Random Breastfeeding Tip #1

First, feed from one breast per feeding. This helps to make sure the baby drinks past the more watery (and gassy, green poo-inducing) foremilk and gets enough of the calorie-rich, creamy hind milk. I find it also helps to drain the breast completely when dealing with engorgement in the first week or two. It also means you always have an extra stash of breast milk you can dip into later during growth spurts or if baby ever just seems ridiculously famished. Of course, no two milk supplies are the same and some women might need to feed from both breasts every feed. You should take that up with someone who knows what they’re talking about. Because, I digress.

Here’s the real tip: Whether you feed from one or two breasts per feed, you’re going to need to alternate which breast to start with. That means that on top of waking up every couple of hours all night and juggling a constant feeding/diaper changing/napping routine all day, you need to somehow remember which bloody side you’re on. With my first baby I ran the gauntlet of such methods as switching a bracelet from one hand to the other, moving a pin from one bra strap to the other and other maneuvering of one-sided accessories. The problem with these is that you’re never quite sure if you remembered to make the switch last time. I wound up going with the tried-and-true double breast pat in which you try to feel which is the fuller breast. It worked okay, but it’s still not foolproof. (Sometimes a breast might be fuller because you’ve fed more often on that side thus upping the demand for production, so continuing to feed on that side would just exasperate the problem.)

With baby number two, though, I stumbled upon a truly brilliant technique. Take one of those breast pad things designed to keep you from leaking through your shirt. (It can be reusable or disposable, it doesn’t matter. I use disposable; stop judging.) Then, this is important, don’t peel off the sticker-backing strip. Tuck the pad into the bra cup on the side you will be feeding from next. This is the side that will be the fullest and from which you’ll be most likely to leak. Leave the other side padless. That’s right, we live life on the edge around these parts. Then, when you feed your baby, the pad will slip right out of your bra and you just pop into the other side. You can’t forget to do this because what the hell else are you going to do with that nursing pad, right?

I know. You’re welcome. I’m using this method for the second baby in a row now and I must admit it is true genius. Just don’t forget to swap in a fresh pad every day or so because, yeah, sour milk.