How to Get Comfortable While Breastfeeding

You’ve just started your breastfeeding journey—congrats, mama! From bonding to providing your baby with nutrients and helping them build antibodies, this special experience brings so many benefits to both you and your baby, but it can also come with some pain or discomfort. After all, your body is working hard to feed and care for your baby during this period while you’re still recovering from labor and delivery, so it’s completely normal to experience a wide range of side effects, including nipple soreness, back pain, swelling, and more. 

Don’t worry—you’re in the right place! We’re sharing advice on how to create a calming, relaxing breastfeeding environment, plus a few recommendations for products to keep you feeling as comfortable as possible throughout your breastfeeding journey. 

Constant communication with your support team can also set you up for breastfeeding success. From helping you with meal prepping to making sure someone’s on hand to bring an extra pillow or glass of water while you’re feeding, share your expectations with your team to let them know the best ways to help you throughout this journey. 

And because you can’t always choose where you breastfeed, familiarizing yourself with local laws on breastfeeding in public will help you feel supported and comfortable nursing or pumping in public spaces. The Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2019 protects your right to breastfeed in public. This includes airports, restaurants, shopping centers and other businesses. The law also requires some businesses to provide nursing mothers with hygienic, shielded spaces (other than a restroom) to breastfeed with access to a working surface, an electric outlet, and seating.

Creating a safe, comfortable environment is the first step to relaxing while breastfeeding. Once you have that covered, you can focus on finding the right positions that work for you and your baby.

Want more information on your breastfeeding and breast pumping options? Read our blog: The Ultimate Guide to Pumping At Work. 

There’s no one way to breastfeed your baby, so try a few different positions and remember you can always switch things up to accommodate any pain, discomfort, or soreness. 

Football Hold: Sitting upright, support your back on a chair or wall while you hold your baby off to one side. 

Cradle Hold: This upright position also supports your back. Keep your baby on their side, resting their body against your upper stomach with their head and neck along one forearm to help them latch onto the breast on the same side. For right-handed mamas, this typically works best on your left side, but try both to find the one that works best for you!

Cross-Cradle Hold: Similar to the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold allows your baby to rest their body along one forearm and latch onto the opposite breast.

Side-Lying Hold: Yes, it is possible to lie down while breastfeeding! Simply lie down on your side and let your bed or sofa support your baby’s weight. This position is restful for both you and your baby.

Laid Back Hold: Using pillows to support your back and side, lay back on an angle and rest your baby on your upper bellow or lower ribs, avoiding your wound site. 

Try using a nursing pillow, cushions, blankets, and props to support your head, shoulders, back, arms, and legs while feeding.

If you had a C-section, finding the right breastfeeding position can ease feelings of pain or discomfort around sensitive areas. The football hold is especially helpful for moms recovering from c-sections because they baby will avoid rubbing or kicking your wound while feeding.

Finding a comfortable breastfeeding position also means helping your baby get a good latch. While breastfeeding is natural, it can take a some time to get it right. Practice is key as you try to find the right positions to encourage your baby to get a deep latch. 

Start by placing your baby’s nose on your nipple and letting their lips brush against the bottom half of your areola. This activates your baby’s “rooting reflex,” allowing them to open their mouth wide to latch onto your breast. 

From soothing your nipples to relieving pain throughout your body, Aeroflow Breastpumps has a variety of products that can help you feel better while breastfeeding.

If your baby isn’t latching correctly, this can lead to sore nipples, especially if this is your first time breastfeeding. Often caused by a shallow latch where our baby only latches onto the nipple instead of the entire areola, your nipples might look compressed, creased, or misshapen after breastfeeding. This can cause bleeding and scabbing around your nipples over time. If you’re struggling to help your baby develop a deep, comfortable, and effective latch, talk to a lactation consultant for advice and support during this part of your journey.

You may also need to invest in some nipple care products. Here are a few items we recommend to soothe sore, chapped, or cracked nipples.

Nipple Balms and Creams: Nipple creams are generally emollient moisturizers many moms turn to when looking to protect their skin and provide relief from irritation. Medela Organic Nipple Balm is a popular option. For moms looking for a vegan alternative, Willow’s Nipple Balm is a solid choice. These nipple balms are safe for baby, meaning mom doesn’t need to cleanse the nipple prior to breastfeeding. Use these nipple creams and balms as lubricants on your nipples or pumps and flanges for a more comfortable pumping session. 

Nursing Pads: Lactating moms know that leaks happen, leading to skin and nipple irritation. Fortunately, nursing pads can prevent this discomfort and help keep your clothes dry by soaking up excess breast milk. 

Disposable pads provide hygienic, convenient options for moms. We like the Motif Contoured Disposable Nursing Pads for their breathable, natural materials or the super-absorbent Medela Disposable Nursing Pads. We also recommend the Philips Avent Maximum Comfort Disposable Breast Pads, which have an ultra-thin honeycomb texture with an ultra-absorbent core; Evenflo’s Advanced Nursing Pads with an extra soft material that’s ideal for sensitive skin; and Lansinoh’s Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads with their discreet fit and ultra-soft inner lining.

Moms can also choose from reusable, washable pads for an eco-friendly alternative. Our top picks include the Lansinoh Washable Nursing Pads, Willow Reusable Nursing Pads, and the Motif Reusable Nursing Pads. 

Worn between feeding or pumping sessions, cooling gel nursing pads are placed on sensitive nipples to heal soreness and irritation. Try Lansinoh Soothies Nipple Gel Pads, Motif Soothing Hydrogel Nipple Pads, or the Willow Cooling Gel Nipple Pads.

While breastfeeding with one breast, you might notice that your other breast leaks milk. But this liquid gold doesn’t have to go to waste, because milk collectors and manual pumps are here to save the day! These handy devices can help you collect every precious drop, ensuring you're maximizing your milk production and building up your supply. 

The Elvie Curve Manual Breast Pump is a great options for moms to pump one breast while baby nurses the other. This discreet, wearable silicone pump fits securely in your bra, allowing for gentle, hands-free expression. Create suction by simply pressing the pouch, and express up to 4 ounces of breast milk.

Find that your breast leak when you are out and about? Moms on the move might want to consider the Milkies Milk-Saver On-the-Go. These innovative breast shells not only collect leaking milk but also protect sore nipples from rubbing and chafing. Their unique oblong design allows each shell to hold up to 1 ounce of milk without any risk of spills.

The Haakaa Ladybug Silicone Milk Collector is another great milk collector option. This milk collector’s discreet, one-piece design easily slides into your bra, collecting excess milk throughout the day without any fuss. Its gentle suction ensures a secure fit, and the best part? No batteries or cords required! Plus, it’s designed to stand upright on flat surfaces, making it easy to transfer your collected milk to a storage bag or bottle for later use.

By incorporating one (or more!) of these milk collectors into your routine, you can ensure that none of your precious milk goes to waste, all while making your breastfeeding experience more comfortable.

Designed with moms in mind, compression garments work to reduce back and pelvic pain by supporting and tightening the areas most affected by pregnancy. They also help to alleviate soreness, abdominal pain, swelling, and some loss of bladder control. They can be worn starting one week after birth until about four months postpartum. 

Compression socks like these from Motif can alleviate swelling in your feet and lower legs and can help reduce your risk of developing varicose veins, blood clots, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Use a recovery support garment to provide structure and stability to the stomach, back, and hips while also improving your posture. 

You can also receive postpartum compression and other motherhood essentials (like breast pumps!) through insurance when you fill out our form.

Remember, every breastfeeding experience is different, so find the products, positions, and people you need to help you throughout your journey. If you have questions about breastfeeding, reach out to one of our lactation consultants for advice and support.