Breastfeeding in the summer.
Oooohhhhh. Eeeeemmm. Gggeeeee!!
Is there anything worse?! (No. The answer is no.)
“But it’s a dry heat!”
We hear it every year. All the jokes and jeers about Arizona being inhumane and unlivable in the summer with our relentless 110°+ days. And it’s all valid because we all know how miserable the summer can be here in the great State 48!
Simple, everyday tasks–like getting in and out of the car to go grocery shopping–just feel like they take longer and require more effort as the sun zaps every ounce of energy out of your body.
But do you want to know what the most ruthless summer assassin of moms’ sanity and comfort across Arizona truly is? We don’t talk about it enough, and so many of us suffer in silence.
It’s hard enough living normal life in the Arizona summers! But having to basically be conjoined with another human body multiple times a day is NEXT LEVEL!
I’ve nursed three babies in Arizona, so I won’t lie to you and say there’s a way to completely avoid the summer nursing misery. But I’ve picked up a tip or two to beat (some of) the heat, so I hope these help keep you just a smidge cooler this summer!
Xo,
Megan
Summer Breastfeeding Tip #1: Nurse inside whenever possible.
Duh. I know this is a no brainer, but it’s worth emphasizing.
Try to structure your day to be home as much as possible when you need to feed your baby. If you happen to find yourself out when you need to nurse, try to find a way to be in a climate controlled environment.
If you feel comfortable nursing in public, then this won’t be hard for you.
Wherever you are, just do your thing wherever you can find a place to sit down indoors. If you prefer a little more privacy, this could be in the corner of a restaurant, the dressing room of a store, or in a family bathroom if one is available. (There’s even a nursing moms’ suite at the Diamondbacks stadium for all you baseball families!)
Also, don’t forget that your car is basically like a private trailer. Crank up the AC and stay as long as you need.
Summer Breastfeeding Tip #2: Put a barrier between your skin and baby’s.
Assuming you’re not dressing your baby in long sleeves and pants in the summer, they’ll have more exposed skin that will be touching your body, as well. That much skin to skin contact in extreme heat is not only sweaty and uncomfortable, but it could also cause heat rashes for both you and baby.
So, it’s a good idea to make sure you have some kind of cloth protecting both of you from irritation. A nursing cami is a great option because it covers your tummy while allowing easy access to the breast. You could also put a muslin blanket or other burp cloth between you, as well.
Summer Breastfeeding Tip #3: Try nursing in the water.
If you’re at the pool and need to feed baby, you don’t have to sweat it out on a deck chair or relegate yourself away from friends and family in the car. Try nursing in the pool!
There’s so many nursing-friendly bathing suit options available now, or most swimsuits are stretchy enough that you can just pull them aside to access the breast. So, try sitting on the steps or holding your baby in the shallow end to feed.
Again, if you’re comfortable nursing in public, just give it a whirl! But if you’re needing some coverage, you could use a water-friendly mesh wrap carrier draped over you and baby as a nursing cover.
NOTE: If you do attempt this, please make sure baby’s face and your breasts are completely out of the water to ensure that baby does not ingest any pool water.
Summer Breastfeeding Tip #4: Dress temperature-appropriate.
Mama, please hear this with all the love in my heart coming straight to you. I know how insecure and uncomfortable you can feel in your post-partum body. But, not only is our environment hot, your body is burning extra calories to make milk PLUS your hormones could cause you to sweat even more than usual.
Please dress yourself appropriately for these blazing temperatures! A week straight of 112° days is not the time to wear a cardigan to cover your arms or to be too ashamed to wear shorts!
Wear whatever is going to keep you cool and comfortable, and forget all the haters–especially the worst one in your own head! Celebrate your body for all the hard work it did creating new life and all the hard work it is continuing to do to sustain you and your baby after.
❤️
In closing, also make sure you’re keeping yourself extra hydrated and well-nourished to keep your energy up! Stay cool out there, Mama!
BONUS TIP: Did you see the Mesa mom who was on Shark Tank with the nursing cover that has a built-in fan?! GENIUS! We all definitely need to support one of our own local mamas and try out the Lady Alpha Nursing Cool Cover this summer!
 the heat, so I hope these help keep you cooler this summer!){kind=link}