a big deal. But guys, that kid cried for six weeks straight, and it was SO HARD. I was exhausted, my body was still recovering from childbirth, I had two older kids to take care of, and nothing I did would get him to stop crying. From two weeks to eight weeks, I was a hot, stressed-out mess. But at eight weeks he magically stopped crying and it was like my baby was a completely new little person. So if you’re in the colic boat and you feel like you’re drowning, don’t worry. The hole in your boat will get plugged up and you’ll be afloat again soon.

22. Postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis are serious business. I’m so glad that some of the stigmas are starting to be removed from mental health disorders, because they are SO COMMON and they won’t get better unless you admit something’s wrong and you tell someone. If you feel off, don’t disregard it. This post has more tips if you think you might be suffering. Mamas, please, please, please don’t ignore these postpartum disorders. You can always get help if you’re suffering!

23. Don’t expect your body to bounce back quickly. I assumed that after I had my first baby I wouldn’t immediately go back down to my pre-pregnancy weight, but what I didn’t realize was that it takes a long time and a lot of work to feel like your body is yours again. I never lost the “baby weight” with my second baby, and even now 20 months after my third baby was born, I still have extra, saggy skin on my belly. That’s fine! I don’t think that worrying about the number on the scale is healthy, but I do think that feeling good in your body and loving it is important. Your body made you a human being, so please be nice to it and appreciate it instead of feeling down on it. And NEVER call yourself fat postpartum. Every new mom goes through this stage. And definitely, definitely don’t compare your body to anyone else’s. With your postpartum hormones a-ragin’, that will only cause you pain. And please, don’t look for quick fixes. Don’t do anything drastic to try and get your pre-pregnancy body back. No juice cleanses, no stupid fad diets, no dumb belly wraps. Just eat healthy, exercise, drink enough water, and love every single inch of your body. You only get one body and you need to love it and take care of it.

Postpartum life is hard. With all the emotions and physical pain and major life changes you’re going through, it’s going to be hard. But we all go through it, it gets easier, and your sweet baby is absolutely worth it. Try not to compare yourself or your baby to others in your life or in the media. My friend Jen summed it up perfectly when she said, “You know what is best for you and your baby. Don’t fall slave to the judgement society gives.” Mamas, you are the exact right mother your baby needs. They were sent to you for a reason. You have the final say in whether you breastfeed them or not. You will be able to tell if they aren’t walking at 14 months because they have a development problem or if they’re just a late walker. You know what’s best for them. Take care of yourself, trust yourself, and love your baby. The fourth trimester only lasts for a few months, and you’re going to be out of it before you know it!

The post What to Expect Postpartum appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Remember how exciting bra shopping was as a teenager? It seemed so adventurous and almost a little risqué. So many styles, so many different colors. Lacy bras, push-up bras, strapless bras, and even bras that zipped in the front. There were so many options and it felt like each one could transform you into a new, more empowered woman.

Flash forward to a few weeks ago. A store at the mall was having their annual sale and I thought I would venture in to get a bra that actually fit. And by a bra that actually fit, I mean an A cup bra, because my B cup bra is basically empty now that I’ve stopped breastfeeding.

I walked into the store and was surrounded by gorgeous young women with their gorgeous young friends picking out skimpy lacy bras in bright neon colors and sexy push-up bras that are very obviously meant to impress someone else. I cautiously approached one of the bins marked 34A, trying to hide the size from the group of women next to me. I dug through the bin for a minute, became incredibly self-conscious and overwhelmed by a need to explain why I had to look in the bin meant for thirteen-year-olds, and before I knew what was happening, I was walking out of the store, empty-handed.

It was humiliating.

Growing up, my little sister nicknamed me “Tiny.” I’m almost 5′ 10″, so you know the nickname didn’t come from my height. Two years my junior, she was much more well-endowed than I was, so she had every right to call me that. And when I was pregnant, I barely fit into a C cup bra. A mere few days after I was done nursing, my boobs seemed to vanish in a mysterious magic act, as if they had never even existed.

Which is why I found myself venturing into the aforementioned bra store. I didn’t need something provocative or colorful or with a fancy closure in the front. I was hoping to find something neutral and snug and with a little bit of a lift that will remind me I’m an adult woman and not a pre-pubescent teenage girl. What I found instead was shame.

I know I shouldn’t compare my body to those gorgeous young women’s bodies, because I’ve birthed and nursed three healthy babies, and my body is a boss. And yes, I’m confident and I have grown to love my body as I’ve gotten older. But that doesn’t make it any less humiliating to have to shop for smaller bras than the girls who babysit my kids on date night.

So next time you go to the mall, if you happen to see an almost flat-chested someone with a paper bag on her head sorting through the 34A bin, don’t be alarmed. It’s just me and my deflated boobs.

The post Bra Shopping After Breastfeeding is Humiliating appeared first on Life With My Littles.

There are a lot of different opinions on breastfeeding past the first year. Before I had kids, I thought that moms who breastfed their babies when they could walk and talk were insane. Now I understand that every woman and every baby are different, and breastfeeding doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s also not our place to judge someone for breastfeeding their baby at 18 months or giving their baby formula at 3 months. We are all different.

I just finished nursing my third son at 13 1/2 months, and it was really hard for me to wean him. Nursing him was the only time he’d really lay still and let me hold him, and since he might be our last baby, I struggled with the finality of feeding him for the last time. Honestly I probably would have kept nursing him if I could have.

Today I want to talk about the benefits of breastfeeding past the first year, plus a few of the cons. Honestly, there aren’t really many cons. As long as you are comfortable with it, I’d say go for it!

Benefits of breastfeeding past the first year:

1. Bonding. The emotional bond that comes with breastfeeding is unmatched. There’s really nothing like it. I absolutely believe that formula feeding is great, too, especially if you are unable to breastfeed, but the bond that comes from breastfeeding is a HUGE benefit of of breastfeeding, especially past the first year as your child turns into more of a tiny person than a baby!

2. Physical closeness. Once your baby (or toddler in this case) is mobile, they most likely will not sit still. Breastfeeding was the one time of day I could get my son to lay still in my arms and be as close to me as possible. And I loved it.

3. Your toddler still gets nutrients from your breastmilk. Your breastmilk doesn’t just become water when your baby turns one, so your toddler still gets things like protein, calcium, fat, and Vitamin A from breastmilk. Yes, he can get the same nutrients from cow’s milk and other solid foods. But breastfeeding provides those things, too!

4. Immunological advantages. Toddlers can still get the antibodies and hormones from breastmilk that help boost their immune system, even after they turn one. Studies show that breastfed toddlers get sick less often than their peers (source).

5. It’s free and it’s always available. Cow’s milk is not free, and it’s not always on hand (personally, our kids always drink less milk when we’re traveling just because it’s not as accessible as at home). You also don’t have to run to the store for more!

6. It can be a source of comfort for your child. Toddlers can get UPSET sometimes (didn’t you know?) and breastfeeding can be a good way to calm them down when nothing else will!

7. It’s good for your health, too! The benefits of breastfeeding are the same for you regardless of the age of your baby. So yes, breastfeeding past the first year can reduce your stress, lower your chances of getting postpartum depression, burns calories, can delay your period, and even lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer (source).

The cons of breastfeeding past the first year:

1. Mom judgement. As much of a bummer as this one is, some moms just be hatin’. I wish we could just all support each other for our different decisions, but whatever. Hopefully you’re tough enough that you can tackle this one (or you can just feed your toddler at home so you don’t have to worry about it). Either way, it sucks.

2. It can be harder to wean your toddler. You may not have noticed this, but as kids get older, they get a little more defiant and stubborn (just kidding, I’m sure you’ve noticed this one!). I can only imagine that the longer you nurse your toddler, the harder it gets to try and wean them. The first few mornings I didn’t nurse my son I could tell he was mad at me and didn’t want any other food. So if you breastfeed past the first year you’ve got that to look forward to.

That’s it. Like I said, there aren’t very many cons to breastfeeding past the first year.

Whether you decide to wean at 12 months, formula feed at six months, or nurse your baby all the way up until he’s two, it’s your decision. Do what works for your family and what works for you and your baby. As long as you are healthy and your baby is healthy, it really is up to you. I personally really enjoyed nursing my toddler (it still feels weird to call him that!) and I for sure would’ve kept nursing him if I could have.

Whatever you decide, be proud of your decision, don’t have any regrets, and respect people who may make a different decision. And good luck on your breastfeeding journey!

The post Breastfeeding Past the First Year appeared first on Life With My Littles.

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All together, I have spent 27 months of my life breastfeeding babies. During that time I have tried a lot of different nursing bras. I am 100% a fan of wearing an actual nursing bra rather than a regular bra and just pulling it up every time I nurse.

Some of the nursing bras I’ve tried have been great and others not so great. A good nursing bra is definitely something that can make breastfeeding a more enjoyable, comfortable experience (especially in between feeds!).

Today I want to share two of the best nursing bras I’ve tried and also a few that have come highly recommended by several of my mama friends!

Where to Find the Best Nursing Bras

Bravado Designs Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

I got this one when I was nursing my second baby and I wore it through nursing her and then almost every day of nursing my second son. It’s super comfy, doesn’t have any underwire (so you can wear it as soon as you start nursing), and it provides a lot of support and a lot of coverage. It’s just now falling apart and I wore it almost 18 months, so you know it’s good! Plus the pads come out so you can wash it really easy and not worry about the padding getting all bunched up or wrinkled!

Gilligan & O’Malley Comfort Nursing Bra

I got this one with my first son and wore it almost every day, while I slept, and then half the time I nursed my daughter. I also wore it for a while with my second son, too. It doesn’t have any padding but it’s great for sleeping or for the beginning of nursing. I originally got it at Target but couldn’t find it in store anymore. Luckily, they sell it on Amazon! I also had another friend recommend Gilligan & O’Malley nursing bras, too. They have several kinds at Target if you want to try them on before buying!

iLoveSIA Womens Seamless Nursing Bra Bralette

Not only do these have insanely high reviews on Amazon (4 1/2 stars with 2215 reviews), but I had three separate friends recommend them. And one of those friends nursed twins, so you know they have to be good! They come in a three pack, don’t have any underwire, and also have removable foam pads. If we ever have another baby, I want to try these!

Soma nursing bras

I’ve heard great things about Soma bras before, and my best friend told me that they have nursing bras, too! She said some moms in her moms group recommended them to her and she loved them! They have several different styles and colors on their site, so you can definitely find one that will work for you!

Cake Maternity Cotton Candy Seamless Sleep & Yoga Nursing Bra

My friend Katie from Clarks Condensed recommended these, and I did a quick search on Amazon and found this one 4 1/2 stars with 392 reviews! It comes in different colors and the back looks pretty cool, too! I also love the high coverage in the front!

Le Mystere Sexy Mama Nursing Bra

Don’t let the “sexy mama” name of this one turn you away. I had a friend recommend it and it looks awesome! I love that it makes you feel sexy while you’re nursing. If you want something a little fancier and less basic, this one is for you!

Bonus tip:

I also learned that Nordstrom will turn any bra into a nursing bra for $10! Amazing, right? If you really don’t want to go buy a nursing bra and you already have a bra that you love, this is a great option. Especially if you aren’t sure about ordering a bra online and you want to make sure it’s going to be a perfect fit!

Hopefully this post helps you find the best nursing bra for you! I know there are a lot of nursing bras out there and it can be overwhelming to try and decide which one you want to get! But these are some of the best nursing bras and they all come highly recommended by other mamas who’ve been there! Good luck!

The post Where to Find the Best Nursing Bras appeared first on Life With My Littles.

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As a first-time mom, learning how to breastfeed is hard. It can be painful, uncomfortable, and feel awkward at first, even when you’re doing it right. And you have to re-learn how to do it as a second-time and even third-time mom.

Now that I’ve successfully breastfed three babies (and am still nursing my third), I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on how to make it a little easier. Today I want to share a helpful breastfeeding survival kit! If you’ve got a baby shower coming up, this makes a wonderful gift for a new mama!

Here’s what’s inside:

1. Gel nursing pads. These things are amazing as a new breastfeeding mama. They’re kind of like gel cold packs for your breasts, and they feel great on sore nipples. Lansinoh makes some amazing ones, and Medela makes some, too. Either way, these will be very appreciated by a mama just starting to breastfeed.

2. Lanolin. When you’re just beginning to breastfeed, your nipples are going to get dry, red, and chapped. It is as bad as it sounds. Lanolin is a handy little cream that you rub on your nipple to help soothe and protect it. I’ve always used the Lansinoh kind, but there are lots of different kinds (Bamboobies makes a lanolin-free lubricant, too!).

3. Disposable nursing pads. Whether she is planning on using disposable or washable pads, having some of both on hand is a great idea, especially for a new mom whose supply is still adjusting. You don’t want to be in public and start leaking! I’ve used Babies R Us pads in the past, but my current favorites are Lansinoh ones. Medela, Avent, and Bamboobies make them, too.

4. Chocolate. One of the best things I’ve ever gotten at my baby showers was chocolate. Being a new mom is hard work, and you deserve to reward yourself a little. So put some Lindor Truffles or chocolate covered pretzels in your breastfeeding survival kit so she can enjoy a little treat while she’s nursing. And it is 100% okay to hide that chocolate from the rest of the family, too! No shame! (You could even bake her up some lactation cookies with chocolate in them!)

5. A high-protein snack. Yes, chocolate is great, but it doesn’t provide a lot of nutrition (unfortunately). Toss in some high-protein granola bars like these or if she’s allergic to nuts (like me), try a box of these. Either way, it can help give her an energy boost!

6. Water bottle. Drinking water when you’re breastfeeding is mega important (says the girl who got kidney stones three weeks after her baby was born because she wasn’t drinking enough). So get her a new water bottle to help remind her! I know I always drink more water when I carry some around with me! I have a Camelbak Eddy bottle, but I also have my eye on one of these YETI ramblers.

7. A comfy tee. I’m not a fan of nursing tops where you have some hidden pocket or opening somewhere. When I’m breastfeeding, I’m all about ease and comfort, so I love comfy tees I can just pull up. I love the graphic tees from MaLyn Logic because they are super soft and comfy, but I also really like Old Navy tees (I just got this one last week!).

8. A magazine. Having something to read is always nice when breastfeeding. You could try a celebrity gossip magazine like People, one all about babies (Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine is one of my favorites), or something more domestic like Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Gardens. Just no health and fitness ones, okay? She doesn’t need that right after having a baby!

This breastfeeding survival kit will for sure help make learning (or re-learning) how to breastfeed just a little bit easier. And if you need some more helpful breastfeeding tips, check out these posts:

The post Breastfeeding Survival Kit appeared first on Life With My Littles.

Well here’s a post I never thought I’d be sharing! Lactation cookies! And not just any lactation cookies–cranberry white chocolate chip lactation cookies!

I’ll be honest and tell you when I first heard about these, I thought they were ridiculous. But then my milk supply dropped and my son wasn’t gaining enough weight and I got desperate to try anything. I drank more water, I took some fenugreek pills, and I ate a few of these every day for a week, and it helped! So I don’t know for certain if they worked because they actually worked or if it was because of a placebo effect kind of deal, but honestly, I don’t care. And if you’re here looking for a lactation cookie recipe, I’m going to guess you don’t care either. These bad boys helped boost my milk supply and got us back on track. My 5-month-old is almost 18 pounds now so I’m pretty sure he’s getting enough food!

Now I originally tried a different lactation cookie recipe but found it wasn’t my favorite, so I thought I would mix it up, change a few things, and add in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. Those two with the oatmeal are FAB.

I actually like these cookies so much that I froze all of the dough and just pop a few in the oven every few days. I don’t share them with my kids (they’re “Mommy cookies”) and even though they’ve tried them and liked them, I’m not wasting these delicious little treats on them. They definitely don’t need any help lactating, I can tell you that.

Anyway, these are super easy, super good, and like I said, freezable. Just scoop them on a cookie sheet, freeze them in balls, and then put them all in a ziploc bag and bake for like 2 extra minutes. Mmmm. You’re welcome.

Yield: 4 doz

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

These cranberry white chocolate chip lactation cookies work miracles! They are delicious, and the oatmeal combined with the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips is amazing! Plus the special ingredients really help boost your milk supply!

Print

Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 5 Tbsp brewer's yeast
• 3 Tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 12 Tbsp unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg and 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Mix together the oats, flour, yeast, flaxseed, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
2. Beat butter and coconut oil until creamy.
3. Add in the sugar and beat until fluffy.
4. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
5. Slowly add in the dry ingredients, mixing well after each addition.
6. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips until combined.
7. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.

The post Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies appeared first on Life With My Littles.

When my first was born, I made one of those nursing covers that has a strap you put over your head and it only covers the front of you. I hated it. I felt so exposed and never wanted to feed him in public. Then the nice full-coverage poncho nursing covers came out, but they were so dang expensive. When I was pregnant with my daughter and my best friend told me that you could easily make a full-coverage nursing cover for just a few dollars, I was sold. I made one before she was born and it really was the best (and easiest) nursing cover.

That nursing cover lasted me the whole time I nursed her, and I’ve been using it to nurse Little R in public, too. I feel so much more comfortable, there’s no chance of exposure, and it fits easily in my diaper bag. Today I want to share the super easy tutorial with you guys! It takes less than 5 minutes and costs a lot less than the overpriced full-coverage nursing covers you can buy online!

All you need is 1 yard of stretchy knit fabric and all-purpose thread. Use a coupon and get it from Jo-Ann or Hobby Lobby and you’ll only pay a few dollars!

Now I usually recommend pre-washing all fabric you are going to sew with, but you don’t have to with this because you are sewing such a small amount of the fabric. I mean you can, but don’t worry about it if you don’t.

Now fold the fabric in half hamburger-style so you get more of a square shape.

Pin the edge.

Get out your sewing machine and sew 15″ from the open side in towards the fold, with a 1/2″ seam. You basically want to sew halfway so that you have a big poncho-like thing with a hole for your head on the inside. Watch the video if that’s confusing.

Flip it right-side-out and you’re all done! SO EASY! And look at that coverage! Nobody’s getting a peek today! Not even of my back!

So there you have it. The best (and easiest) nursing cover you will ever sew. Sew easy (see what I did there?) and it is so much cheaper than buying an expensive $40 one online. Plus you can pick your own fabric! Hooray! Happy (covered) nursing, mamas!

And if you need some more easy tutorials, check out my easy burp rags and easy bibs!

The post The Best (and Easiest) Nursing Cover You Will Ever Sew appeared first on Life With My Littles.

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I am not a huge fan of sitting and doing nothing, and when you’re breastfeeding, you have a lot of time throughout the day when you just sit and do nothing, especially in the newborn days when your baby eats for over 20 minutes at a time.

Little R is now 10 weeks old, and I’ve been trying to come up with different things to do while he nurses so I don’t lose my mind sitting in that chair every day. Today I’m going to share 8 things to do when you’re breastfeeding to keep you occupied while your baby nurses. Because even though it’s nice to sit and stare at my baby every once in a while, I can only do that for so long before I get bored!

1. Watch a show or movie your husband won’t watch with you. My husband and I have certain shows we like to watch together, and there are a few that I know he would never watch. So sometimes when I feed Little R I watch a show on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video (get a free 30 day trial here). I actually watched all of Parks and Rec when I was nursing Little A, and then got my husband hooked on it, too! And sometimes I see a movie I want to watch and my husband vetoes it, so I watch it when I’m nursing my baby instead! Yes, you have to watch it in increments, but it’s a great way to pass the time.

2. Read a book. If you’re into hard copies of books, go get a library card and check out a book to read! Or if you have a Kindle or iPad (or even your smart phone), you can download an ebook to read. Our local library has access to a bunch so you can check that out, too, or you can get books on Amazon Kindle Unlimited with a free 30 day trial here. You could even try out Audible and listen to an audio book if you prefer not to have to read it yourself (get two free audio books here). There are lots of different ways to enjoy books while you’re breastfeeding, and once you have kids it’s basically the only time you ever have to read!

3. Journal. It might be difficult to actually write in a journal while nursing, but you could start a journal on your phone or tablet to keep track of things that happen in your day that you want to remember. Again, breastfeeding is basically the only time I have to do what I want without getting interrupted, so writing or journaling during that time is a great thing to do!

4. Learn something new. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Try taking a class on your tablet or smart phone while you’re breastfeeding! There are all kinds of classes on Craftsy (baking, sewing, art), iTunes U, or even through an online university. Just figure out what you want to learn and find a class. Chances are, you’ll be able to find something you can work through while breastfeeding.

5. Play a game. This is usually what I do at night when Little R wakes up since I don’t have the coherence for much else. There are tons of free games that you can download on your tablet or smart phone, so you could pretty much never get bored with this one.

6. Listen to music or a podcast. If you like the idea of having your hands free and just listening to something, try listening to music (get a free 30 day trial of Amazon Music Unlimited here) or ask your friends what podcasts they are listening to and try out a new one. I love talking about pregnancy so I love these podcasts, but I’ve also enjoyed Serial (I know, that is SO two years ago) and my friend Jessica just recommended The Purposeful Home and I’m excited to try that one out.

7. Eat a healthy snack. I am a big advocate of eating (who isn’t?) so sometimes I like to eat an apple or granola bar or something while I’m breastfeeding. I also really like to browse Pinterest for healthy ideas while I’m breastfeeding, too!

8. Call a friend (or your mom!). Talking on the phone is super easy and definitely a way to pass the time breastfeeding, too! If you don’t call your family enough, use one of your breastfeeding sessions each day to call a different family member. You don’t have to talk to long and it’s a good chance just to catch up!

9. Sing to your baby. This one is for sure not for me because singing+me=cringe. But if you like to sing, then singing to your baby while breastfeeding is perfect! Since lullabies, your favorite pop songs, church hymns, or even made up songs. Your baby doesn’t know if you’re good or not either, so no judgement here!

Breastfeeding is definitely wonderful and a great way to bond with your baby, but it also gets boring! Hopefully these nine things to do when you’re breastfeeding will help you stay occupied and not go crazy from sitting and doing nothing every time!

The post 9 Things to Do When You’re Breastfeeding appeared first on Life With My Littles.