Breastfeed. Your third trimester is the perfect time to get ready for nursing your baby. Start by learning about breastfed and finding a support group for nursing moms. After your baby is born, place them skin-to-skin on your chest right away and start breastfed within the first hour or two. A lot of your time will be spent feeding your little one, so ask for help from your partner, family, and friends. Also, stock up on essentials that will make breastfed easier.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How to prepare for breastfeeding
- Do you need to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding?
- Should you pump before birth?
- What do you need for breastfeeding?
How to prepare for breastfeeding
If you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and planning to breastfed your baby, there are certain things you can do now to help the process go smoothly.
Here’s how to prepare for breastfed your newborn:
- Do your research. Take the time to learn about breastfed basics. Knowing the benefits of breastfed and the initial challenges you might face can help you prepare for your baby’s first few days of life. Check out books on breastfeeding, read our top breastfeeding tips, and spend some time on trusted websites, like La Leche League.
- Find a support group. Many hospitals and pediatricians’ offices have a support group for breastfeeding moms. These meetings are meant to give new moms community as they learn the ups and downs of breastfeeding. If your healthcare provider doesn’t have recommendations for breastfeeding support, check out the La Leche League database of breastfeeding support groups.
- Enlist a lactation consultant. You may be connected with a lactation consultant through the hospital where you give birth or your baby’s pediatrician’s office. If not, you can find a certified lactation consultant through your insurance provider. These professionals can be invaluable during your baby’s first several weeks of life, helping you monitor weight, troubleshoot latch issues, and address challenges that might arise as you and your baby learn to breastfeed.
- Prepare to pump. Most moms will need to pump breast milk at least occasionally, and some moms will pump exclusively as a way to breastfeed their baby. Order your breast pump (or get one through your health insurance plan), and educate yourself on pumping and storing breast milk. If you’ll be working outside your home, now is a good time to talk with your employer about where you can pump.
- Talk with your partner about how they can support you as a breastfeeding mom. A lot of your time during the first months of your baby’s life will be spent skin-to-skin, nursing your little one. Your partner might not be able to nurse your baby, but they can take on more housework, care for older children, and deliver water and snacks to you to make sure your needs are being met.
- Get close right away. Immediately after you give birth, place your baby skin-to-skin on your bare chest. (You can also do this after a C-section; just ask your medical staff for extra support to place your baby safely on your chest.) When babies are left undisturbed on Mom’s bare chest, it wakens their feeding instincts.
- Start breastfeeding in the first hour or two after you deliver your baby. Breastfeeding shortly after birth is associated with increased chances of breastfeeding success. Your baby may be sleepy at first but more awake the second day, and they may cluster feed at night. Follow their hunger cues and feed your baby on demand.
- Enlist your friends and family for help. Breastfeeding will keep you busy, especially when your baby is a newborn. Friends and family can help by dropping by meals, spending time with your older kids, and helping out around the house. But limit visits if they interfere with breastfeeding and being skin-to-skin with your baby. If possible, ask your partner to be a gatekeeper at the door (greeting visitors, accepting food or gifts, and relaying information) so you can rest.
Do you need to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding?
No. Your body is already preparing for breastfeeding. Thanks to hormonal changes in pregnancy, women are capable of producing breast milk by the end of their second trimester.
There’s no reason to rub or scrub your nipples – this will only hurt you, and the pain could make breastfeeding difficult. Teaching your baby the right way to latch on to your breast from the beginning is the most effective way to prevent nipple fissures (cracked, sore, and bleeding nipples).
You may be noticing some small, pimple-like protrusions around your areola, the darker area around the nipple. These are called Montgomery’s glands, and they secrete oil that fights bacteria, lubricates and softens the skin, and adjusts the pH balance. Avoid washing your nipples with soap, as it removes this beneficial oil and may dry the tissue.
Talk to a board-certified lactation consultant if you have flat, inverted, or dimpled nipples or anything else you’re concerned about, such breast implants or a previous breast reduction surgery or lumpectomy. These issues usually don’t mean that you can’t breastfeed.
Should you pump before birth?
Generally, pumping breast milk before birth isn’t recommended. Nipple stimulation with an electric pump may increase the risk of premature labor because it triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that can cause contractions. Additionally, there’s no benefit to taking up pumping before your baby’s born. It’s not associated with increased milk production after birth.
There may be benefits to learning to hand express breast milk during pregnancy, though. It’s a useful skill to have and could be helpful later to stimulate milk production and relieve engorgement.
Hand expressing colostrum, your baby’s first food, isn’t associated with increased risk of premature labor. With practice, you’ll become more familiar with your breasts and be able to efficiently express a bit of milk.
What do you need for breastfeeding?
These products can make breastfeeding more comfortable and convenient:
Nursing bras are comfortable and provide the extra support your larger-than-usual breasts need. They come with flaps that you can easily undo at feeding time. It’s best to wait until the last couple of weeks of pregnancy to shop for new nursing bras – this is when your breasts will be closest to their postpartum size. That said, once your milk comes in your breasts may grow another size or two! Keep that in mind when buying.
Nursing tops and pajamas have convenient flaps that allow you to breastfeed easily and discreetly. Some nursing tanks are very supportive and can work as a bra and top in one. Note: In the early days of breastfeeding, you may just want to wear a comfy button-down shirt or robe so you can easily keep your baby skin-to-skin.
Nursing pillows are specially designed to support your baby while you’re nursing, and can help you avoid straining your shoulders or neck during feeding sessions. They’re more convenient – and better at keeping your baby in position – than regular pillows.
Nursing pads. It’s normal for your breasts to leak while you’re nursing, and another baby’s cry or the sight of an infant can bring on a gush of milk when you least expect it. Disposable nursing pads (or reusable, washable ones) will keep you and your shirts nice and dry.
A breast pump. Even if you’re not planning to pump regularly, a breast pump can be a useful tool – to help relieve engorgement, for example. Many health insurance plans cover breast pumps, so check with your insurer before buying a pump.
Bottles and nipples. If you’ll be feeding your baby pumped breast milk, you’ll need a selection of good bottles and nipples. Some babies prefer one brand over another, so it’s a good idea to avoid stocking up until you learn which bottles and nipples your baby likes best.
Other breastfeeding accessories. Nipple cream or balm can help relieve sore nipples, and hot/cold gel packs can soothe swollen or sore breasts. Some moms also like to have a nursing cover for breastfeeding in public and breast milk storage bags for storing pumped milk.
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