Breast Feeding Blues

Are you a new mother? If so, you probably are breast feeding for the first time. It looked real easy when you watched it on TV or when a friend or relative did it. However, now that you're in the hot seat, you're finding out that there are a few pitfalls.

Some of the pitfalls of breast feeding are leaky breasts, cracked nipples and sore breasts. Finding a solution to these breast-feeding challenges is an age-old question and also explains the plethora of 'mommy' products in every department store. However, the temporary cures for these breast feeding issues may only be a finger tip away. Here's how to solve some of these problems with a few common products hanging around your home.

* McCormick Garlic Powder. For a slow sucker, eat a little garlic. The smell of garlic prompts a baby to suck longer rather than play with a nipple. Also, it won't hurt their system.

* Pampers. If you run out of nursing pads and can't get to the store right away, try using a Pamper. You can't cut it up into two circles and use adhesive tape to adhere it to your bra.

* Ziploc Freezer Bags. For sore, painful breasts, apply an ice pack. You can make one at home by filling up a Ziploc bag with ice. After each use, you can put it back into the freezer for re-use on a different day.

* Lipton Tea Bags. The tannic acid in Lipton tea can heal and soothe sore, cracked nipples. Just saturate a bag with hot water and then place it over a sore nipple and cover it for five minutes with a nursing pad.

* Kleenex Tissue. If run out of nursing pads and are in public, you can make an impromptu one out of Kleenex Tissue. Here's how. Fold it in quarters and insert it into your bra in front of the nipple.

* Cherry-flavored Chapstick. Cherry-flavored Chapstick not only can protect your lips, it can also protect your nipples. If you regularly apply it to your nipples, it will help reduce cracking. Also, babies tend to like the cherry taste and tent to latch on to your breasts quicker.

Cherry-Flavored Chapstick can make your baby latch on more readily to your breast.

Credit: I-Stock Photos

Copyright: I-Stock Photos