One thing that you’ll never hear a mother say is “breastfeeding is easy!” From cracked, sore nipples to sore breasts to bad latches, breastfeeding can be an incredibly frustrating and painful experience. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. If you’re planning on breastfeeding, or are currently breastfeeding, here are five tips to ensure that it’s as easy as possible for you and your baby:

Choose a Hold That Works For You

There are a number of different ways you can hold your baby to help ensure a proper and comfortable latch. The cradle hold is the “classic” hold that work swell for full-term babies, but other holds such as the cross-over hold is great for smaller babies and the football hold works well for any mums who’ve had a Cesarean section. The reclining position works well for sleep time. Babycenter.com has some great tips for positions and tips for making breastfeeding work for you. Give it a little read if you’re interested.

Lay With Your Baby

A great way to encourage your baby to breastfeed – and for mum to get some rest – is to lay with your baby. Numerous studies have shown how laying with your baby rather than placing him or her in a bassinet or a cradle will help to breastfeed along. There are a number of resources out there for parents to learn how to lay with their babies and even co-sleep.

Use Lanolin For Sore Nipples

A bad latch always spells “d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r” for nipples. Dried out, cracked, sore, and sometimes even bleeding nipples need a bit of TLC, something which lanolin can certainly help with. Lanolin provides nipples with a hydrating, healing environment that helps prevent scabbing and reduces any additional friction on the nipples that may make them even sorer. You can get some great sore nipple treatment creams from Lansinoh (a UK company that a few women I know swear by).

Use Lactation Supplement

Many breastfeeding mums may struggle with producing enough milk. It could make some mothers worried and tense. Dont Worry! There are solutions to it. A low milk supply can be resolved by regularly draining the milk from your breast in a way that’s comfortable for you, either through nursing or pumping. In addition, an expert physician can suggest lactation supplements like Go-Lacta, if pumping is not working for you.

Use A Pump

A breast pump is absolutely essential for any breastfeeding mum. Expressing breast milk either by a handheld or electric pump can give your breasts and nipples a much-needed break if you are feeling sore, or it can also give you a chance to get out for a couple of hours and get some “mum only” time. The best way to ease the frustration of breastfeeding is to take breaks, so make sure you take care of yourself while taking care of your baby so that you both remain happy and healthy. Lansinoh sells some excellent breast pumps here and have all of the necessary information about them to ensure you do it right.