How to Embark on a Successful Breastfeeding Journey

When Imade Williams’ son was born, doctors were concerned about some of the numbers that came back from his bloodwork. They told her if the levels didn’t improve, they would need to admit him to the NICU. Whether it was blood sugar or his overall weight, breastmilk was the solution. Williams’ son had already latched. Still, in an effort to get her baby home as quickly as possible, she began supplementing her breastmilk with formula.

“I had the colostrum,” Williams said. “I was pumping. I was just trying to do whatever I needed to do.” Her efforts paid off. His levels stabilized, and she was able to stop using formula.

Williams would go on to nurse her son for the first two years and three weeks of his life, occasionally supplementing with formula when necessary. Now, looking back, she attributes the success of her journey to a dedicated team of people and some products that proved vital in her breastfeeding journey.

“I was able to check my supply by going to the breastfeeding support group,” Williams explained. “They had one at the hospital where I delivered. There, we would weigh the baby before and after we breastfed them to see how much milk they drank.”

To keep her supply up, she nursed and pumped on a schedule—often one after the other.

In addition to her support group, Williams also enlisted the help of a breastfeeding coach. Her coach gave Williams a list of products to streamline her breastfeeding journey even further.

She recommended:

Coconut Oil: Instead of using lanolin cream to soothe chafed nipples, Williams’ coach suggested coconut oil. “Coconut oil is natural,” Williams explained. “It’s safe for babies to ingest. If I had an irritation, I used that.”

A Nursing Bra: If you’re going to be nursing every couple of hours, you’re going to need easy access. A nursing bra that allows you and your baby to get to your nipple quickly is the way to go.

Reusable Nursing Pads: In addition to keeping your clothes from being soiled by breastmilk, nursing pads can guard against skin irritation. But be sure to use the right ones. “In the beginning, I would go to sleep in those pads,” Williams said. “That’s a big no-no. I ended up almost getting mastitis. My midwife was telling me you’re not supposed to wear anything. And if you do, use the reusable nursing pads that you can wash.”

Wearable Pump: If your pump can’t move with you, be prepared to be stuck to the wall while you wait for your milk to come down. As a mother, time to be sedentary can be hard to come by. A wearable breast pump allows you to take care of the never-ending tasks while stockpiling your milk for your little one later.

In addition to the products you buy, Williams also stressed proper nutrition and hydration. “Eat at least three meals a day—healthy food. Your body needs that and a lot of water to produce milk.”

Then there’s the willpower aspect of it all. “Keep trying,” Williams advises. “The more that you do it, the more milk you produce.” If you’re struggling on your own, Williams said don’t be afraid to seek out the resources that are designed to help.