Breast Feeding Tip: Nursing Bracelet...It Works For Me!
My advance apology to any of my male readers out there...might want to skip this one!
Any nursing moms out there?
It's especially important when you first start nursing to be sure and nurse equally from each breast to help develop a good milk supply on each side.
Whether you're a nurse-on-both-sides-for-each-feeding mom, or a nurse-on-one-side-per-feeding mom...it helps to keep track of which breast you're supposed to start with at a given feeding.
I'm on my 4th breast-fed baby, and this system works the best for me.
I made myself a simple bracelet, which I wear on the wrist that corresponds with the side I'm supposed to start with at the next feeding. When I sit down to nurse, I have the same routine each time: note the side, position baby, switch bracelet to other wrist, and ready...set...latch!
It is especially handy for those bleary-eyed middle of the night feedings. Thinking clearly is just not on my agenda for a 3 AM feeding!
Some tips for making a bracelet:
1. Use a variety of colors or a single color that matches anything...you'll be wearing the thing every day (or you could make more than one...that's an idea!)
2. Use small beads or stones. Since you'll be sleeping with it on, you'll want something that's not very bulky.
3. Use an elastic material - no clasps needed (clear elastic band type material found in the beading section at craft stores).
4. Tie it off with a square knot to ensure that it will not come loose.
5. Keep an eye on it. If it seems that part of the elastic is getting thin over time, re-string the beads on new elastic.
Give it a try...it works for me! And swing by Rocks In My Dryer for more great ideas.
We're getting ready to have our 4th and I'm going to do the bracelet deal this time around-I have too many other things to remember than which side to start on! Good idea on small smooth beads, I'll have to see what I have...
What a great idea!! I'm done nursing and done having kids but I will pass this little trick on to all my friends. Where were you when I needed you 5 years ago?? :)
I was also going to thank you for doing all the blogger/wordpress research for me. Now if I ever decide to leave blogger I will just see what you have to say about it all.
Have a great day!
Angie
hey i do this, too! only I use a ring I always wear on my middle finger...and it already matches everything!
That's a fantastic idea! I could never remember which side to start on. I'll have to keep this in mind when we have another!
What a great idea. I always put the burp cloth on the armrest of the recliner on the side I needed to start on. It worked once I had my hubby trained not to move it, but didn't work so well when babies #2 and #3 came along and they would move the burp cloth!! I wish I'd thought of something like that back then!
Oooh, good idea and great excuse to get to make a new piece of jewelry! :) I did the safety-pin-on-the-bra-strap with #1 and just kind of winged it w/#2. If we go for #3 I hope I remember this tip! :)
Great idea! I'm not a mom yet, but will definitely keep this in mind, as I want to exclusively breastfeed!
Great idea! I would like to have the purple nursing bracelet. I used to keep a journal of which one I used at each feeding & even then I would sometimes get confused!