As a mother of 4, I have been able to breastfeed for six years and counting. I can honestly say that each baby is very different. Some of my experiences were easier than others. Since the breastfeeding journey is so unpredictable, it is important to be prepared for anything that may come your way. I am sharing the items I must have to support my breastfeeding, especially for the first few weeks.
I believe that my 6 years and counting of breastfeeding puts me in the category of having a breastfeeding doctorate degree. There is nothing like experiencing the ups and downs of something yourself to really learn what is and isn’t necessary. With that said, this list could include other items on the market, but I truly didn’t use them at all even if I had them. Some moms who have breastfed may be surprised that I didn’t include a Boppy. This is a nice item to have on hand; however, I am currently two months postpartum with my fourth child and this time I forgot to buy one, and it turns out I really didn’t need it. This list below will serve as a guide for what you will actually need, and will most likely use based off of my personal experience.
This is something that gets immediate and long-term use for any breastfeeding mother. I use it to encourage the “milk coming in” post-birth so that I feel confident and comfortable that I have more than enough milk to satisfy my newborn. I usually purchase a Medela pump. I have tried other brands in the past, but Medela has always been my go-to. I use both an electric pump and a manual pump for different scenarios. My electric pump is an easy hands-free experience (more on the hands-free part later). However, I have found having a manual or hand pump very useful as well. For instance, if the baby is latched on one breast in the middle of the night I can hand pump the other side. This keeps the other side from getting engorged since usually my babies are too sleepy to drink fully from each breast in the middle of the night. Also, I have used the manual pump in the car. Seriously, I have had a few long car rides where I thought I could pass the time pumping a little milk, and the manual pump is convenient for this. Lastly, the manual pump is better for relieving very engorged breasts with milk duct clogs. With one hand I can massage the breast while the other hand pumps. The manual pump allows me to manage the amount of suction being appealed while massaging. This method of relief is only second to my baby nursing away the clog.
There are newer breast pumps on the market that are completely hands free and cordless. They are the Willow and Elvie. I haven’t gotten a chance to try one yet, but I have heard great things about having one. It seems as if it makes pumping on the go so easy.
There are so many other things we can do with our hands while pumping. As busy moms, we are always multitasking. These simple bras make it easy to sit and pump, because you aren’t burdened with your hands being occupied by the pump.
If you are pumping then you will need to store your milk. This requires storage bags that can be frozen. I use the Medela Storage Bags. Some moms plan to go back to work while breastfeeding and will need to store more milk. Other moms simply like having a large amount of milk stored in general. If this is the case for you, then investing in a deep freezer could be beneficial to you. A deep freezer allows the milk to be stored in greater abundance and for a longer period of time. I like to have extra pumping containers on hand as well.
Sometimes the first latch can be the hardest. Other times it is the latching to sore nipples after several days of cluster feeding that is really tough. Either way, moms will be looking for relief. Nipple cream is one of the products I used a lot during the first week of breastfeeding. I have not used the nipple cream since postpartum week 1 ended, but I still have it on hand in case a growth spurt comes along with aggressive nursing sessions.
Okay, put this one down as a game changer. When I discovered these soothing gel pads it was with my second baby, and I wish I knew about them earlier. I would have told all of my breastfeeding mom friends to definitely get them. They have an amazing cooling/soothing effect when placed on the breast. They are adhesive, and can be reused several times.
Nursing bras are so convenient. When I had my first baby I wasn’t completely convinced that I couldn’t use my regular underwire bra while breastfeeding. But when the milk came in, when my breasts were extra sore, and when I constantly needed to pull out my breasts I quickly learned that nursing bras were a must have. They unsnap at the shoulder easily, and there are many styles to choose from. As you progress in your breastfeeding journey you may go from wireless to underwire, but no matter the style, it is worthwhile to have several nursing bras.
There isn’t a specific brand when it comes to nursing friendly clothing, but just make sure that the breast is easily accessible. I love wearing dresses, but I find wearing a top and a bottom to be the most convenient during the earlier stages of breastfeeding. There are some dresses that I have that are great for breastfeeding as well, even if it wasn’t manufactured to be a nursing dress. You need to be aware of how functional an outfit is when shopping for postpartum clothing.
There will be moments where you are leaking milk and you need something absorbent in your bra to keep your shirt from getting wet. I learned this the hard way. One time I went to the mall with my 3 or 4 months old new baby, and I was so happy to just get out of the house. As I walked past a mirror, I noticed that the front of my entire shirt was covered in breastmilk. It was soaked! Immediately, I headed for the exit and drove home. I could have simply purchased another shirt, but since I didn’t have nipple pads I was concerned that the wet shirt problem would keep happening. After a few months my milk normalizes and leaking milk isn’t a problem (unless I hear someone’s newborn crying).
This is a product that I used for the first time with my fourth child. You can place the milk saver on the breast that the baby isn’t nursing from to catch any milk that leaks out of it. It is a common issue to have milk letdown from both breasts while nursing. Since breastmilk is liquid gold, we want to save as much as possible. This is a great way to do it. Honestly, I have only used it a few times since I am so busy trying to manage all the children in the house (this is being written during the pandemic) sometimes I forget it.
This is a given to most, but you may be surprised that bottles are always the last thing I purchase when preparing for breastfeeding. If you are someone like me who prefers to nurse the baby directly, then you may not use bottles very often. However, they are great to have on hand regardless. I learned that it is important to introduce the bottle early because sometimes the baby may not want a bottle at all if you don’t. This happened to me with my second baby. It was hard to even leave her with my grandmother for an hour because she refused to drink from a bottle. Along with the bottles, make sure to get bottle cleaning supplies and a bottle warmer.
Another game changer right here! The nipple shield was so helpful for all of my breastfeeding experiences. For some of my babies I only used it for a few days, and for the others a few months. It all depends on the baby’s latch, and your nipples. Last year I had a breast reduction and I believe this slightly changed the shape of my nipples for breastfeeding. This time I use the nipple shield during every feeding and it makes latch a lot easier for the both of us. However, be careful to not overuse the nipple shield if you really don’t need it. They can be really hard to wean off of later on if you do not stop soon enough.
If you plan to be around people while breastfeeding, and you don’t feel entirely comfortable being exposed, then definitely have nursing covers on hand. You will need several. A nursing cover for the car, in the house, and in the diaper bag makes it easier to be prepared anywhere at anytime.
Lactation Support Products
It is not necessary to take lactation supplements to maintain a healthy milk supply. I used to think this was true because they are talked about so much. During my first and second time breastfeeding I used fenugreek far too often. However, for my third and fourth time breastfeeding I haven’t found use for it. My supply is okay. However, if I decide that I need more to keep up with her nursing demands then I am happy to have these products in my pantry for immediate use. I like to have fenugreek supplements and a milk tea in my home.
These are the items I have definitely found useful in my breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding is truly an extension of the pregnancy period, where you are still providing nutrients and food to sustain your little one. Share with us in the comments section any breastfeeding tips for any new moms. Entire list of products mentioned below:
- Medela Breast Pump
- Medela Manual Pump
- Elvie Hands Free Pump
- Willow Hands Free Pump
- Hands free pumping bra
- Breastmilk Storage Bags
- Deep Freezer
- Breastmilk Containers
- Nipple Cream
- Soothing Gel Pads
- Nursing Bra
- Nursing Friendly Clothing
- Nipple Pads
- Milk Saver
- Mam Bottles
- Bottle Cleaner
- Bottle Warmer
- Nipple Shield
- Nursing Cover
- Fenugreek Supplement
- Pink Stork Lactation Tea
