I am most certainly a baby wearing mama. Not only is it comfortable + provides benefits from closeness between mama and baby, but it also frees up my hands — and that, as a now mom of three, is SO incredibly helpful. I have always shared that the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is my favorite. It was (is) a key tool in keeping our babies cozy and even in managing reflux! That is why I am excited to announce that Baby K’tan recognized my love for the product and asked if I wanted to join their ambassador team. Of course, since I’m already a huge fan + fully believe in recommending the Baby K’tan products, I said yes!

I am dedicated to only sharing products and giving recommendations that I believe in + was so honored when the brand recognized I was sharing them without any ask on their behalf. But today, thanks to Baby K’tan, I’m able to share again! This time with some really great insights on breastfeeding (and baby wearing).

I’m just going to jump right in and say that now having had three breastfed babies, I can fully attest to the fact that each experience is different from one another, and I’ve continued learning so much along the way. I want to share some of the things I’ve learned + am learning this third time around to demonstrate that breastfeeding is a process. It’s a relationship with an individual baby and the first time, second time, third time and beyond don’t come with a learning manual. I am amazed at how much knowledge I continue to acquire on my third breastfeeding journey + am so thankful to have a close friend who is a Lactation Consultant to answer all of my questions! (Thanks Rachele!)

For more on my individual experiences with Maven, Sylvie and Rush, read: Breastfeeding Q&A with a Third Time Mama

5 NEW FINDINGS FROM A THIRD TIME BREASTFEEDING MAMA

1. Though I previously read this fact, I’m recognizing its truth more than ever with Rush: the baby fist phenomenon. Watch your baby’s hunger cues. If a baby is very hungry (or in a stressful state) his or her fists will be clenched. As the baby becomes satisfied over the course of a nursing session, the fists will relax. They may not be flat handed at the end, but the fingers will be much looser! Rush’s hands are in tight little balls when he’s hungry and first latches. It’s amazing to watch them and literally see with my eyes when he relaxes more + becomes comfortable with a full belly.

2. A baby with a high palate can cause a painful latch. While I may have discovered this quite late in my nursing journey with Rush, it was discovered that he has a very high palate. In the beginning days, the latch was excruciatingly painful (tear inducing on my end) and I ended up with open sores on my nipples. (This nipple butter was my saving grace!) Now I know to spread this fact in hopes it will help another mama (or me again in the future).

3. It’s possible to nurse through Influenza A. While this was a great challenge, I was able to keep up my supply (even while on Tamiflu) and work through my exhaustion to nurse a two month old baby while I was very ill.  Read: 5 Do’s and Dont’s of Breastfeeding While Mom or Baby Are Sick for how I managed.

4. Normalizing breastfeeding in your household with other young children will create some very hilarious moments. First of all, I LOVE that my daughters pretend to breastfeed their baby dolls. I also love that they are exposed to this natural experience. I do not cover up at home! Together we discuss how they were breastfed as babies and the importance of milk + exactly when solids may begin — because they are very eager to get involved in the spoon feeding process! Teaching a two year old about breastfeeding though, has some laughable moments. In the first month, every single time Rush would cry, Sylvie would shout “Rush needs Mommy’s boobies!” no matter if we were at home or in public. And now, her preschool teacher is pregnant + she delivers the message to her quite often that her baby will drink from her boobies when she is born. It makes us smile, and sometimes makes us tell her to keep her voice down slightly, but it’s a beautiful thing that she has learned.

5. Breastfeeding while baby wearing is very doable and very helpful! This is something that I wanted to try in the past, but at the point I wanted to do so with Sylvie, she was far to wiggly + distractable to cooperate. Now, thanks to my Baby K’tan Baby Carrier, I’m learning the ins and outs of breastfeeding + baby wearing with Rush. I highly recommend mamas try this if they are comfortable.

Here are a few notes I can provide based on my experience:

• Get comfortable putting your carrier on and putting your baby inside. It makes it easier if you know what you’re doing to put it on and put the baby in.
• The Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is my go-to for this hold and experience because the material is soft but supportive. I find putting the carrier on is really easy and Rush can stay snug inside.
• Understand this is a supported posture and is not supposed to be entirely hands free. It does give me a lot of freedom though while nursing!
• I do think it provides an extra layer of “cover” while I breastfeeding in public. Sure I don’t cover when I’m at home, but when I’m in public I always use a nursing cover for privacy because it’s the way I feel most comfortable.
• Wearing the right clothing will help tremendously. I love my Loyal Hana nursing clothing and it makes this breastfeeding + baby wearing experience so much easier. In addition, you should get yourself a Dairy Fairy nursing bra!

All photography is graciously + beautifully provided by Talia Laird Photography.

Surely this is just the beginning of my breastfeeding journey with Rush — baby no. 3 — and so we will continue to learn and adapt as we go. For now, I’m kind of proud that we’ve worked through challenges such as cracked nipples and Influenza and have come out okay. I’m also thankful that he’s a gentle + efficient nurser and is doing so well at night. What more can a tired mama ask for than a baby who feeds in the night and goes soundly back to sleep right after? ☺

XO

Note: All parents should consult the Baby K’tan website and/or their Baby K’tan Baby Carrier instruction manual before first use to ensure a safe and happy experience. Consult the Baby K’tan FAQ’s for additional tips and support.