The Top Breastfeeding Must-Haves
A Breastfeeding Journey
If you plan on breastfeeding there are a few things you will want to have on hand! Before I became a mom I knew I wanted to breastfeed but was not informed of what I would need and how the process would work! Unfortunately, a lot of people do not promote breastfeeding. Some hospitals even neglected to help moms enough with breastfeeding advice. There is nothing wrong with formula, so if that is the route you choose that’s ok too! But I knew once I got pregnant I wanted to do everything in my power to breastfeed! Here are some breastfeeding must-haves that you will want if breastfeeding is the journey you want to take!
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Breastfeeding Must-Haves
/1/ Breast Pump-
It is my understanding that most insurance companies will pay for a breast pump for you. My insurance did. I was able to choose from a few different options within a price range. If I had wanted one out of the price range I could just pay the difference.
But after some research, I decided on the Spectra s1 Breast Pump. This pump was portable and wireless. After every few uses, about every 4 days for me, I would charge it for a couple of hours and be good to go. This pump has the option for single or double pumping, I only ever used the single option. It also had different speed and suction options. I had no idea what I would need in a pump or that they had so many options before having a baby. The different options made it easy to find what worked for me and I was very happy using this pump.
Cooling pads will help if your boobs get uncomfortable or too full. I had a period of time where I was very uncomfortable and was misdiagnosed before the problem was solved by a lactation consultant. I was referred to a nursing/feeding specialist who was amazing at helping Moose and I successfully breastfeed and nurse. The cooling pads that I had could also be heated up. And like I said they were very helpful in helping with discomfort caused by having full boobs! These aren’t very expensive so I would suggest buying some or putting them on your registry just in case!
These are breastfeeding MUST HAVES! It doesn’t matter what kind you have, but I do not know anyone who didn’t leak while nursing. You will want to have these nursing pads to place in your bra or nursing tank. It will prevent a lot of embarrassment if you leak while out. And will also help you stay comfortable when going longer without nursing. I used both disposable and reusable nursing pads. I used my reusable ones most of the time. But I discovered once Moose was sleeping through the night that the disposable ones would hold more so I used disposable nursing pads at night.
/4/ Hakkaa breast milk collector–
This was an amazing way to build my milk stash. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of pumping. The Haakaa helped me collect milk for Moose to have a bottle from Melvin each day. When I was still night nursing I would use it on my opposite boob at night. I could get about 4oz, without using a pump. Super easy and took no extra effort. I was already awake nursing so why not collect milk at the same time, otherwise milk would just end up in my nursing pad, wasted.
My only regret was not realizing this sooner! If you plan on giving your baby bottles of breast milk this will be your best friend! It is lightweight making it a nice option for long days out. They have a few different varieties but essentially they all do the same thing, help you effortlessly build a milk supply.
/5/Nipple cream–
I didn’t use this often but it helped when I did use it. During that time of discomfort, I talked about previously this cream helped soothe away the soreness. There are many different types of cream that you can use depending on what you are comfortable with. I used the Bamboobies brand and don’t have any complaints.
/6/Nursing bra–
These were a product I didn’t think about at first. However, as my boobs started to change throughout pregnancy I decided to go ahead and invest in nursing bras. I realized these would be breastfeeding must-haves! I wore them for about half of my pregnancy and the 15 months Moose nursed! These bras have clips at the top of your boob to allow you to fold down your bra cup, making it easier and more comfortable for nursing. I never knew something like this existed and they definitely made things easier!
I also got a couple of sleep nursing bras. These bras didn’t have the clips they are more of a sports bra look with a deep v neck. I wore these while around the house because they were not as tight.
I will say that nursing tanks and shirts are not a necessity. But they do make things a bit easier. Nursing tanks are just like nursing bras and have the clasp by the strap to make it easier to move and nurse your baby. Most tank tops are easy to move anyway so it is up to you if you would prefer to have the clasp and not stretch out your shirt. I got about 5 of these tanks and I did get a lot of wear out of them. Some women will wear them under their shirts so when they lift it to nurse their baby their stomach isn’t exposed. I personally do not care. My priority was feeding my baby not worrying about what others think!
Shirts
I also got a couple of nursing shirts. The shirts I got were fancier for when I was going out for lunch with a friend or a dinner date with Melvin. My favorite one had a zipper disguised in the boob area. You could unzip it to nurse your baby and then zip it back when done. The zipper was small and the same color as the shirt so you could not see it unless you were looking for it.
The Boppy Nursing support pillow was another product that you do not HAVE to get. In my case, it was very helpful and one of our most used products. I saved the best for last because this is definitely one of my top breastfeeding must-haves. It helped a lot while I was nursing in supporting Moose so I wasn’t crouched over nursing. My husband also used this pillow when he was giving Moose a bottle. I think this helped because Moose was used to being in the same position when being fed. The pillow also helped Moose with tummy time and when he was learning to sit by providing extra support. (I never left him unattended while using the pillow.)
These are just a couple of breastfeeding must have items that I felt were very helpful in my breastfeeding journey! To recap if you only want to buy a couple of these items I would strongly suggest the nursing pads, Haakaa and nursing bra. These three items will make life a lot easier, help you build a milk supply and keep your clothes dry while keeping you more comfortable. Also, make sure to check with your insurance about the breast pump, you don’t want to spend money on it if you can get it for free!
If you were a nursing momma, share some of your favorite items in the comments! If you are planning on nursing what are some things you looking forward to or nervous about?
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