Are you a multi-tasker who wants to enjoy your breastfeeding journey while embracing BIRTHFIT’s mindset pillar?
Read on for 10 things to do while breastfeeding that don’t involve your phone!
We see you: trying to do it all and manage yourself, your family, and so much more all while sacrificing your time and energy providing breastmilk for your little one. We know that your sacrifice to provide breastmilk for your baby (or babies) comes from your heart.
We also know that some mommas want this experience to have a little more intention. If you cannot add anything else to your plate, cannot sacrifice a multi-tasking opportunity, I suggest you read this with an open mind and an open heart, and allow yourself to embrace a growth mindset by considering the option of adding one of these to your milk maiden journey this week.
1. Make Eye Contact
You can make eye contact with your baby or someone else you love. This helps increase bonding between you and your loved one and will help promote more success in your breastfeeding efforts.
2. Affirmations
Ever wanted to tell your babe how amazing they are – that they’re smart, powerful, going to change the world, are a respectful human and so much more? Now is your time. While you’re nursing you can tell your child who they are, so that when life gets tough, and someone tells them that they’re not enough, they’ll have their momma’s words embedded into their cells.
Are you feeling like you could use a pick-me-up? Tell yourself some encouraging words. You are capable, you are strong, you are powerful, you are beautiful, you are enough. Now is the time to remind yourself of what you’ve needed to hear during this journey of motherhood. Take this time to think about what you need on the sidelines to get you to the end of this race, even if it’s just until the milk stops flowing this feeding or pumping session.
3. Eat
Check out this great BIRTHFIT blog on What to Eat While Nursing. You can snack or have a full meal. Remember, this motherhood transition time is about nourishment not only for you, but for that liquid gold you’re making.
4. Drink Water
Experts recommend you should drink about 1/2 to 3/4 of an ounce of water per pound of your non-nursing weight. This will help keep your supply up while keeping you hydrated. If you’re low on water, pumping or nursing is the perfect time to refuel!
5. Meditate
Meditation is the practice of focusing your intention on an object, thought, or activity. You can focus on the activity of producing milk by checking out this BIRTHFIT Blog: A Nursing Mother’s Meditation. We also love our friends at Expectful for other guided motherhood transition meditations that are perfect during your postpartum period.
6. Read a Book
Reading a book can be for yourself or for your babe, or for both. Perhaps you are finishing up a novel you hope to pass along to your little one to read one day; read it to them now. You can read a book given to them by a loved one. Or you could read a book, just for you, for pleasure.
7. Listen to Music
Music can be therapeutic in so many ways and is a natural mood-boster or relaxation method. Ever heard a song that made you want to get up and dance? Maybe a little pumping dance party is in store for you soon. Or maybe you need some calming tunes to slow down your daytime party of being a mom. Either way, you can sing or dance along while you get that milk flowing!
8. Journal
This could be an activity for you, your partner, or your little one. Journaling brings the words of our heart to paper, which sometimes may be for your eyes only. Other times, you may want to share a love letter with someone who has helped you in your motherhood journey.
9. Move
This one could be for the ultimate multi-tasker with the need to get stuff done! Keep a dumbbell by your favorite nursing or pumping spot to do your favorite arm routine (curls, tricep kickbacks, overhead press, and shoulder retractions are our favorites). If you’re holding baby, you can do slow squats or lunges with your babe in tow.
10. Close Your Eyes
Rest. You’re doing a lot. Sometimes closing your eyes without any intention or expectation is what you need. If you fall asleep, your body is probably trying to tell you something.
I hope you’ll add one or a few of these activities to your next breastfeeding or pumping session. We know this journey is long and hard. We see you and we honor you in your breastfeeding journey!
Dr. Whitley Jagnanan, DC, CST, BS
BIRTHFIT Houston Heights
Vital Family Chiropractic
1535 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
@birthfithoustonheights
@vital_houston
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