Are you gearing up for the beautiful yet challenging journey of breastfeeding your newborn? If so, you’re not alone. While breastfeeding is natural, it’s far from easy. Many new moms, including myself, have found themselves unprepared for the hurdles that may arise along the way. Breastfeeding can be a very long and difficult journey for many women and is often not openly discussed enough. In this blog post, I will share my insights and a comprehensive list of breastfeeding products to help you navigate this journey more confidently and easily.
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The Reality of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding isn’t always the serene, effortless experience portrayed in the media. It can be a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges. Factors like low milk production, overproduction of milk, latch issues, engorgement, stress, medications, and even the shape and size of the woman’s breasts may turn a supposedly natural and easy task into a daunting one. Ensuring you have the right breastfeeding products on hand can make this experience smoother.
I thought breastfeeding would be a breeze. Admittedly, it was, AT FIRST. My journey started smoothly in the hospital, but quickly took a turn for the worse when I returned home. My breasts were constantly engorged regardless of breastfeeding, pumping, and any measures I took to correct it. In my second month of breastfeeding, I hired a lactation consultant, and she almost cried when she first saw the state my breasts were in. I ended up with mastitis, needed antibiotics, and then my son and I both developed thrush. This ultimately led to the early ending of our breastfeeding experience. This led me to reflect on ways to better prepare for future breastfeeding experiences.
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Essential Breastfeeding Supplies
This comprehensive list of items for breastfeeding is what I believe will help you to be more prepared for what is to come and hopefully have an overall better experience than myself. Don’t forget to pack some of these essentials in your hospital bag with you! Without further ado, here is a curated list of items that can make your breastfeeding journey smoother.
Breastfeeding Bras:
Nursing bras provide comfort and easy access for nursing sessions. One issue I had was wearing bras that were either too tight or not supportive enough; this caused even more tenderness in my breasts. Once your milk supply comes in, re-measure your bra size as you may find it has increased a bit, and order plenty more bras!
Loose Shirts:
Any shirt will do, especially if you plan to mainly feed in the privacy of your own home as you can just take your shirt completely off while breastfeeding. However, when you are out and about or have guests over and don’t want to flaunt it all, having loose-fitting shirts that can be pulled up or down easily is your best bet. To make it even easier, you can get one of these cute shirts designed specifically with breastfeeding in mind.
Nursing Pads:
Essential for managing leaks, which will happen a lot as your supply comes in. Both disposable and reusable options are available and each has its own set of pros and cons. Reusable pads are amazing because it saves you money and helps the planet. However, if you are anything like me and constantly find yourself leaking, you may want disposable ones as you may be changing them out more frequently.
Nursing Pillow:
Offers support and positioning assistance during feedings. Many different types exist such as the “boppy” pillow and the “My breast friend” pillow. I used the boppy pillow, but either version is great to have! There are also many different breastfeeding positions that you can feed your newborn in such as the cradle, cross cradle, football position, and side-lying. Experiment and see which positions work best for you and your baby!
Breathable Nursing Cover:
The key word here is BREATHABLE. The nursing cover I had was too thick and did not provide enough airflow for myself or the baby. This led to me sweating and the baby not latching well. Grab a nursing cover like this one that is lightweight and allows you to easily see your baby. These covers are great for when you are on the go and still want to maintain some privacy while breastfeeding your newborn.
Milk Collectors:
These are items that can be worn on your breast or inside your bra that will collect milk from the non-nursing breast during feedings. One fan-favorite is the Haakaa, a silicone breast pump that suctions to the breast opposite of the one baby is feeding on. This device collects milk that is leaking from that breast during a feed as well as provides a gentle suction to help produce even more milk that can be saved for the baby later on. One downside to the haakaa is that as the baby gets older, it may be more difficult to keep it on, as the baby will kick and squirm causing it to fall off and spill your milk everywhere. An alternative milk collector would sit inside your bra as you breastfeed such as the Elvie Curve Manual Breast Pump.
Nipple cream:
Soothes and protects sore nipples, a must-have for early breastfeeding days. I recommend using this from breastfeeding session number one, even if you don’t feel like your nipples hurt yet. I loved the Earth Mama organic nipple butter, but it does have a slightly grainy texture, so if your nipples are extra sensitive, this may not be for you. On days I could not use the Earth Mama one, I opted for the Motherlove Organic Nipple Balm.
Hot/cold packs:
Held to relieve engorgement and alleviate discomfort. The Lansinoh hot and cold breast therapy packs are a great 2-in-1 option that can be frozen or heated in the microwave to suit your needs.
Bibs and Burp Clothes:
Using bibs or burp clothes help keep you and your baby as clean as possible during breastfeeding sessions. Place these under babies chin or tuck into your shirt/bra to prevent milk from leaking everywhere.
Nipple Shields:
Nipple shields are helpful for babies having a difficult time latching. Also helps shield moms’ nipples to protect them.
Sunflower lecithin:
Sunflower lecithin may help prevent clogged milk ducts. I would love to see how helpful taking this will be during future breastfeeding experiences, as I did not find out about it until after I already experienced the dooms of mastitis. I also recommend a breast massager for any clogged ducts you may develop.
Nightlight:
Essential for those middle-of-the-night feedings so you can see the baby and stay awake during the feed. The Hatch is a great option as it doubles as a nightlight and a sound machine for baby.
Milk Warmer:
Milk warmers are great for easily warming up frozen or refrigerated breast milk. Saves you time from having to boil water, and prevents hot spots from burning your babies mouth.
Pumping supplies
For moms who plan to pump, having the right equipment is essential. Here is what you’ll need:
Breast pump + Parts:
Choose a pump that suits your needs and ensure you have spare parts on hand. I loved my Spectra S1 breast pump; however, being attached to the pump by tubing’s is not always plausible. For future babies, I would opt for a hands-free breast pump that sits in the bra. Great choices are the Elvie Double Breast Pump or the Momcozy Hands-Free Pump. This will be ideal for when pumping on the go, ensuring you can express milk efficiently and discreetly.
Pumping Bras:
Pumping bras makes for hands-free pumping that is effortless and convenient. Great for pumps with tubing and wires as these bras have holes in them for the tubing to be guided through.
Milk Storage Bags:
Utilize milk storage bags to safely store expressed breast milk for future use in the fridge or freezer.
Sterilizer bags:
These little sterilizer bags are convenient for quickly sterilizing pump parts and bottles. Alternatives include sterilizer machines or going old-fashioned by placing parts and bottles in boiling water.
To-Go Bag:
A bag that easily fits your breast pump and parts for on-the-go. For working mamas or moms just on the go a lot, invest in a backpack with a cooler to store expressed milk so it stays fresh until you get home.
Additional Tips for Success
In addition to having the right supplies, here are some practical tips to help you on your breastfeeding journey.
- Stay hydrated and EAT. Invest in a large, reusable water bottle so you can keep water by your side at all times. Breastfeeding will make you THIRSTY. One of my biggest struggles with a newborn is finding the time and energy to cook myself a healthy meal. Keep healthy snacks in the house and on you so you don’t have to wait until you’re hangry to get some food in you.
- Don’t let the prospect of pumping for work overwhelm you; it’s manageable with the right approach. If for some reason you don’t have enough milk pumped by the time you go back to work, don’t be afraid to supplement with formula. Your baby will be FINE. FED is best.
- Have your baby checked for tongue and lip tie ASAP (by a lactation consultant preferably). We discovered my son’s oral ties later on into breastfeeding, and it is hypothesized that his latch was the cause for my constant engorgement. If we caught it early on we could have corrected it sooner and maybe had a whole different breastfeeding experience.
- Schedule an at-home lactation consultant within a week of being discharged from the hospital. Don’t wait until something doesn’t feel right to ask for help. Even if you only have one visit, setting it up in advance will help you be more prepared as your supply comes in.
- You WILL become engorged when your milk starts to come in. It WILL be uncomfortable. Try to push through it as it will eventually pass, but if you HAVE to, pump A LITTLE. Only until you feel some relief. Don’t pump until empty.
- Do NOT excessively massage your breasts when engorged. I read everywhere to massage, massage, massage when engorged. But that made it WORSE for me.
- If you get mastitis, pump BOTH sides equally. You don’t want your breasts producing unequal amounts of milk. After I got mastitis, one of my providers gave me false advice to only feed off the breast with mastitis… I was uneven for WEEKS and it made my engorgement in that breast even worse as my body thought it needed to increase supply to that one side.
- Lastly, for at-home, I recommend creating a breastfeeding cart that you can wheel from room to room with all of your essentials on it. Items to include on your cart would be a breast pump, storage bags, nipple cream, nipple shield if you use one, milk collectors, breast pads, burp cloths, diapers, wipes, snacks, and a water bottle.
Good luck in your feeding journey, I hope these tips will come in handy as you navigate life as a new mom!
For experienced mamas, what tips do you have that made your breastfeeding journey smoother? Comment down below!
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