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Breastfeeding creates a strong bond between mother and baby. It also comes with many health benefits for both. Breastfeeding is free, which is a nice perk to this one income household.
I know that breastfeeding is not an option for everyone, for a number of reasons, and that is okay. As long as your baby is fed, healthy and getting the nutrients he/she needs, you are doing what is best for your baby. Breastfeeding was an easy and natural experience for me (and it was free) so I chose to feed my daughter in this way.
My breastfeeding journey with my daughter is coming to an end. I currently nurse her one time per day, before bedtime. Over the past 17 months, there have been many products that were helpful when breastfeeding and made the whole process much easier. I am going to share with you the nine products that I would recommend if you are choosing to breastfeed your baby.
One side note I want to mention, though. I asked many questions in the beginning and throughout the months I was nursing my daughter. I asked my friends, my daughter’s pediatrician, my OB doctor, my mom, and read many articles through Pinterest about breastfeeding. There is so much information out there! Friends and family are willing to give their own advice, tips and suggestions, too. One thing I learned is that you can read as much information and gain as much advice as you want, but you ultimately need to listen to your baby. Even though your baby can’t talk yet, he/she tells you a lot through various sounds, movements and facial expressions. These cues are important and should guide the decisions you make.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Cream: During the first month of my daughter’s birth, I felt as if I was feeding her all day. The evening hours, between 5 and 8, also known as “The Witching Hours” were filled with a lot of cluster feeding. My nipples became sore and cracked from the constant sucking. This nipple butter was a blessing in disguise! I would rub some on my nipples after each nursing session for immediate relief. I loved that it was all-natural and safe to use. It is multipurpose, too! I used it on my daughter’s skin as a moisturizer for dry spots and on her neck and face when she broke out in baby acne.
Philips AVENT Washable Nursing Pads: My body was adjusting to this new experience. This meant a lot of leaking throughout the day. I invested in these machine washable nursing pads to help absorb the leaking milk in an effort to minimize the number of times I changed my shirt during the day. These nursing pads fit right inside my bra and worked really well to absorb the leaking milk. I bought two sets so I had a good amount. This came in handy for those days that required more than one set. I threw them in a laundry bag and washed them with my white laundry and they came out good as new. I felt like I was doing something good for the environment by using the washable ones instead of the disposable ones. However, one of my friends did give me a box of disposable nursing pads that I used. They did their job as well so if you want to go the disposable route, these are the ones I would recommend.
Boppy Pillow: Since I was nursing A LOT during the first month, the Boppy pillow became my breastfeeding best friend. It gave my arms a break during marathon nursing sessions and made the whole experience more comfortable for my daughter and I. You can purchase additional covers for the pillow, which is what I did. I got two in case of the occasional spit up. I also stuck with neutral designs. Aren’t the baby safari animals cute? I am drawn to baby animals and the color grey for baby items 🙂
Nursing Friendly Attire: Nursing bras, nursing tank tops, cardigans, and zip up jackets or button up shirts are any breastfeeding mama’s go-to clothing items! I lived in these items (and still do) because they made it so much easier to nurse my daughter on demand. I purchased my nursing bras at Motherhood Maternity when they were doing “Buy 3, Get The 4th Free” promotion. I purchased the nursing tank tops from Target, Motherhood Maternity and Kohl’s. My favorites are the ones from Kohl’s because they are long (I have a long torso), comfortable and come in all the basic colors. I was always able to get them on sale or clearance, too! Click here to check them out! I can speak to the durability of these nursing bras and nursing tank tops because I’ve worn them for 17 months now.
Nursing Cover: A nursing cover was another must-have item for me in my breastfeeding journey. I could nurse my daughter while at a restaurant, visiting the in-laws, or when friends/family came to visit. The nursing cover allowed me to feel comfortable nursing in public and continue to enjoy conversation with friends and family. My mom gave me this nursing cover as a gift and I loved it! It can be worn as a scarf and serve as a car seat cover! This mama loves products that are multi-functional because it makes life easier and saves money.
Pumping Bra: I pumped once a day for several months. I was training for the New York City Marathon and pumped before I left for my runs early in the morning. This way, if my daughter woke up while I was running, my husband was able to give her a bottle. I also pumped and left bottles if my husband and I were going on a date night. While a pumping bra is not a necessity, it was helpful! I was able to read a book or scroll on my phone while pumping because my hands were free. This pumping bra fit snug, which I liked, and did its job. I was happy with this purchase!
Medela Breast Pump: My insurance company covered the cost of a breast pump so this was not an out-of-pocket expense for me. A breast pump gives you a chance to feed your baby using bottles. This was especially nice for my husband and the grandparents because it gave them a chance to feed my daughter. There were several weeks when my husband took over the bedtime routine by giving my daughter a bottle. This gave me 10-15 minutes to relax, take a shower, or read. My husband enjoyed the bonding time with our daughter. My breast pump did not come with the carrying case or the mini cooler case, but this particular model does. This is convenient if you are returning to work and need to transport your pump back and forth.
Medela Bottles: I purchased extra bottles so I didn’t feel as if I was constantly washing bottles. I was able to pump directly into the bottles and store the milk in the refrigerator. My daughter took milk from these bottles with no problem so I stuck with these for the duration of her bottle feedings.
Medela Pump and Save Breast Milk Bags: If I was pumping the milk and storing it directly in the freezer, I used these Pump and Save Breast Milk Bags. In fact, I stored my breast milk in these bags more than the bottles. These were easier to store in the freezer as they laid flat. You can put a clear shoe storage container in your freezer and keep the milk filed or you can keep them stored in a gallon-sized ziploc bag. These bags come with the pump adapters, as well, so I could pump directly into the bags.
There you have it! These are the nine products I would recommend if you are planning to breastfeed your baby. These products made my breastfeeding journey easier and more comfortable. I hope this post helps you decide what you need to purchase for your breastfeeding journey 🙂 Because sharing is caring, be sure to share this post (or pin it to Pinterest so you have it to reference) with your friends who are pregnant and are in the process of figuring out what products they may need for their breastfeeding journey.
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