{"id":1247,"date":"2021-07-13T14:08:01","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/?p=1247"},"modified":"2025-11-17T22:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:48:18","slug":"5-tips-for-breastfeeding-in-the-summer-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/blog\/summer-breastfeeding-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips For Breastfeeding In The Summer Months"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeeding during the hot summer months can be uncomfortable both for the mother and the baby. As a mom, you may have to do some extra planning during this period, so you prevent your baby&#8217;s head from sweating while breastfeeding, and you don&#8217;t develop <\/span><a href=\"\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/breast-evaluation-and-treatment-miami-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>breastfeeding exhaustion<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, we\u2019ll describe breastfeeding exhaustion in more detail and explore some tips for moms breastfeeding in the heat. We\u2019ll also mention what you can do if you\u2019re planning on breastfeeding on the beach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Breastfeeding Exhaustion?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Postpartum fatigue is common in women with depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and those who are breastfeeding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you breastfeed, you may feel weak, sleepy, or dizzy, as your body uses 25% of its energy to produce milk and feed your child. This can also lead to a low breast milk supply or an infection, increasing stress levels and affecting your relationship with others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some factors that can lead to breastfeeding exhaustion include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Poor sleep patterns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Following a poor diet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anemia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thyroid problems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breast issues, such as mastitis or breast engorgement.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dehydration.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1249 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion.jpg\" alt=\"Tired Mother Breastfeeding Her Newborn Baby Next to a Window\" width=\"1000\" height=\"668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-200x134.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/What-Is-Breastfeeding-Exhaustion.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Tips For Breastfeeding In Summer<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep on reading to learn more about what you can do in summer to breastfeed your baby more comfortably and how you can prevent your baby\u2019s head from sweating while breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tip #1: Staying Hydrated<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We recommend that our patients stay hydrated, as our body loses much fluid when we sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is best to drink enough water throughout the day, so you don&#8217;t feel thirsty. When you feel thirsty, it&#8217;s the body&#8217;s way of telling you that it requires more fluid intake, and when you&#8217;re craving water, your body&#8217;s already experiencing fluid depletion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women who have just started breastfeeding may notice that they need to drink more often. This is because the body releases oxytocin, a hormone that encourages you to drink more water to stay hydrated and produce breast milk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition, the color of your urine can tell whether you are hydrated or not. For example, if it has a dark color, this means that you&#8217;re dehydrated, but if it&#8217;s pale yellow or almost transparent, this indicates that you&#8217;re drinking enough fluids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fluids that can contribute to your fluid intake, besides water, include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cow&#8217;s milk.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fruit or vegetable juice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Soup.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vegetables, such as cucumbers and lettuce<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fruits, such as watermelon and berries<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decaffeinated coffee or tea.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you don&#8217;t drink enough fluids, you can become dehydrated and can experience some unpleasant side effects, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Constipation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dry mouth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chapped lips.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Muscle cramps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nausea.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dizziness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, if you don&#8217;t drink enough fluids, you may experience a lag in milk production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, we also recommend avoiding or limiting these liquids when you\u2019re nursing:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Sugary sodas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These drinks can lead to dehydration and heat stress by putting pressure on the kidneys. What happens is that they reduce the amount of fluid that the body retains. They can also lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and weight gain. If you&#8217;re craving a sweet drink, you can add fruits or berries to your drink rather than drinking sugary sodas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Caffeinated drinks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Caffeine acts as a diuretic, so it causes the body to lose fluid leading to dehydration. It can also end up in breast milk and cause the baby to experience irritability and sleeping difficulties.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Alcohol:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drinking a lot of alcohol while you&#8217;re breastfeeding can reduce milk production, and in your child, lead to disrupted sleep patterns and a delay in psychomotor skills.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Tip #2: Applying Sunscreen<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is important to apply sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer &#8211; This applies to anyone, and we recommend our patients use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, as it protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin and can cause premature skin aging. However, UVB rays can lead to sunburn and skin cancers, such as malignant melanoma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People should also reapply sunscreen every two hours and immediately after swimming and sweating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, we recommend that you engage in outdoor activities early in the morning or late in the evening if you can, as this can help you to limit sun exposure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the coming section, we\u2019ll describe where you can find the best nursing covers for summer and how these can be helpful when you\u2019re planning on breastfeeding at the beach.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tip #3: Choosing Nurse-Friendly Covers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In summer, you should stick to wearing light clothes, and you can also buy a nursing cover if you&#8217;re breastfeeding in public. These offer a sense of privacy, and many women feel more comfortable when they&#8217;re out in public, especially when they&#8217;re new to breastfeeding and are still getting used to the position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nursing covers can prevent the baby&#8217;s head from sweating while breastfeeding, and this also protects them from the wind and sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nursing covers can be helpful if you\u2019re breastfeeding on the beach, and it is best to choose one that has a light color and breathable fabric.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, many companies sell nursing covers, and you can also buy them from an online provider. You can look for the \u2018best nursing covers for summer\u2019 online before making a purchase, as you can read other people\u2019s reviews and learn about their experiences using these covers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, you can also ask your doctor to recommend some of the best nursing covers for summer if you\u2019re breastfeeding at the beach and help you choose one that fits your budget and style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That said, you can find these types of covers:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Apron-style nursing covers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These may remind you of an apron without a waist tie, as they tie around your neck and drape over the baby. Their structured neckline provides ventilation, and you can also see your baby while breastfeeding.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Wearable nursing covers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These are scarves or ponchos that you can convert into a shield when you need to breastfeed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Convertible nursing covers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These are wide fabric loops that you can also use as a car seat cover, a blanket, or a high chair cover.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Tip #4: Wearing Bra or Gel Pads<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1250 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads.jpg\" alt=\"Mother Breastfeeding Baby on the Beach at Sunset Near the Sea\" width=\"1000\" height=\"664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/Tip-4-Wearing-Bra-or-Gel-Pads.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another tip that we have for moms breastfeeding in the heat is: wearing bra or gel pads.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some women feel uncomfortable getting into the water as their breast milk may leak when they wear a swimsuit, which requires them to clean their breasts after getting out of the pool or lake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeeding your baby before you get into the water can help, and you can also consider wearing bra pads in your swimsuit or gel pads that stick to your breasts to decrease leaking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Moreover, you can keep a water bottle and a soft cloth if you still want to clean your breasts after getting out of the pool or lake. Some women rub their breast milk around the nipple and areola as it has antibacterial properties. Don&#8217;t use baby wipes as they contain chemicals that your baby can then ingest while breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tip #5: Being Strategic<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have an outdoor activity and don&#8217;t want to nurse in the heat, you can use a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marchofdimes.org\/baby\/using-a-breast-pump.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">breast pump<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to pump some breast milk into a bottle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That said, you can check companies that sell breast milk cooler sets and disposable storage bags, as these are products that a lot of busy mothers find convenient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Book Your Appointment Today<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeeding in summer can be tiring, especially if you\u2019re a new mother and are still getting used to the feeding positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can follow various tips to help you nurse your baby more comfortably, such as wearing bra pads and staying hydrated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re breastfeeding and want to learn more about advice and products you can buy and use in summer, call our office at (305) 271-3300 to book an appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We look forward to meeting you at Breast Care Center Miami. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breastfeeding during the hot summer months can be uncomfortable both for the mother and the baby. As a mom, you<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[14,201],"tags":[203,207,206,204,205,202],"class_list":["post-1247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-breastfeeding","tag-babys-head-from-sweating-while-breastfeeding","tag-best-nursing-covers-for-summer","tag-breastfeeding-at-the-beach","tag-breastfeeding-exhaustion","tag-breastfeeding-on-the-beach","tag-moms-breastfeeding-in-the-heat"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/breast-care-center-of-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}