5 ways to make breastfeeding super easy (and when to know if it’s time for the bottle)

So, as it’s Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1-7 Aug), we’re sharing tips on how to make breastfeeding a breeze, with insights from the Royce women who have been there. We also know that breastfeeding isn’t right for everyone and cover why you should feel happy with the bottle if that’s what’s right for you.

1. Give your boobs some TLC

Your boobs will be putting in a lot of work during the weeks and months following birth. Breasts can feel uncomfortably swollen and tender when full, and nipples can sometimes feel sore when your baby latches on. In more extreme (but common) cases, you could get mastitis – a painful inflammation of the breast which can last days to weeks (find out more about treating mastitis on the NHS website).

Design manager Gemma de Diego found cooling pads and gel for sore nipples to be a breastfeeding essential in the first few weeks of feeding her daughter. Another mum we know swore by a rather novel way of soothing sore boobs – keeping cabbage leaves in the freezer ready to slot into her bra whenever needed!

Breastfeeding doesn’t necessarily mean having your baby latch on 24/7. A good pump can help control your milk supply by relieving overly full breasts and boosting letdown, and helps you stock up on supply so others can feed the baby when you’re not there or need a break.

Gemma says, “I found a breast pump a must have in the beginning as I needed to keep my supply up between feeds. It also helped give me a rest so my husband could feed our daughter, and enabled me to still feed her with my breastmilk when I returned to work.”

It’s a busy breast pump market out there – from manual to electric; on-the-go to hospital-grade. Snazzy smart pumps can even offer a range of pumping speeds and strengths responding to your body’s needs, while you keep track of supply via your smartphone. The Independent have tried and tested some of the best pumps on the market – Best breast pump 2023: Wearable, electric and manual | The Independent

3. Settle in comfortably for feeding time

Your baby may be a ‘little and often’ snacker or take a few loooong feeds per day. Whichever it is, expect to be feeding them (and probably sitting or lying down) for a significant proportion of your day – and that requires knowing what you need in advance to help you settle in comfortably for the duration.

Marketing manager Claire Boote, one of our newest Royce mums, quickly learnt that the right clothing made all the difference. She says, “Make sure you’re wearing comfy clothes and a nursing bra with quick access to your boobies – you never know when your little one is going to need feeding, especially in the early weeks. I live in my dungarees and Blossom Leopard nursing bra.”

Gemma also recommends you keep water and snacks to hand once you’ve settled in for a feed – not just for your own comfort, but breastfeeding requires you to stay hydrated and nourished so your body can keep producing brilliant breastmilk.

4. Be relaxed when out and about

If breastfeeding is new to you, it can sometimes feel hard to leave the house. You may worry that your baby will need feeding in the middle of a crowded café, or you might have forgotten to pump enough breastmilk for the day. Just remember: every time you feed your baby ‘on the go’, the easier it will become.

PR and copywriter for Royce, Kerry Law, remembers how she felt when feeding her first and second born. “I breastfed both of my children and felt so much more prepared and relaxed the second time around, particularly when nursing in public. With my first child I’d been self-conscious about getting a boob out so always used a big scarf to drape across us. Second time around, I couldn’t really care less! Accessible tops and bras were still a must for speed and ease but the large scarf was gone.”

Remember, in the UK you are allowed to feed your baby in public – no-one has the right to remove you from a public place for breastfeeding.

When breastfeeding, it can be a good idea to wear a bra at night to stay comfortable. Royce’s Blossom bra, with its soft fabric, crop style and triple-cup sizing to accommodate fluctuating breast size, proved to be a great sleep bra for both Claire and Gemma.

Wearing a sleep bra means you can also pop in some breast pads to handle any leakage during the night.

Don’t feel guilty if breastfeeding isn’t for you

You may have intentions to breastfeed as much as possible, but sometimes reality gets in the way – either you have difficulty getting your baby to latch on, you suffer from mastitis, you face a swift return to work, or you or your baby may simply not like it….whatever the reason, you shouldn’t feel guilty about resorting to formula and the bottle.

Ceramicist Nicole, the maker behind the fabulous Iddy Biddy Titty, was one such new mum. She says, “I really wanted to breastfeed my first born but unfortunately due to the complications after birth I was too unwell to do this. Bottle feeding took a lot of the pressure off me and gave me time to recover. It was handy sharing the feeds through the night with my partner and allowed him some time to bond with our daughter also.”

And settling in comfortably is essential whether you’re bottle or breastfeeding. Nicole suggests, “Sit somewhere super comfy and have a pillow to prop up your arm where baby is resting. You’ll be surprised how quickly your back starts to hurt if you haven’t managed to get yourself in a comfortable position!”

Iddy Biddy Titty

Win Iddy Biddy Titty and Royce Lingerie goodies

To celebrate breastfeeding awareness week we’ve teamed up with the fabulous Nicole at Iddy Biddy Titty to bring you some boobilicious prizes! To be in with a chance of winning a brilliant boobie pregnancy mug by Iddy Biddy Titty, plus a Royce bra of your choice, simply share your own feeding advice for a new mum by commenting on Royce lingerie’s Instagram post (click here) and like both @RoyceLingerie and @IddyBiddyTittyComiddy Instagram accounts. We’ll select a winner at random on Tuesday 15^th August and contact you on social media (so keep an eye on your DMs). Good luck!

Enter competition