Rest isn’t only valuable in the immediate postpartum time-it’s key for all parents, especially those who are lactating. And yes, do sleep when the baby sleeps, if you can 😉 If it’s not possible for you to have dedicated postpartum rest of this kind due to work, family, or other circumstances, think creatively about how you can build a bit more rest into your daily life, like an early bedtime or Saturday afternoon family nap. We always recommend people follow the adage “five days in the bed, five days around the bed, five days on the couch” directly after birth. Your MO should be lying down, hanging out, drinking fluids, and eating nutritious foods with plenty of fiber, protein, and fat. Vaginal birth or cesarean, you need serious time to recover from pregnancy and birth. We are huge advocates of dedicated postpartum rest. So, all the more reason to rest as much as you can. Whether you’ve been breastfeeding for one day or 365 days, providing human milk can be intense for the body, mind, and spirit. Rest (and then rest some more)Īs modern moms, the message from society is “go go go.” But that’s not always the right mode, especially if you’re a brand-new parent. If you’re limited on local choices, companies like Simplifed and Expectful offer easy online consultations via the comfort of your own home. Community lactation consultants are wonderful resources for everything from latch and pumping to teething and weaning-and having an established relationship with one makes it super easy to get support when you need it.ĭo some Googling or ask for referrals from other parents in your area. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a location consultant for additional support with breastfeeding. Sure, you probably got some initial support from a lactation consultant right after birth, but you may still have issues or questions crop up over the course of your breastfeeding relationship. Have a lactation consultant on speed dial When all you need is at hand, you’ll be as comfy as possible during cluster feeds or bleary middle-of-the-night nursing sessions. Some parents like to have these supplies in a cart with wheels or a basket, so everything is easily portable. Set the station up in the area you most often feed in, whether that’s the living room, baby’s room, or elsewhere. We’re talking phone, charger, snacks, water bottle, nursing pads, nipple cream, headphones, pump and pumping supplies, a book or magazine, and of course, any baby stuff you may need.

One way you can set yourself up for ease is to make a breastfeeding station with all of the supplies you may need before, during, or after a feeding (since the reality is that you may also be trapped under a sleeping baby when they aren’t actually latched on).

Set up a breastfeeding stationįeeding a newborn takes a lot of time and energy. Here are our tips for practicing self-care while you’re breastfeeding. And some of that care can come from yourself, via simple routines, healthy boundaries, and practical planning. After all, you are literally keeping another person alive with your body-and that means that you need a lot of care. As postpartum doulas, we’re all about making sure parents themselves are happy, supported, and thriving. Whether you’re exclusively breastfeeding, combo-feeding, exclusively pumping, or anything in between, providing human milk is both labor and time-intensive, as well as physically and emotionally demanding.Ī little self-care at this time of life can go a long way. Even if the latch is great, milk is flowing, and the baby is growing off the charts, being a breastfeeding mom is not always easy.

Do at least one thing per day just for youīreastfeeding is well…a lot.

Have a lactation consultant on speed dial.

Timeplus self service