Points to consider for recording
Points to consider before you visualise
Visualisation examplefor breastfeeding
Visualisation examplefor expressing
Visualisation can be a powerful tool in many life situations. The use of visualisation for breastfeeding can help to relax the mind and body, and facilitate the release of breast milk, especially when feeling anxious, or stressed. Visualisation may also help to relax you when expressing breast milk. This may be needed if your baby is not well (or not strong enough to suckle at the breast), your nipples are sore and you are expressing for a short period to give them a rest, or you are returning to work, or planning to go out without your baby for a while.
The visualisations are not long. The idea is to induce a relaxed state, to encourage the milk to '
let down' and flow, usually within 2 - 4 minutes of the baby being on the breast (or after commencing the expression of breast milk). You can use the visualisation written here, or create your own. You may even remember a small part of it, or recite a short affirmation, saying it quietly to yourself when you need to express or are breastfeeding. Some women will pre-record a visualisation, and listen to it when they feed or express.
If your baby is in the intensive care nursery, and you need to express all your baby's feeds, a pre-recorded visualisation may help block out other thoughts and noises (particularly if you are expressing in the hospital). If you feel there is a delay in your milk releasing (or 'letting down'), a pre-recorded visualisation may help you remain calm and relaxed (even if your baby is protesting a bit), until the milk starts flowing.
These particular visualisations are a guide only. You can write your own personal imagery, tailoring them to your own personal preferences, and the environments you wish to create.
Points to consider for recording