LactConnect Breastfeeding Blog

Originally, the Montgomery glands on the nipples were all you needed to keep your nipples lubricated for breastfeeding.  But due to the chemicals in our clothes from the manufacturing and laundry and on our skin from soaps and lotions, our skin including nipples may need a little help.  Of course soreness from a poor latch or a small breast pump flange may contribute to the need for nipple creams while breastfeeding. 

With the growing number of choices to soothe sore nipples, moms are opting for anything from coconut oil to nipple butter.  Coconut oil in solid form is an effective nipple cream, but it is unstable in warmer temperatures so does not travel well.  The slightest warming can turn the solid cononut oil into a messy liquid in a very short time.



When choosing a breast cream, you want to make sure it is something that does not need to be removed.  It needs to be safe for the baby as well as mom.  Removing the nipple cream is not recommended because rubbing with a cloth often b…

A common situation moms encounter is how to get out of the cycle of supplementing artificial infant formula when breastfeeding has been disrupted.  Disruptions can occur for medical reasons or just from advice or practices than lower milk supply.  Why is not the focus of this article, but rather how can a mom get back to breastfeeding?

First things first.
Calculate how much breast milk your baby needs to grow and thrive.  An easy calculation for babies under six months of age is weight x 2.5.  For example for an infant weighing 9.5 lbs, you will multiply 9.5 x 2.5 and you will get a total of 23.5oz per day.  Take this per day total and devide by the number of normal feeding in a day which will be 8.  (Note that it is normal for an infant to feed 11-12 times per day when going through a growth spurt at age 3 weeks or 6 weeks, but for purposes of milk supply, divide by 8.)  For example, 23.5 divided by 8 = 2.94oz per bottle so we will round up to 3 oz.

Assess your milk supply.
Feeling ful…

Black Friday Shopping is always the lowest prices of the year and if you want deals on breastfeeding products and nursingwear, now is the time to buy! And Lactation Connection 2018 Black Friday Sale is no exception!

Lactation Connection's Black Friday Sale has made in the USA quality Amamante Nuringwear at over 50% off.  Nursing pajamas separates starting at $9.99 and nursing nightgowns up to 3X for $19.99.



For the pumping mama, get your breast milk storage bags and bottle bands and breast milk bottle labels at 50-60% off!  Get a steal of a deal on breast milk bottle cooler tote for only $9.99!  Not to mention air dry bag that stores and dries your breast pump parts at 50% off!

Premium brands like Bravado Designs, Hygeia, La Leche League, QT Intimates, ARDO, Bailey Medical and more offer featured selections on our Black Friday Breastfeeding Sale!



Shop early for best selection because sizes won't last especially when nursing bras valued at up to $38 are slashed to $9.99!  $9.99 …

Moms often ask - "Of the pumps that are offered free with my insurance plan, which pump is my best choice?"  This is a great question because there are several factors to consider when choosing a breast pump.

Most importantly, hygiene needs to be considered when choosing a breast pump.  Is this a pump that won't contaminate my breast milk?  The answer is in whether it has an open or closed system.  Closed system pumps protect your milk from having dust or bacteria blown into the bottles while you are pumping.  The biggest offender in this area are the Medela pumps.  They do not offer a closed system and the Medela company does not comply with the codes set up by the World Health Organization so it is easy to rule this brand out.

The next consideration is the function.  Is it a double electric auto-cycling breast pump with at least 250mmHG which is milligrams of mercury, a measurement commonly used in measuring strength of suction. Most commonly infants do 220mmHG when th…

Moms often ask, how much water should I be drinking while breastfeeding?  What they are really asking is how much water do I need to make more milk.  The answer:  water does not make milk.  Breastmilk is made from blood and while your body does not function well at any task if dehydrated, drinking too much water can have several negative effects on breastfeeding.


The first was over-hydration can negatively effect breastfeeding is actually reducing milk supply.  Not only is there no data to support the assumption that increasing water intake significantly increases milk supply, there are actually studies showing the opposite. One significant study by Illingworth and Kilpatrick tested 210 postpartum mothers.  Half of which drank an average of 69 oz daily and the other half exceeded 100 oz daily.  The mothers forced to drink beyond normal amounts produced less milk and their babies gained less weight.  
Another disadvantage to too much water while breastfeeding is the increased elasticity …

Are your bags packed for the hospital?  Moms tend to read extensively about what they need for labor and delivery, but let's not forget about after the birth.  Breastfeeding can be easier if you have a few essentials to help a mama out.  So what should you take to the hospital for breastfeeding?

1.  Breast Pump  It is not an uncommon occurrence for moms to want or need to pump in the hospital.  Perhaps you have an exceptionally sleepy baby, are separated from your baby for health reasons, or have noticed you have flat or inverted nipples and need a little assistance.  Taking your breast pump to the hospital is a great way to ensure you have one if you need one.  There are limited "floor pumps" and since insurance may not cover the extras, you won't be billed for a personal collection kit if you have your own pump at hand.  Make sure you choose a good quality pump such as the Spectra S2 Breast Pump, Ameda Finesse or the Hygeia EnJoye Breast Pump.
2.  Nursing Bras You ar…