7 Breastfeeding Essentials: Must-Haves for Nursing Moms
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Time to read 6 min
Table of content
Tips and Tricks when you are starting out breastfeeding: 1. Our Postpartum R&R Gown 2. Silverette Cups 3. A Supportive Nursing Bra! 4. A Waterbottle Made with Breastfeeding in Mind 5. Nipple Shields! 6. Boobie Bars - Will Keep the Milk Flowing 7. Boobie Tubes will Heat Up Your Nursing Game Products Featured in this Article: The Luxe Labor and Delivery Gown
1. Our Postpartum R&R Gown
What if you plan to have a C-Section but still want a gown to breastfeed your baby in?
Don't worry, we've got you! We realized that Mamas who don't want an epidural (maybe having a home birth), or are scheduling a C-Section, need an option without snaps. And that why we created our Postpartum Rest and Recovery Gown.
It is perfect for breastfeeding and optimal for sleeping as it is completely closed up in the back (no snaps).
And if you feel like getting the unstoppable duo of the Luxe Labor and Delivery Gown and the Rest and Recovery Gown, you will be covered on all fronts!
2. Silverette Cups
2. Silverette cups - Within just four days, they healed my sore and cracked nipples from newborn breastfeeding sessions. No more fumbling with lanolin cream in the dead of night—seriously, who has the energy for that at 3 a.m.? Plus, bonus points for dodging potential allergic reactions. Sorry lanolin, it's just not worth it. These cradle your nipples and stay attached in between breastfeeding sessions with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Before placing back on your breasts after nursing you can add a touch of expressed milk to help further soothe cracked nipples. It's like having your own lactose-powered skincare line. Cheers to silver linings!
3. A Supportive Nursing Bra!
3. 24/7 Third Love Classic Nursing Bra - I remember being fresh out of the delivery room, feeling the epidural wear off and the full-body aches come on. On top of that, my chest had gone from "meh" to "hello!" in record time, and my poor back was killing me.
Most people recommend no wire bras for breastfeeding, but I need more support, so I was determined to find a bra that could handle the extra weight!
I luckily found this Third Love Bra, which helped me to breastfeed more easily and also helped my poor back from the brink of collapse. With its clip-down straps and gold alloy hardware, it made me feel supported and cute.
4. A Waterbottle Made with Breastfeeding in Mind
4. The Mama Bottle by Bink - I am so grateful I found this Mama bottle by Bink. It's icons reminded me of my daily water needs as a nursing mom and the wide drinking mouth helped me stay hydrated without having to worry about straw-induced wrinkles. With its aesthetically pleasing design, it is a breastfeeding water bottle that just gets it all right!
5. Nipple Shields!
5. Meldela Nipple Shields - I made the classic mistake of not heeding my friend's advice to use nipple shields when breastfeeding the first time. Cue the cracked and bruised nipples, a painful ordeal that forced me to take a two week hiatus from breastfeeding and resort to bottle feeding while I let my poor nipples heal.
Fast forward to my second birth, and armed with the wisdom of experience, I packed those nipple shields in my hospital bag. Sure enough, they came in handy when breastfeeding my second son!
Lesson learned: some babies are born with jaws of steel, and nipple shields are like armor for your delicate skin. Disclaimer: If you're establishing milk supply, consult a lactation consultant first.
Luckily, my oversupply allowed me to use them while breastfeeding, and they even solved another challenge—I have short, flat nipples, making latching while breastfeeding a struggle. But with the shields acting as extensions, we were off to a smoother start.
After about a month, my son got the hang of breastfeeding without them, and I bid farewell to the shields.
6. Boobie Bars - Will Keep the Milk Flowing
6. Boobie Bars (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) - These bars are packed with superfoods like moringa, turmeric, and something called shatavari (I still can't pronounce it).
And I know what your thinking, which is if these taste good? And to my surprise they are so tasty that I would eat them even if I wasn't trying to up my milk supply! They are so delicious that they have become my guilt-free breastfeeding indulgence in a world of spit-up stains and sleep deprivation.
I have stocked up on these magical bars like they're going out of style. No more pills to swallow, no more teas to brew—just one delicious bar a day to keep the milk flowing and the sanity intact.
7. Boobie Tubes will Heat Up Your Nursing Game
7. Boobie Tubes - One of the hardest things I dealt with then breastfeeding was engorgement. It's like your boobs have transformed into these rock-solid, painful balloons that feel like they are going to explode. Luckily for me I found Booby Tubes.
These little breast packs became my lifeline, my saving grace in a sea of discomfort. Unlike the disk heating pads they wrap around your boobs to get an effective amount of heat to the hard to reach spots that could have clogged ducts.
But here's what made them truly special: unlike other breast packs filled with gel or chemicals, boobie tubes are made from organic cotton and filled with natural flaxseed. And I found that the flaxseed was able to heat up hotter than other heating pads, and they stayed hotter longer as well.
Tips and Tricks when you are starting out breastfeeding:
1. Take a Breastfeeding Class - It can be comforting to know what to expect and have an idea on how to troubleshoot things if they come up.
2. Meet With A Lactation Consultant - Be sure to see a Lactation Consultant in the hospital and ask them as many questions as you can. We had one come 1-2 times a day. There are usually several on staff so if you ask frequently then you will get different solutions, as each LC has a different style and experience. If an LC is not available in your hospital when you deliver, then I would ask a nurse to give you a much direction as possible.
3. Hire a Lactation Consultant - I found several LCs through doctor and friend recommendations and having them come to the house was a huge help in continuing my breastfeeding journey. Ours was covered by insurance. I made sure to set up a time for the LC to come to the house 2 times a week until I felt confident to continue on my own. When you have in house visits they will weigh baby and give you insight on how they are gaining weight compared to standard growth charts. It can be comforting to get the clarity instead of waiting for a doctors checkup.
4. Prep A Breastfeeding Station - Have your breastfeeding essentials in a cart by your bed so that they are easily accessible or near the area in which you plan to nurse. I also found it helpful to have stations around the house so I wasn't relegated to only one area.
5. Talk It Out - Talk to other moms about their experience. I learned so much from my village of friends who had walked the journey before me. One of my close friends opened up and shared how hard the first two weeks were for her and that it got very easy after that. It inspired me to stick it out and I'm so grateful to her for sharing her journey with me.
6. Access Unlimited Resources - La Leche League is a wealth of tips and knowledge on how to breastfeed from moms and LC around the world. It was a lifeline in the middle of the night to hear how other moms troubleshooted different breastfeeding challenges
