Now that my nursing days are over, I sometimes look back on them with yearning. I loved the bonding and special alone time with all four of my babies.
Someone asked me once how long I had breastfed my children. It actually surprised me when I added it up… I have spent 46 months of my life, nearly 4 years, breastfeeding my four babies! Having resources on hand like Love Majka to help reserach issues with milk supply make it even easier to get through the rough times.
Crazy and amazing at the same time.
Here are 10 Items for Successful Breastfeeding that helped make my journey a breeze each time.
1) Nursing pillow
Nursing a baby requires countless hours of sitting, cuddling and nurturing. Comfort is a requirement. I tried getting by with pillows from the couch, but although they work in a pinch… a custom nursing pillow really is a must.
I preferred a pillow like Dr Brown’s Gia Nursing Pillow.
Some moms prefer a wrap-around pillow like Boppy or My Brest Friend.
2) Breast Pump
I used a breast pump from the minute I got home until the end of my journey. It helped increase my milk supply: I had milk to mix into their cereal when they began solids, I had a stash for date nights and I had a stash for when/if they decided to wean early like my Kaytlin did at 6 months.
My favorite is no longer on the market, but the Lansinoh Affinity Pro Double Electric Breast Pump is their newer model. My Lansinoh was less expensive than most and did the job quite well for me.
I have friends who swear by the Philips Avent Double Electric Comfort Breast Pump or any of the Medela double pumps. I was told by my lactation consultant that most double pumps will do the trick.
3) Bottles
Yes, I said bottles. Yes, I know you want to breastfeed. I didn’t introduce bottles to my babies until around 3 or 4 months. My frozen milk helped me out on a few occasions. If you get sick and have to take a medication that requires you to pump and dump, you will have a bottle to feed your stored milk to baby. I also used bottles for date nights.
My favorites were the Philips Avent Natural Bottles.
4) Nursing Cover Ups
All four of my children liked to grab my cover up and try to yank it off. Using a regular blanket would leave me exposed and embarrassed.
Cover ups like the My Brest Friend provide the coverage you want but stay in place when yanked. They also are made so that you can keep an eye on baby if wanted.
Walmart also carries the LeachCo and Boppy cover ups.
5) Nursing Pads
Fortunately I did not have issues producing milk. On occasion, my overabundance caused a bit of embarrassment for me.
I always wore the Lansinoh Disposable Breast Pads because they were comfortable, affordable, stayed in place, and absorbed what I need to be absorbed.
Some of my friends liked the Phillips Avent or Dr. Brown’s Washable Nursing Pads as well.
6) Lanolin Cream
Lanolin cream was introduced to me with my first baby. I was having terrible cracking issues. It was soothing and healing. I was on the edge of giving up and it pulled me through.
My favorite was the Lansinoh Lanonlin Cream.
I have friends that swear by the Medela & Dr. Brown’s Lanolin as well.
7) Nursing Stool
Back to comfort… putting your feet up while nursing is almost a must. It puts you in a better sitting position to relax, which helps you let down. I didn’t have one for my first two and wondered how on earth I got by without it when given one with my last two.
The KidKraft Adjustable Nursing Stool not only looks nice, but functions very well.
8) Nursing Bras
Unfortunately for me, my girls grew quite a bit after I had my babies. Support was mandatory. I tried to nurse with a regular bra, and although I could get by and function at home, being discrete while out in public was not possible. Nursing bras function just like normal bras, but have a nice flap in front for easy access.
The Medela Sleep Bra kept me from making a mess in bed (insert the nursing pads mentioned above) but yet was non-restrictive and easy to sleep in. I went for underwire during the day for support.
9) Burp Cloths
There was no way around the fact that all of my babies would spit up, a little or a lot, when burped.
I preferred the Gerber Prefolded Cloth Diaper Burp Cloths because they were absorbent and cute.
10) Pacifiers
I know, I know… you are worried about nipple confusion. I was too, until my first born tried to use me for a pacifier. Seriously, I was being sucked on day and night for weeks.
The Nuk saved me from this fate. I introduced this pacifier to the rest of my babies in the hospital without nipple confusion issues.
Many of my friends although swear by the Philips Avent Soothie. I say find one your baby will take and use it. Your nipples will thank you later.
Walmart.com has a huge selection of baby feeding items for all stages!
Did I miss an item that helped you breastfeed? Please share!
awww— I miss nursing sometimes, too. Nursing came pretty easy for me after the first month or so- there is nothing like the closeness and bonding you get when I was nursing me sweeties.
I never had the chance to breastfeed. My bewbs were broken 🙁
Unfortunately with my son, I never produced anything. Ok well, I did get about 1ml (yes, 1 milliliter) when I pumped, but that’s about it. I really wish I had been able to, but we still bonded with a bottle 🙂
All great mother’s helpers!
I would not have been able to breastfeed my son had it not been for an electric breast pump. I had a tough time for 10 days, went and got the pump and we were golden after that. 🙂
Can’t say enough good things about My Brest Friend!
You know, it would be really helpful if hospitals put together a list like this and gave it to moms . . . we might have more successful nursing relationships and less frustration. This is a great list, thanks for sharing it!
This is really good advice! A lot of things on here that I wouldn’t have even thought of.
These are great pics! I was more a fan of nursing tanks then nursing bras though.
What a great list for new moms!
These are wonderful tips. I loved my breast pump.
I had it all & we still struggled terribly.
This is a wonderful list and I shall pass it on to my daughter-in-law. I wish I had had this list when I was a young mother, although some of these items didn’t yet exist.
Not being able to breastfeed {medication I have to be on} I’ve always wondered what a breastfeeding stool was. I thought maybe some moms used it in place of the pillow. Ha! I feel so stupid.
Great nursing tips for that first time mom. I wish I had a list like this when I had my first child.
Those are all really great must haves!!
Great list!
It’s funny because I remember laughing at the nursing stool and scoffing at the cost, Someone talked me into it and it seriously was the best invention ever!
I second the nursing pillow. My boppy was my best friend when I was breastfeeding.
You pretty much have it covered here. Those pads were lifesavers for me. How embarrassing is it when you’re not wearing one and your milk lets down!
These are all excellent items for breastfeeding. The pillow is a must.
It has been years since I breastfed but those are definitely must haves!
Perfect list. Can’t think of anything else more you would need.
I wonder if using a stool would have helped me be more successful. It was so uncomfortable sometimes to get a comfortable position!
#11. Bottled or ice water. Hydration is a must!