It is not only the “technical aspects” of breastfeeding that can be challenging, but also the impact breastfeeding can have on a mum’s life as it can be a rather “full-on” activity during the early months.
There are a few little things that I believe they can make a big difference.
Plan ahead. Realise that breastfeeding, and motherhood in general, will be more time consuming than you are in all likelihood anticipating. It is a good idea to get your home very organised before the arrival of your baby so that you can start of on a good footing. Also sort out your wardrobe and equip yourself with specialised breastfeeding clothes or regular clothing suitable for breastfeeding such as wrap tops. Get a good hair cut that is easy to manage so that you do not have to spend a lot of time on personal grooming.
Get help. One often hears or reads that a new mums should accept help from friends and relatives. I would even consider taking it a step further by arranging paid help right up front and spending money on a cleaner and a mothercraft nurse. It might seem like a luxury, but having guaranteed help on tap is likely to mean that you will remain more energised and therefore better able to cope with the demands of breastfeeding around the clock. Sure, it can be expensive, but I think it is something well worth saving for in the months prior to the birth. Many private health funds will also cover part of the cost of a mothercraft nurse.

Survival strategies for melt-down periods. During the early months two times of the day that were most difficult were start-of-day and again the time from around 16h30 to 19h00. I found it difficult to get ready in the mornings, with a clingy baby and in the afternoons everything seemed to happen at once – time to bath baby, prepare dinner, etc. I always found that the days on which I got bathed and dressed bright and early turned out to be the most manageable. If your clothes are neatly laid out the night before it is that much easier to get ready in the mornings. Late afternoons/ early evenings become much more manageable if dinner is taken care of. You could cook and freeze ahead, but if that is not your strong point, as it was not mine, there are other ideas to lighten the load. Some months into motherhood I became the proud owner of a slow cooker, something I had never used before. I found great books and internet recipes for vegetarian slow cooker dishes. I also found a great book by Nava Atlas called “Vegetarian Express”. It has a compilation of healthy 3-course meals that take less than 30 minutes to prepare. What’s more is that the book provides a list of pantry staples and then gives a grocery list with each 3-course menu. The list is divided into pantry staples and non-staples, so shopping is greatly simplified.
Why not use breastfeeding time as relaxation time? Ideas to consider include (1) quickly using a foot scrub before breastfeeding time and then indulging in a foot soak while you are breastfeeding; (2) having a special snack and drink close at hand; (3) watching a good video; (4) listening to music; (5) breastfeeding lying down and drifting into sleep together with your baby while breastfeeding.
To phone or not to phone, that is the question!”It is often suggested that you use an answering machine to avoid interruptions while breastfeeding. It is true that it is always handy to have an answering machine for such (and similar) occasions. However, I found that I never had the time to chat to my friends anymore and enjoyed being able to have an uninterrupted conversation while breastfeeding. A hands-free set (such as blue tooth) can make it very comfortable and allow you to still have both hands available to hold your baby, operate your TV video remote, eat your snack, have your cup of tea or whatever else you might be busy with. It is not only during breastfeeding that this is handy, but throughout the day. It helps to be able to make or take phone calls even while your hands are full.
Different slings for different things! Different baby carriers all have their pro’s and con’s. I would suggest 2 carriers. The first would be a carrier like the Baby Bjorn Active that gives good back support and the second a cloth sling in which baby can lie to breastfeed. The first carrier is great for carrying your baby around during the day while still giving you freedom of movement. The second is great for occasions on which you might want to catch up on emails or surf the internet. Slings allow you to use your hands while your baby breastfeeds. You can thus breastfeed while you type. They are also handy in restaurants, on aeroplanes, etc. for the same reason. Even just for “regular feeds” at home they make it possible to use both hands to read a book while breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding pillow. A specialised breastfeeding pillow such as the Milk Bar can be used at home and is also easily transportable. It can make breastfeeding more comfortable.
If at the end of it all you feel you really need a glass of wineit is handy to know about a product called Milk Screen for the detection of alcohol in breast milk. Milk Screen is distributed in Australia by Fresh Mums and is very easy to use.

Submitted by Nursingwear: www.nursingwear.com.au