OMG. Chocolate. Do I really need to say more? I looooove chocolate. It is a weakness. Especially dark chocolate. What I love even more is the excuse to have my chocolate fix disguised as a healthy treat!! These chocolate oatmeal lactation cups are so good, good for you, and have ingredients some people believe to promote milk supply as well. Let's not forget about the chocolate, which I swear by as a magic, milk flowing, miracle treat. Here's why:

One of my favorite tips for pumping moms is to associate pumping time with something pleasurable, like eating chocolate, and there is a good reason for it! When you are feeling anxious, your body tenses (including your nipples!) and when your nipples are tense, it can hold back your milk. If you can relax, and enjoy something while pumping, your body will relax, your nipples will relax, and your milk will flow!!! (This is actually the reason why eating Oreos is associated with higher milk output. The Oreos don't do anything at all to increase your milk supply, but they give you something yummy to focus on while you're pumping, and it let's the stress melt away and your milk flow! I actually plan to write more on this topic later.)

by Kelly Maher, CLC, CLE
​Successful Breastfeeding Expert

Virtually anyone can breastfeed! All you really need is the right knowledge, and support!
Here is some of that knowledge, and some of my best tips I share with my clients! 

One of the most common complaints among new nursing moms is that their baby is ALWAYS NURSING! They feel like a 24/7 milk factory, and find that their baby isn't happy unless on the breast. While it's true that there is never a wrong time to offer the breast, and I do FULLY ENCOURAGE you to nurse your baby often (at least 8 times every 24 hours!) there are likely times when your baby is trying to tell you that they ACTUALLY NEED SOMETHING ELSE.

Who doesn't love a fast and easy, delicious, make ahead breakfast you can eat from all week long??? I wouldn't eat if I didn't make most of meals in advance, and I love, LOVE! these baked oatmeal cups. They are hearty, filling, TASTY, and have just enough sweetness to curb my sugar craving. I eat these for breakfast on the go, or for a quick snack in the afternoon. With whole grains, protein, nuts (and even some "milk boosting" ingredients) these Baked Oatmeal Cups help me keep my energy during busy mornings, and days packed with Breastfeeding Support Sessions!

I am so excited to share one of my most favorite, and healthy, breastfeeding friendly foods! After you make them, comment below with your thoughts!! I'd love to hear from you. 

When you are pumping, especially at work, time is everything! Nobody wants to be attached to a pump any longer than they need to be. With this hands on pumping technique, you'll be able to cut down on the amount of time you spend attached to your breast pump! 

I love a snack that curbs my sweet craving AND is good for me too! These Energy Bites are one of my FAVORITES! They taste great, and are packed full of protein and nutritious ingredients to keep your energy levels up, stabilize blood sugar, and these bites contain flax, which is believed by some to be a milk boosting food!

They taste like raw cookie dough- chunky chocolate chip cookie dough!  They are really simple and fast to make. Keep these in a sealed container in your fridge and enjoy for a week. They are also really easy to make vegan, gluten free, and dairy free too!!! 

WARNING: You may want to make a double, or even triple, batch of these. These are kid and man approved, and they don't stick around for long. *wink*

There's been a lot of talk in the private Successful Breastfeeding Community group on Facebook lately. A lot of talk about FOOD! And food that is good/bad for breastfeeding. I have a disclaimer about that, and plan to write more about this topic in a future post. I do not believe that there are foods that need to be avoided, or even foods that need to be added to a breastfeeding mom's diet. What I DO believe is that having a healthy, well rounded diet, is beneficial for YOU, YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH, and will provide you the energy you need to keep on being the mom you want to be! 

I have had multiple requests for Lactation Recipes​, so I decided to start sharing some recipes that will help keep energy levels up to help you not only with breastfeeding, but with life as a mom in general! I am a big fan of REAL, WHOLE, FOODS that help bring balance and wellness into my life. I am also a BIG FAN OF COOKING AND BAKING. So, I'm going to share my VERY OWN, original recipes that are going to help YOU stay on track with your very own Successful Breastfeeding Journey! 

DISCLAIMER: I am a firm believer that the only thing necessary to make plenty of milk for your baby is to JUST NURSE YOUR BABY. Outside of rare, biological circumstances, having an efficient, pain free latch, and adequate time at the breast is all you need to do to make plenty of milk for your baby. If you believe you are struggling with milk supply, please reach out for support, or download our GUIDE FOR INCREASING MILK SUPPLY.

Also, some affiliate links may be added to recipe posts. Purchases made through these links help support this blog, our online community, and the content and resources Successful Breastfeeding LLC provides free of cost to the families we serve.

When I bake, I tend to use as many plant based products as I can. I often replace dairy products in my recipes. In this recipe I use apple sauce in place of butter! Applesauce is an excellent butter replacement in baking, and I use it (almost) exclusively in place of butter when I bake. I also use unsweetened almond milk, too. 

This recipe is also SUPER EASY to make, and requires only 1 bowl, and a spoon to make it. (Hence the lazy!)
No need for an electric mixer, or fancy 

This recipe was inspired by Jessica, a mom in the Successful Breastfeeding Community, who has recently embarked on a dairy free journey, as she recently discovered her newborn may have a dairy intolerance. 
(If you've been told by your doctor your baby may have a dairy allergy, please reach out for expert lactation support. Certain breastfeeding problems, like oversupply, closely mimic dairy intolerance in infants, and is commonly misdiagnosed.)

There are so many supplies and gadgets that are supposed to help you breastfeed. How do you REALLY KNOW which ones you need and what is just going to pile up unused?
In this post I have compiled a list of all the products you NEED, some items that are not exactly necessary, though can be useful, AND a list of things commonly recommended that you REALLY DON'T NEED.​

If you're new to my blog, welcome! I am so glad to have you. 
I'd like to take a second to introduce to you some other resources that will help you prepare for you journey, before you move onto the gadgets in this post. 

#1- If you haven't taken a breastfeeding class yet, now is the time!! Prepare for Your Best Start with our ONLINE breastfeeding class that gives you ALL the tools you need to have Your Best Start to your Successful Breastfeeding Journey! Click the link below to have Your Best Start!
YES, I STILL NEED TO TAKE A CLASS!!!
​
#2- If you're worried about your milk supply or have the fear that you won't be able to make enough milk when your baby is born, then you can download your FREE Guide to Making Plenty of Milk for your baby!!!
Get my best tips, that ACTUALLY WORK, for increasing your milk supply. (I did mention this is free, right?)
SEND ME MY FREE MILK SUPPLY GUIDE!!!!

So! Now, let's get to it! 
Here is the list of things you ACTUALLY NEED. 

In the United States, the average maternity leave only lasts about 6 weeks, and it takes just about that long for your milk supply to fully establish.

Then you’re expected to leave baby behind and return to work. This is not only emotionally difficult, but presents challenges when you’re breastfeeding. Working moms have an unfair disadvantage when it comes to breastfeeding, and the statistics make this very apparent- 80% of mother’s will stop breastfeeding within one month of returning to work. These statistics are very discouraging. That being said, if you have the right tools under your belt you will be ahead of the game and can take down the obstacles working and pumping put in your way.

It’s important to be aware of potential challenges and know how to beat them- so let’s break it down!

1. Make breastfeeding your #1 priority

It is essential that you make breastfeeding, at the breast, your main focus first. You can read my tips for breastfeeding success here. As I mentioned, it takes about 6 weeks for your milk supply to fully establish.  Establishing a healthy milk supply is crucial and your focus should remain on nursing your baby at the breast according to your baby’s cues during this time period. Don’t worry about pumping yet, and don’t worry about having baby practice with a bottle, there is really no need for that. The more you nurse your baby, the more milk your body will make.
In these early weeks, you want to avoid pumping to “build a stash” of milk. If you are pumping while home with your baby and nursing your baby you will tell your body to make more milk than you actually need. Then, upon returning to work, you are much more likely to experience plugged ducts and increase the potential of mastitis from having an oversupply of milk.

2. The week before you go back to work.   

 Now that breastfeeding is going well and your milk supply is well established, it’s time to start thinking about pumping. This is your time to really get to know your pump, how to use it, and make sure it fits you properly.
Once or twice a day, go ahead and practice with your pump and store any of the milk you get out. Keep in mind, how much you are pumping is not an indicator of how much milk you are making. There are many factors that can affect your pumping output. (That’s why you’re reading this article, right?) Babies are very effective milk drinkers, and pumps are less so. When you are pumping milk while you are home with your baby, you are likely to get less milk while pumping than when you are away from your baby. Keeping this in mind, remember your main goal is to practice, practice, practice! You really only need enough milk for the first day that you are away from your baby. Which would roughly be 8-12oz, depending on how long you're away from your baby. You can get that much milk in a week!!!

3. Getting the right pump and the right fit.

There are so many pumps! Which one should you choose? Choosing a pump is a very personal matter.  Breast pumps can be expensive, so you want to be sure to get one that will work well for you and really make pumping easier. I highly suggest using a brand that has excellent customer service and replacement parts are easily located. Medela and Spectra are both popular brands, with excellent customer service. You can find replacement parts for Medela at most big box stores.  You also want a pump that is electric and you can pump from both sides at once, aka double electric.
Avoid pumps that are manufactured by formula companies, as they are not made well and typically have poor suction. Check the warranty on the pump you would like to purchase as this can tell you how long the pumps are meant to last. Pumps are meant to be single use and their motors are typically only fully functional for about the first year or so.

After you have your breast pump it is important to make sure that you know how to use it and even more important that it is fitting you properly.When I support breastfeeding mothers, I always offer to do a pump fitting for them. Pumps come with one size parts, and breasts are not all one size fits all. More often than not the parts that came with the pump are not the right size.

4. Maximize output and minimizing time.     

There are a few simple techniques you can use to make pumping faster and more efficient; hormone manipulation, massage, breast compression, and hand expression.
First things first, get yourself comfortable and relaxed. Your milk let down relies on those happy hormones your body releases when you experience something pleasurable- like holding your baby or thinking about something that makes you happy. Associating pleasure with pumping will help your body relax and let that milk down! So, while you’re pumping look at pictures or videos of your baby, eat a piece of chocolate, drink a cup of tea, or daydream about taking a vacation somewhere. Anything that gives you the warm fuzzies will be helpful when you are pumping. If you’re worrying about pumping or how much milk your body is putting out, then you are releasing stress hormones and this will inhibit your let down.
Second, once your pump is all hooked up and you’re ready to go, use breast massage and compressions to help your milk get moving. Start by massaging your breasts by gently kneading, then compress or squeeze them gently. This will help get the milk stored deep in your breast to come out more easily and quickly. You can use both of these techniques while your pump is running. (Having a hands free pumping bra makes this easier too!)
Lastly, at the very end of your pumping session, utilize hand expression to get those last bits of milk from your breasts. There is a bit of a learning curve to proper hand expression, but once mastered it is a very fast and effective way to remove milk from the breast. It also comes in very handy in situations where power isn’t accessible or if you (heaven forbid) forget your breast pump! Hand expressing for a few minutes at the end of your pumping session may help you get that last ounce of milk from your breasts that your pump just couldn’t get.

5. How much milk will I need?

You're probably worried about how much milk you will need for your baby, and if you'll be able to sustain your supply. Like I discussed before, that leads to triggering a stress response in your body and inhibits milk supply. Having confidence that you are pumping enough milk for your baby will help you succeed.

If you need help figuring out how much milk you REALLY need, click HERE. 

Being aware of appropriate amounts of milk and baby’s tummy size will help you, andyour care provider, understand how much and when it’s appropriate to feed your baby your expressed milk. Using a paced method of bottle feeding and continuing to follow baby’s feeding cues is crucial too.
Very often babies are unintentionally over fed when a care provider doesn’t understand how to bottle feed a baby, or if they are unfamiliar with a breastfed baby’s feeding cues.
It is highly discouraging to hear from your provider that you need to provide them with more milk because they are misinterpreting your baby’s cues. So please, make sure your care provider is on board with both of these. (Click the underlined link to see our workshop that covers that and more just for infant caregivers.)
How much milk you continue to make while you are pumping at work will also be affected by how often you are pumping. You need to keep your breasts stimulated during your work day to help maintain your milk supply when you are away from your baby.

6. Making it all happen.
​
Now that you have mastered techniques of using your pump it is time to have a conversation with your employer about your plan to pump when you return to work. One of the biggest hurdles you may face is finding an adequate space and the time while you’re working to pump your milk. It may be helpful during your conversation to give your employer some information about why it is important for them to allow you this time. It is important for your health that you are able to have the time that you need to pump. If pumping sessions are missed you could become engorged and experience plugged ducts and a breast infection called Mastitis which would lead to you needing to take time off of work. Furthermore, breastfed babies are normal, healthy babies. If you’re not given adequate time to pump at work, it will affect your milk supply, leading to supplementing your baby. This will then affect the overall health of your child and lead to your needing to take more time off of work to stay home with a sick baby.
How could your employer deny this logic?

7. My BEST Tip Yet!
Watch my video below to hear one of my TOP tips!!!

 
​Courageous women and breastfeeding advocates are making big changes for you and future breastfeeding mothers, not only in the workplace, but in everyday life. It is my vision that our daughters will not face the same obstacles that we have faced as nursing mothers. One day I would like to see every employer be breastfeeding friendly and go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of their breastfeeding employees. 

Using these techniques will really help you be successful with breastfeeding when you return to work. Instead of becoming one of those 80% of women you will be lowering this statistic and paving the way for other mothers in the future.
You’ve got this momma!

For even MORE advice, tips, and tools to fully set yourself up for success, take our Online Back to Work Workshop!

Successful Breastfeeding can mean so many things. Everyone's journey is SO different, and everyone's definition of success is different too. 

This is the first of a new series of posts. I want to celebrate successful breastfeeding stories. I want to share with all of you that no matter how long you breastfeed, how much, which way, or the path it took you to get there we are ALL successful and beautiful mothers. So, please enjoy Sue and Amelia's Successful Breastfeeding Story. 

"My name is Sue and my daughter's name is Amelia.  We recently celebrated her 1st birthday.  We also celebrated an entire year of breastfeeding!!  This is something I am very proud of.  It was not an easy journey, but it was a journey I am so glad we took.

Before Amelia was born, I didn't really think much about breastfeeding other than knew I wanted to.  I had read a few things here and there.  But nothing that prepared me for what was going to happen.  

Would you like to submit your own Successful Breastfeeding Story? I would LOVE to feature you. Please submit your stories and a couple of pictures to Kelly@successfulbreastfeeding.org