Could It Be Time for a Nursing Staycation?

(Virgin in Adoration Before the Christ Child)

Are you a new mom feeling tired and exhausted? Are you having trouble taking care of yourself in terms of nourishing food, enough to drink and enough sleep? Are you worried that your milk supply might be a little low? Is your baby not latching or staying on the breast like you would like due to the distractions and the busyness of life?  Then this might be a good time to take a nursing staycation.

Penny Simkin was a very well know childbirth educator who wrote about the idea of spending 24 hours in bed with your baby in her book, The Birth Partner. By taking a nursing staycation in bed for 24 hours or even the entire weekend, moms can nurture themselves, bond with their baby, provide lots of skin to skin time with baby, and help increase their milk supply.

Ideas for your nursing staycation:

• Stay in bed as much as possible
• Wear as little clothing as possible under the covers so that baby has lots of skin to skin contact and access to the breast
• Read, watch television, sleep, chat with your spouse or children but avoid leaving bed and having visitors for the weekend
• Ask your spouse to bring you nutritious food and drinks throughout the day and to help with diaper changes
• Drink 8 cups of liquid
• Offer the breast often
• Let baby nurse as much as desired

Written by Gina Peterson

References: The Twenty-Four Hour Cure for Breastfed Babies and Their Mothers