Breastfeeding Essentials

As a first time mom, I didn’t know what to expect with breastfeeding. I knew I wanted to attempt it because there are many nutritious benefits for the baby. It also provides a great bonding experience and that in itself is worth it to me. I have been breastfeeding now for two months, so I’ve rounded up my breastfeeding essentials below.

Breastfeeding Essentials

• Medela breast pump: I have two breast pumps from Medela, the maxi swing and the pump in style. They are both similar in the sense that they’re portable and convenient. I use the pump in style at home since it was the most similar to the hospital grade I used after giving birth. This was also covered by my insurance. I prefer the maxi swing for on the go or if I’m away from home. It is more compact and actually comes with a cooler to support an active lifestyle.  You can also track pumping progress using Bluetooth and the Medela family app. It’s a bit quieter than the pump in style and overall is lighter. I have no issues with pumping and I actually get a decent amount of milk. In addition, I have their steam bags and wipes which makes cleaning the parts easier! No water is needed and they can be use anywhere. I then use the steam bags to quickly sterilize my parts after cleaning. 

• Hakka: Since you can only nurse from one breast at a time, it is important to collect letdown since it’s liquid good. I use the Hakka pump which provides suction on the breast that my baby is not nursing from. Sometimes I don’t want or need to actually manually pump, which is why I love the Hakka ladybug collector. It does exactly what the name suggests, collects letdown. At the end of every session, I get about 1-2 oz and it’s a great way to make sure that doesn’t go to waste or have your milk soak your bras.

• Nursing bras: Speaking of bras, all I’ve been wearing these past few months are nursing bras. Comfort is key! I love the ones the hands free pumping bras from Momcozy and Hofish because those will make your pumping experience more enjoyable and stress free. I also love the ones that don’t feel like nursing bras and my favorites are from Medela, specifically the Keep Cool Sleep Breathable Maternity & Nursing Bra and the Keep Cool Ultra Breathable Maternity & Nursing Bra. As the name suggests, both are breathable and make sleeping in them more comfortable. When you are breastfeeding, your body heats up and these help to prevent me from sweating while nursing!

• Nursing pads: I had no idea how much leaking goes hand in hand with breastfeeding, so I highly recommend stocking up on nursing pads. The disposable ones are great for on the go and convenient to change throughout the day. I then realized that a more sustainable option are washable nursing pads so I use these during the night. They’re more comfortable but I do find myself washing them daily since they usually get soaked during the night. 

• Lactation massager: It is common to experience engorgement especially during the first week of postpartum. I remember my breasts were extremely full, uncomfortable and quite painful. This massager tool helped to relieve pain and helps relieve clogged ducts and mastitis. On days that I am on the go and I go 4-5 hours without pumping or nursing, I also find that engorgement comes back. So the massager tool isn’t just beneficial for the days where your milk is coming in. It’s very useful throughout your breastfeeding journey!

• Nursing Pillow: It’s pretty self explanatory to get a nursing pillow if you’re breastfeeding. When I began my breastfeeding journey, having a nursing pillow was a necessity. The boppy pillow is great for starters. I learned different positions that helped my baby to latch and the pillow also made the experience comfortable for me. As my baby is gaining more weight, I have also tried ergobaby pillow which is great since the firmness helps reduce rolling. There is also a stay put strap that prevents pillow from slipping.
• Tend: Tend Supplement bars are designed to nourish women in all stages of fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. I discovered them during postpartum and wished I knew about them earlier! The bars are made with 27 essential nutrients and is meant “to replace your prenatal (or postnatal) vitamin while delivering the nutrients needed during your fertility journey.” I love having them as a snack because they are delicious and it’s an added bonus that they have health benefits and is the first and only synthetic-free prenatal vitamin!

*Save this breastfeeding essentials list, so you can add this to your baby registry!