Ten More Things to Do while Breastfeeding
January 15, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under advantages of breastfeeding, breastfeeding basics, health of the mother, pumping
Yesterday I mentioned my list of Top Ten Things to Do while Breastfeeding. Just in case you need more ideas:
1. Do Kegel exercises. After childbirth (or at any time!) a mother can do Kegels to strengthen her pelvic floor muscles (the pubococcygeus muscles). These exercises, which can be done without anyone else even knowing, help enhance sexual pleasure (assuming the new mother is even interested in sex after her six-week postpartum checkup!) and prevent urinary incontinence.
2. Listen to music.
3. Smell that wonderful baby smell!
4. Practice deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Deep breathing, progressive muscular relaxation and eliciting the relaxation response are three techniques that can help mothers reduce stress.
5. Read a magazine.
6. NAK. Nursing at the computer keyboard (NAK) is how I get a great deal of my blogging done!
7. Take a bath. Taking a bath together helps soothe and relax the baby and may actually make nursing easier! Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) reduces stress, improves breastfeeding rates and promotes bonding between mother and infant.
8. Sit outside and enjoy nature. When the weather is nice, both mother and baby can benefit from the fresh air!
9. Express from the other breast. Pumping from one breast while nursing from the other actually helps mothers pump more milk due to the baby’s triggering of the milk-ejection reflex.
10. Attend a breastfeeding support group meeting. Share advice and make friends with other mothers. It can be very validating and helpful to nurse among other breastfeeding moms.
I’ve been reading three books a week and doing Sudoku while I nurse. I think that’s what I am not any further along with weaning my 1 year-old.
There are distinct advantages to having that “down time” that nursing gives you. If it’s working for you, then by all means continue! I hope the weaning goes smoothly when you are ready to proceed.
With my second baby I used to lie down to feed because my milk came out way too fast for him to digest and I couldn’t do much except lie there. At first it was a bit frustrating but after awhile I just loved that I got to lie down during the day. Often.