So certainly, breastfeeding is one of the most natural and healthy means of nourishing a child there is. Mother’s milk is good for the baby and helps prevent long-term health issues. Digestion, immune system health, and more benefit from healthy breastfeeding. As a mother, there are also direct and collateral health benefits to consider. Read more about both here.
The thing is, mothers today tend to be in a situation that’s a little different than the position women have occupied in society over the last several thousand years. Many mothers hold high-level positions in big companies, and though there is some maternity leave allowed, there’s a time when they have to come back to work.
Beyond mothers who have occupational considerations, there are those who have many social obligations which require them to be out in public with their newborns on a regular basis. That newborn will need to breastfeed, and the time between birth and weaning can, in certain cases, be a few years.
How do you manage breastfeeding and your public life? It can be a tricky situation. Here we’ll go over a few strategies to help you make the best choices.
1. Get Maternity Clothes Designed For Feedings
Maternity clothes for breastfeeding are easy to find. You can often acquire them secondhand, though if you’ve got the budget, it’s worthwhile to get new garments. That said, these are pretty straightforward: there will be openings built into blouses that make “chaste” breastfeeding in public exceptionally simple, reducing embarrassment or exposure.
2. Secondary Solutions Like Breast Pumps And Consultation
Working with a lactation consultant at Nest Collaborative can keep you abreast (no pun intended) of new developments in breastfeeding therapies or technologies—breast pumps today are very efficient and can save a lot of the difficulties involved for mothers who must balance jobs and nursing. Consultants help you know what’s out there, and what’s best to do.
What some mothers find works for them is pumping several bottles of milk in advance, and feeding them to the baby when the baby is hungry. While pumped milk does lose a small bit of associated nutritional content owing to temperature shifts and proximity reduction, it’s better than nothing. If you can, breastfeed the baby in person. If you can’t, pumping will do.
3. Establish Predictable Feeding Rhythms And Stick To Them
One of the best ways to assure you and the baby are in a balanced breastfeeding cycle is to determine rhythms and stick to them. Your body should begin producing milk in a way which reflects the baby’s hunger. That feeling you get right before breasts become engorged is usually an indicator it’s time to feed the baby.
Many professional maternity specialists will advise healthy breastfeeding can require one or two years prior weaning for best results. Whether you breastfeed that long or not is up to you; but over such a length of time, developing a recurring rhythm becomes much less complicated. Find your breastfeeding rhythm and build public life around that.
Being The Best Mom You Can Be
Maternity clothes designed for breastfeeding can make it very easy for you to feed the baby when they’re hungry, even if you’re in public—there are little flaps that expose the nipple for easy access.
Secondary solutions like breast pumps can make it so you can prepare pre-pumped bottles in advance. Consultation assists you as well, and predictable rhythms are a must. Between these strategies, you’re going to likely find you have an easier time balancing life and breastfeeding.