Pumping is a topic that definitely should get some more love. Most mamas decide to pump these days for a variety of reasons and it's a part of breastfeeding that gets pushed to the side all to often until it's deemed, "needed". If all lactational professionals promote 'educated is best', then why is pumping information often left for post-partum education?

A few basic tips, tricks and bits can easily get you started on the knowledge you need to basically start pumping whenever it is you decide. Sure, there are recommendations in place as to when you should start to make it the easiest for both you and your little, but before even knowing any of that...where can you get your pump, who helps you with the care and cleaning of parts, who tells you when you're pumping 'wrong', why this pump vs. that pump, how do you plan to pump and also not sabotage nursing? So many questions and we aren't even discussion milk collection and storage, pump settings, easy 'hacks' to make life simpler, going back to work and pumping etc. etc. etc.

Lots of information right? Well not to fear...I offer a great pumping class that can answer all your questions and more!

BUT, I'll leave you off with a few tips in this blog post to add to your prenatal knowledge toolkit:

• call your insurance company around 30 weeks pregnant to find out where to order your pump and see the options for fully covered pumps vs partially covered pumps (I'll tell you off hand without too much reasoning, other than its lactation professional recommended, to definitely look into a closed system double electric pump because this will be the most efficient pump to meet any pumper's needs)

• ask your OB for a pump prescription around 32 weeks and then place your pump order however your insurance company tells you too, it should arrive between 34-36 weeks pregnant (pro tip: list your due date about 1-2 weeks earlier so you can get your pump faster if you are anxious at all about giving birth before receiving it)

• sign up for my pumper's guide class when you are also in this 3rd trimester to ensure you have all the pumping knowledge

• check out my instagram for some pretty great posts on important tips with regards to milk storage, flange (what are those?!) sizing, part care etc.

• bring your pump to the hospital when you have the baby...don't be afraid to ask the lactation consultant to go over setting it up with you, ensure you are using the correct flanges, etc. they are there to support ALL aspects of breastfeeding, not just direct feeding from the breast

• it's helpful to decide what kind of pumper you will be, whether it be occasional, exclusive, work mama only etc, so that you can ask specific questions about the ins/outs of pumping in that capacity (although in some occasions, you just won't know until your little is here)

Hope you find that info helpful and know that I am always happy to set up a counseling session to further assist in having you meet your breastfeeding goals...and YES, pumping IS breastfeeding!

I can remember my initial struggle with my son while we were both learning to breastfeed. And notice, I said BOTH, as in yes, it takes two to tango...or in this case, nurse. Mama and little are BOTH learning to feed together throughout this journey. You're learning each other's cues and if it's your first time, or your third time, it can still seem brand new.

With that said, I am not going to tell you that nursing 'is painful' in the beginning. It's just not the case for everyone. At the same time, I am also not going to tell you that nursing 'is not painful' in the beginning either...because everyone's pain tolerance is different, as well as everyone's situation. What I felt with my son was pain to me and it was the result of a latch issue, however it resolved after I got help within the time span of about a month...which many lactation professionals say is also the typical timeframe for normal 'tenderness/soreness' to subside while nursing.

There is some practical advice in there in case you missed it....give it time and seek out assistance. Lactation professionals can help you from before day 1 to set you up for success, and they are there for you when your lack of success is making you re-consider your feeding decisions. It is very important to rule out any underlying issues, that is your first line of defense. Otherwise I'll repeat myself... mamas, hang in there and after a few weeks the soreness will go away; that nursing journey glow everyone spoke about will reappear and you will be 100% reassured why you began nursing in the first place.

Also, don't compare your journey to someone else's. Ashley may have felt mild pain/tenderness, Trish may have felt some soreness and had a nipple crack, and Lauren may have questioned why on earth a mama would ever want to continue nursing past week one. Depending on how the situation was handled, outcomes could be very different for each of those friends, sister in laws, mom circle group members, nursing course buddies etc. What's important to note is that they are not you and they are not the mama for your little.

Takeaway points:

• Tenderness and soreness is the most common feeling (even if nursing is going well) in the first few weeks; use that information as some food for thought to hopefully calm your nerves and know you are doing a great job.

• Seek out assistance if you are unsure the difference of what your level of tenderness/soreness/pain/agony feels like.

• You should never be 'dreading' a feeding or anxious while anticipating the next due to being uncomfortable, that is a sign a change is needed.

• Struggle does not equate to failure. EVER. You are KILLING IT!

• DO NOT EVER COMPARE YOUR JOURNEY TO SOMEONE ELSE'S AND DO NOT DISMISS SOMEONE ELSE'S BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM YOURS. Hopefully, that sentiment will be returned to you and everyone can continue being breast friends.

It can be a rough few weeks with baby shark, but it CAN get better.

I am currently in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy with my 2nd little. I feel like I've been here forever. I feel like it is no where near over but then again, I do remember how quickly time flies.

I have felt pretty good throughout this pregnancy and find it to be very similar to my last one. However, even having done it all before, I am STILL preparing as diligently for this labor and delivery as I did the last time, maybe even more so. I mean, we have 1, 397, 537, 937 days to prepare right?

So, how should you prepare?

WELL...at this stage in the game, I've started sorting through the baby clothing that I have and am separating sizes so that it is 1,000x easier when the new little gets here. I'll give them a wash and put them back in the storage bin for easy keeping until I'm ready to put them in drawers. If I'm being honest, there will be a lot of nudity in the beginning so I am not terribly worried about clothing...for anyone. For the first time mamas, you may be looking forward to getting your registry items and a baby shower, which is so much fun and exciting! But, you want as little clutter as possible for when the baby comes because let's face it, there will be more clutter in every corner of your home than you ever imagined in the form of diapers, wipes, nursing bras, pump parts etc. Things that were maybe not even on your registry.

ORGANIZATION IS KEY so I highly recommend sorting through the baby items by category and the age that they will be used. Put away what is not going to be used within the first couple of months and then you can slowly take out what is needed, when it is needed.

I also recommend having a nursing or pumping basket/tote/bin (whatever) ready wherever you will get cozy to nurse or pump. It is definitely helpful to have a dedicated spot...because clutter.

If you are planning to nurse, have items like:

• small healthy snacks you can eat with one hand (think trail mix, oatmeal bars etc)

• water bottle

• nursing pads (I love the Bamboobies ones)

• wipes

• burp cloths

• phone charger

• hand sanitizer

• vitamin D drops for your little

• soothing nipple pads for any soreness

• chapstick

• cozy blanket for some extra cuddling during that post feed skin to skin time

• TV remote in case your little snoozes and you feel like catching up on "The Office" for the 130th time

If you are pumping, in any capacity, I'd still recommend having all of the items above plus:

• your pump and clean set of parts (obviously), it's easy to just make sure you have a couple sets of all parts this way when you are washing one set you can just place the clean one ring into the basket so you aren't scrambling to clean them if you didn't get to it between pump sessions

• small bag to bring the parts to the sink with so you aren't dropping them everywhere on the walk

• clean bottle if you plan on pumping and then immediately feeding your little

• coconut oil or some lanolin to lube of your pump flanges if you need

• pump strap or pumping bra

Also, make sure you have your Boppy pillow (my absolute fave) or some other form of a nursing pillow accessible to take any weight off your arms while holding, feeding, or to help you into a more comfortable hold/position.

Another thing that is helpful to start preparing in this trimester is your birthing plan.

"Nia, how do I know what to put on a birthing plan? "

Well, take a pre-natal birth class so you are aware of all your options. I can recommend this 3 part youtube series by Holliday Tyson, an extremely knowledgable midwife. Once you and your partner (yes, include them please, they need to know what goes on) have watched that, use a template for your birthing plan to make things easier.

Throw the birthing plan in your hospital bag...oh, I should have mentioned that now is a great time to get that hospital bag done. NOT when you are in labor and rushing to the hospital. Check out my instagram post about what to have in the bag along with your toiletries and A FEW personal items. Remember my mantra; pack for the boob, not the babe.

So you've organized, created your baskets, birthing plans, hospital bag...what else is there to do when you have all this time left to prepare for your little's birth?

TAKE A PRE-NATAL NURSING CLASS! I cannot emphasize this enough. Everyone should do this if you plan to nurse or even think you may want to try it. I happen to be offering one, for $FREE99$ that an be found on my 'Workshops' tab so check it out!

Seriously though, if you don't take my class, take someone else's. It is so important to have all the information out there so you can make the most informed choices. Remember, EDUCATED IS BEST Mama.

Any other questions about ways to prepare for a smooth transition from labor to little, feel free to leave me a message using my contact form!

My 1st nursing journey started quite well. And when I reference the 'start' of my nursing journey, I mean while still pregnant. I cannot emphasize that enough; a good start comes from a good acquisition of knowledge and I was fortunate to have a sister in law who's friend was training to be a lactation counselor. She gave me a nursing crash course over the phone about a month before I was due with my first baby. I had made it clear that I wanted to nurse but was so overwhelmed with the internet searches and other people's personal experiences, so having that knowledgeable, un-biased perspective was key for me.

I felt prepared and after giving birth to my son in 2019 we began the physical side of nursing, the actual feeding part, but after we left the hospital our struggles began. There were latch issues, nipple pain, overall discomfort, engorgement, and inevitable feeling of dread before each feeding...it was the steepest learning curve I had ever been on. I thought I was prepared?

After a couple weeks of trying (and crying) I decided I needed more help and thank goodness my husband and family pushed me to getting that help sooner rather than later. Between reaching out to my lactation counselor friend and an IBCLC in the hospital, my son and I FINALLY fell into a rhythm and went on to nurse successfully for just over 13 months. Even with working full time and pumping, my self-confidence in the ability to provide rarely wavered. My support system constantly validated my feelings and it was expressed to me more than once that I NEEDED to make sure nursing worked for us both, my son and I. That really resonated. I never forgot that sentiment and it pushed me forward in a positive way.

My son self-weaned and I can remember our last session, I cried, yet again but was so thankful for the time we had. Aside from learning all about the physical act of nursing, the emotional component was something that almost didn't expect (even with the prior knowledge I had) and I will always treasure. I want that feeling for every mama who wants to nurse their little and it is why I decided to become an IBCLC and create Nursing Littles in 2020. I wanted to create the brand that I WISH was around while I was stressed, panicked, and unsure of myself. To put it simply, Nursing Littles was born for Y-O-U mama, and I hope you enjoy all that is to come!