These 10 products will make breastfeeding easier! You should add these items to your baby registry if you’re planning to breastfeed.
As natural as breastfeeding is, it can also be very difficult. There is a big learning curve and it can take some time for both you and baby to figure things out!
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to breastfeeding. There’s no way you’ll have it all figured out before the baby is born, even if you do everything to prepare!
Benefits of breastfeeding
There are countless benefits to breastfeeding for both mom and baby, including
- reduced risk of bleeding and hemorrhage for mom
- reduced risk of breast cancer
- reduced risk of hypoglycemia in babies
- reduced risk of sickness and infection in babies
- reduced risk of chronic illness throughout infant’s life
- opportunity for bonding for mom and baby
- increased oxytocin levels for mom
AND SO. MANY. MORE.
There are some must have products that saved me when breastfeeding! I had no idea that these products existed until they were mentioned by friends, and I am so glad they shared!
These products make breastfeeding so much easier and I’m glad I found them. It really changed my experience!
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Haakaa
This handy little thing was crucial for me in the first few weeks! It’s one of my favorite mom hacks for breastfeeding moms.
I had a massive oversupply, and would leak all over while my baby nursed. When I felt a let-down happening, my clothes would be soaked!
The Hakaa suctions to the breast the baby is not feeding on and collects the milk!
I collect anywhere from 1-4 ounces when I use the Haakaa. That is milk that would otherwise be wasted, but instead I can use to build up my freezer supply!
It’s easy to clean with a bottle brush, plus it’s small and flexible so it’s easy to travel with. As my supply dropped as baby got older, I was so glad to have so much milk stored away in the freezer!
It also functions as a manual breast pump, though I never used it for that reason!
Breastmilk Bags
I’ve tried several kinds of these, and the Lansinoh brand is my favorite.
I don’t have a Lansinoh pump, but I think you can pump directly into them with adapters.
Other bags I’ve found have leaked breastmilk during thawing, or have difficult closing mechanisms. I’ve never once had an issue with the Lansinoh brand. I typically find them on Amazon or at Target.
When you pump breastmilk, you can pour directly into the bags. It’s recommended to take the air out, so I usually press the bags against the corner of the counter and push the air out that way. Lay them flat in the freezer so that they’re easier to store!
Breast Pump
Most insurance companies will cover a breast pump free of charge! When picking a pump, do your research. There are so many kinds out there.
One thing to think about is if you want a cordless, “portable” pump (I put portable in quotes because they are all pretty portable) or a wired pump.
The cordless pumps are great because they’re small and you can still walk around and get things done while wearing it. However, they don’t work as well, and if you’re going to exclusively pump you may have a low supply due to the lower suction.
Wired pumps are a little bulkier, but have much greater suction. They are still pretty small, but you’ll have to be close to an outlet to pump.
I am a BIG fan of Spectra pumps. They are my absolute favorite and it’s the only pump that I recommend to friends and family. It’s a newer company, so the parts aren’t as readily available as some of the other brands. It’s quiet and small, and I can get a lot of milk in a short period of time.
I have both the Spectra S2Plus (electric pump) and Spectra 9Plus (portable).
I use a Medela hospital grade pump at work since that is what is provided by my workplace. It’s….ok….I don’t get nearly as much milk as I do with my Spectra.
Latch Assist
If you have a flat or inverted nipple, try using a latch assist before you try the nipple shield.
Now, don’t get me wrong, nipple shields can be an excellent tool, but they’re annoying to carry around and keep clean when you’re on the go.
Latch assists suction the nipple out so it’s easier for your baby to latch. They’re inexpensive and small, so it’s easy to throw in your diaper bag.
If your nipples are flat or inverted now, you may want to have the latch assist on hand before heading to the hospital. Most hospitals have nipple shields if needed, but latch assists are little harder to find.
If you receive a lot of IV fluids (common if you get an epidural or c-section!) then you may be a little puffy and your nipples will be even flatter for a few days.
Nipple Shield
If your nipples are flat or inverted, or if your baby is tongue or lip tied and has difficulty latching, a nipple shield can be an excellent tool.
It’s not my first choice because they’re hard to keep clean when traveling, they can be annoying, and sometimes babies become dependent on them.
I used a shield with my first daughter for the first 4-5 months of breastfeeding. She had an upper lip tie that made it difficult to nurse, so I am SO grateful for the shield. I’m not sure if we could have continued breastfeeding without it!
It was hard to get rid of it, though, and I was SO excited that I didn’t need one for my second baby (though I had one ready in case I did!)
Nursing Pads
It’s exactly as it sounds: small, round pads that go into your bra to keep you dry as your boobs leak throughout the day.
You may need them the whole time you’re nursing, you may only need them for a few weeks. There’s no way to know until you’re there!
There are both washable and disposable nipple pads.
I personally always used disposable. I only needed them for the first few weeks, however, so the cost was never great.
If you choose to use washable ones, you really need to stay on top of that laundry. I’ve heard HORROR stories about moms who wore the pads all day only to find MOLD on them!
If you know anything about mold, it releases spores, and these mamas were terrified of their babies getting ill.
Again, I prefer the Lansinoh brand. They’re cheap, soft and the adhesive sticks well to the bra and doesn’t fold or shift throughout the day! I slab some nipple cream right onto the pad for the early days when your breasts are tender
Nipple Cream
An absolute ESSENTIAL for the first two weeks of breastfeeding!
If you can get through the first few weeks, nursing will be a breeze!
I really like the MotherLove brand. I’ve posted about this before here, but it’s one of my favorites. I tried several different creams over the course of both breastfeeding journeys, and I found this one to work great!
I also really like Earth Mama Organic’s Nipple Butter. It’s extremely gentle, organic, and they even make a vegan version that is beeswax free!
You don’t need to buy a lot of this (one is probably enough!), as hopefully the pain and soreness will subside within 2 weeks.
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
I don’t know WHY I thought I didn’t need one of these when I first had my baby…but I ended up ordering one within a few days of coming home with my newborn!
Pumping can be a chore. And having to sit there and hold the pump to your breasts for 20 minutes is annoying.
With the hands free bra, you can sip your tea or coffee, kick back and read my blog on the couch (lol) or fold some laundry.
Breastfeeding Pillow
I know Boppy is the big name in breastfeeding pillows…but my experience with it wasn’t great…
For whatever reason, the baby always felt way too low with it, and it would slide out from under her.
When I was in the hospital with my second baby, I was introduced to the My Brest Friend. It clips around your back and is much more supportive for you and your little one! In my opinion, it is far superior to Boppy. I set the Boppy aside for tummy time and used the My Brest Friend.
That being said, I know MANY moms who say they couldn’t have breastfed without the Boppy! My advice would be to try both and see which feels better with your body.
Water/Tea
Staying hydrated is CRUCIAL!
Get yourself one of these big water bottles and sip all day!
Mother’s Milk tea claims to help milk supply. I definitely feel like it helped my supply when it would start to dip, but I don’t know if there’s great research to support the claims!
Load up your shopping cart and get working on those registries, mamas! You’re about to embark on an amazing journey with your babe, and it’s comforting to know you’re prepared!
Breastfeeding is a great way to nourish and love on your little babe. Hopefully these products help you in your journey <3
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