Breastfeeding Must Have Products
What are my breastfeeding must haves you ask? Well first of all, breastfeeding is without a doubt one of the most physically daunting and draining things I have ever endured in my life. While also being one of the absolute most rewarding things I have ever experienced. So basically like every other part of parenthood right? After breastfeeding all four of my babies I have definitely learned a thing or two along the way. Today I wanted to share some of my very best advice that I wish I would have known from the get go!
nightgown | necklace | baby slippers | onesie | Crew’s pants
Breastfeeding 101: DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY AND FOR YOURSELF
Before we dive too deep into all of the nitty gritty details of breastfeeding must haves I want you to know that whatever you decide to do; whether that is breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby, you are doing a great job! There is absolutely no shame in bottle feeding, supplementing, or anything else that is not solely breastfeeding. I have had to supplement a little with both of my boys because they eat SO much and it helped both of them tremendously. Crew is currently sleeping four hour stretches at night since I started topping him off with a little bit of formula at night, and that is something that I am certainly not complaining about.
I am also fully aware that breastfeeding is not for everybody. I know a lot of women who would love to breastfeed but can’t. On the other hand, I know women who choose not to breastfeed for personal reasons and that is 100% Okay. YOU are exactly who your baby needs right now and how you feed them plays zero percent in the amount of unconditional love that you have for them. Give yourself grace and just do what is best for your baby and for yourself.
With that being said, if you do want to breastfeed, I hope that this post will help better prepare you for the experience and/or help someone who may be currently struggling and could use some tools or words of encouragement to help have a successful breastfeeding experience!
I recently asked all of you what questions you had for me about breastfeeding in order to provide you with the most valuable information possible. So I am just going to break this post down into sections according to the questions that you asked. Let’s get started!
How long do I breastfeed my babies for?
I honestly usually go until they are about two years old. I know that this may seem a little long to some people, but my babies have really thrived on nursing for this long and it has just worked for our family. It’s not always easy, but it is something that is important to me and I have tried my best to make it work with our life.
Do I pump extra?
I was working at a salon right after I had Rowen so I had to pump a lot more. With Crew I am home, so I haven’t had the need to pump a lot of extra milk. He is eating every 1-2 hours since he is so little still. When my babies are newborns I really just try to feed them on demand as much as I can to keep them growing and happy.
If you need a pump, I highly recommend this pump. It is a breastfeeding must have for a reason. It is so good!
my shirt | my pants | necklace | Crew’s outfit
What nursing friendly clothes do I like?
So many of you asked what nursing friendly clothes I like! I try to stick to things with buttons or tops that I can easily lift or maneuver if we are out and about and I need to nurse. Thankfully, we live in a time where maternity/nursing clothes are actually really cute and transition easily from pregnancy to nursing! I have linked a few of my favorite staple pieces that I have enjoyed wearing while breastfeeding.
How do I build up my milk storage while breastfeeding?
Like I said, right now I am lucky enough to be home with my kids so I don’t have a huge need to build up a big supply of storage. If there comes a need for me to build up a milk supply (like if we are going on a trip or I’m leaving Crew for a long period of time) then I will work to build up my milk storage supply as needed. To do this I will pump immediately after I am done breastfeeding until I have the amount of milk stored that I am needing.
water bottle | liquid gold | Boppy nursing pillow |lactation cookie mix | nursing bras | romper | breastfeeding pads | nightgown | bottles | nipple cream | Elvie pump| nursing cover | sweater | silicone breast pump | lactation support bundle
What do I do to make sure I have a good milk supply?
Building up your milk supply is really really important, especially in the beginning! Your supply can go down after a couple of weeks if you are stressed out, not eating or drinking enough, etc… First of all, you need to make sure you are drinking a TON of water. I love this water bottle and try to keep it by me at all times, it is an absolute breastfeeding must have. It helps me to make sure I am consuming enough water each day.
Also, make sure that you are eating enough. Focus on eating the right foods to keep up your milk supply! These lactation cookies are awesome and really do work. I just order them off of Amazon. It’s an easy option to always have on hand. If you would rather make your own lactation cookies, this recipe would be delicious and easy to whip up! Oatmeal is another really great food to eat a lot of that will help build up your milk supply!
Liquid gold and these lactation support bundles have also really helped to keep my milk supply up this time around!
Did I have help with breastfeeding?
In the hospital I had a great lactation counselor who helped me out when I needed it and offered a lot of great tips/support. These services are free and are available to all new moms at the hospital (utilize them when you are in the hospital because they know their stuff)! But honestly if it’s your first baby, I would HIGHLY suggest hiring a lactation specialist to come into your home. I wish I would have done this with Rowen, because I think it would have saved me a lot of stress and frustration. Every lactation specialist I know has a lot of really great tips and tricks that will help to make your breastfeeding journey a successful one.
Which nursing bras do I like?
There are a lot of nursing bra options out there. This four pack from Amazon was highly recommended and they really are the best bang for your buck! I especially like that they come in a variety of colors so you can wear them under all of your different clothing items.
Did I take a breastfeeding class?
I didn’t but I wish I would have with my first. There are a lot of resources out there and most are free. Lindsey Shipley offers a wide variety of information about breastfeeding on her Instagram account @lactationlink. I would highly suggest following her!
What is the number one thing that distracts you from breastfeeding?
Probably the three other little humans I am trying to raise and give the attention that they need. Breastfeeding with four kids has definitely been hard to navigate. I feel like I am being pulled in a million different directions all day long, but I decided from the beginning that I wanted to breastfeed Crew, so I make it a priority. We are slowly trying to get into a good groove and fit in all of the things on top of feeding a baby 95 times a day. It’s a work in progress!
How do you store milk?
Like I mentioned earlier, when I was working and storing a ton of milk, I would pump after every feeding. Then I would use the Medela Breast Milk storage bags to store the excess milk in my freezer. Milk storage bags are for sure a breastfeeding must have that you can’t live without if you are having to pump a lot. The bags allow you to store a lot more milk, because they aren’t as bulky and don’t take up as much space in your fridge/freezer as the storage bottles do. Target Up & Up brand are also a great, less expensive option.
If you are interested, Medela has this really great article that goes over the best practices for how to store, freeze and thaw your breastmilk.
How do I know which boob I ended on?
I usually just try to pay attention to which one is more full. When possible, I try to rotate each feeding with which boob I begin with. So if I start with the left side, the next feeding I will start with the right side. I’m sure that I don’t always rotate perfectly, but I give it a good college try. Rotating sides will help to prevent you from being engorged, which can also help to prevent you from getting mastitis.
The reason I wrote this post is because I hope it helps a few mamas out who are exploring or trying to get ready for the world of breastfeeding, pumping or bottle feeding! I’ve loved breastfeeding, but I also love giving my babies a bottle too! It’s also nice that other people can help you out a little more when you are offering them a bottle. Snuggling and bonding with your baby while they eat is one of my very favorite parts of being a mom. If you have tips for breastfeeding or anything you’ve loved, leave them in the comments below! If you would like more baby inspiration check out THIS POST!
xx,
LaTisha
My breastfeeding favorites
