I managed to fall and break my wrist just a few days before Wyatt’s due date, meaning I had to deliver him with one mangled arm in a sling and undergo surgery two days later. I was restricted from holding anything over 5 lbs for weeks after surgery, making breastfeeding a proper ordeal for his first month. The injury aside, I was shocked to learn that breastfeeding can be one of the most challenging parts of new motherhood, with latching and supply issues common among all of my friends.
I truly believe that having the right products on hand can help simplify what can otherwise be both physically and emotionally draining (though also extremely rewarding!). I’ve put together a shortlist of the key items I recommend, though I acknowledge there is a lot of variance in each mom’s experience. For that reason, I highly recommend engaging a lactation consultant (either at home or via a local resource group) early and often to help along the way – I saw one three times in the first month!
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1) The Breast Pump
If you are planning to breast feed, you’ll want a breast pump. Insurance companies are required to provide you access to one (typically you’ll have to wait to order until 30 days from your due date). Universally, my friends recommended the Medela line, so I narrowed my search here. The two primary Medela options are 1) Medela Pump in Style (basic) and 2) Medela Freestyle. Our insurance company covered the Pump in Style in full (free), or offered the Medela Freestyle as an upgrade option (for an additional $195* – use your healthcare FSA funds if available).
After discussing with friends and researching online, I found most recommended the Freestyle given its considerably smaller size and portability. I am so glad I heeded this advice! The Freestyle is a mere 5 x 3.5 x 2″ – about the size of a large onion – meaning you can easily bring it along with you anywhere. It comes with a rechargeable battery, which holds its charge for a very long time – compare this to the Pump in Style, which uses traditional batteries and comes built-in to a large tote bag that you have to carry with you. The car charger has also come in handy on more than a few occasions. I also use these clear plastic tote bags (one fits inside the other) to separate the motor/plug from the used pump parts.
Regardless of what you choose, I highly recommend you have a backup pump handy (trust me, one night with a pump malfunction is enough to send any mom over the edge). This manual one is very cheap and effective in a pinch – but be sure to have it put together before you actually need it!
2) Kiinde Bottle System
At this point I am practically a spokesperson for the Kiinde Breast Milk Storage Twist system. Their brilliant design allows you to pump directly into their storage bags, which can easily be stored flat in the fridge or freezer. When you’re ready to use the milk, the bags clip neatly inside their bottle system — with no transfers — for feeding. I love the efficiency this offers versus traditional systems which require milk transfers (read: pumping first into a bottle, then transferring to a bag for storage, then transferring back to a bottle for feeding) and a lot of cleaning! Given the low price point, I definitely recommend giving the system a try early on.
3) Milkies Milk Savers:
Breastmilk is a precious commodity, and if you’re like most moms you’ll want to conserve every drop! When you first start nursing, you will likely notice a lot of leakage – Milkies are an easy way to capture that and reduce the mess. Using Milkies with every feed in the first month helped me to build several weeks of back supply, which I froze and used when needed.
4) & 5) Nursing bras
I highly recommend considering the following checklist when buying any nursing bra:
- Cost: Please, please don’t spend a lot of money on nursing bras! No matter what, they will get stained with breast milk. I made the mistake of purchasing a Natori (underwire, ha!) nursing bra, and I am saddened every time I see it in my drawer.
- Wireless: Avoid anything with an underwire, which is uncomfortable for sensitive areas and nearly impossible to fold down when feeding.
- Lined: Nursing pads are lumpy and don’t look great under clothing. Liners also provide extra protection against leakage.
- Double duty: While zip-on pumping bras (such as this one) do work well, I prefer not to have to change bras in order to nurse or pump – most days I do a combination of both. See #1 below for my favorite double-duty option!
- Clip-down: I do not recommend crossover style bras as you will then have to remove your shirt in order to nurse (an added step that no one needs in the middle of the night).
Given all of the above criteria, my favorite nursing bras are:
- Rumina Seamless Pump and Nurse Bra. This bra does double duty, meaning you can wear it the whole day or night and easily pump and nurse. It is lined (removable), has pockets to insert pump flanges, and clips down easily to nurse.
- Bravado Designs Clip and Pump Nursing Accessory. This is really an attachment that marries with any clip-on nursing bra for pumping. I keep one of these in my breast pump storage kit (see above) so I can easily attach it to any nursing bra.
- Rosie Pope Seamless Nursing Sports Bra. Let’s be honest, I spent most of maternity leave in workout clothes. This comfy sports bra (with clip-down cups and lining) is a wardrobe staple!
You’re likely to get several of these as shower gifts – and they are a great gift to give or receive. They come in dozens of adorable prints and are so functional – we always have one in the diaper bag and use it interchangeably as a burp cloth, a light blanket or swaddle, a car seat cover, or a nursing cover.
7) Bebe au Lait Muslin Nursing Scarf:
Bebe au Lait makes high-quality muslin products in adorable prints. This scarf comes in many colors and patterns, and is roomy enough to allow for discrete nursing in public.
I have never been very good at staying hydrated, but this is an absolute necessity when breastfeeding. I always have this Lifefactory bottle with me throughout the day, and feel good about the fact that it is made from glass instead of plastic (the rubber exterior helps defend against breaks). I also just learned they make baby bottles and sippy caps, which I will definitely be purchasing when Baby A transitions!
9) The Honest Company Bandana Bibs
I have loved The Honest Company since interning there during my MBA. I know from experience that all of their products are heavily researched and well designed. These adorable bibs are no exception – they come with a magnetic closure that’s easy to close (vs. a snap, which I find nearly impossible to do on my own!) when your baby is anxious for their next meal.
10) Brest Friend
This was an extremely helpful tool for me when I first started to nurse. Newborns are so fragile, it can be very challenging to position them correctly to nurse while you are learning (for myself and most friends, there is quite a learning curve!). The Brest Friend takes the guesswork out of it and is a great training tool. After about a month I transitioned away from using it, but I was very thankful to have had it early on while I gained confidence.
11) Amazon Echo Dot & Audible Subscription
Warning: this is an Amazon plug! However, I have to say how useful I have found the Echo Dot in my first few months as a mom. When I first started to nurse, it enabled me to time feedings and play relaxing spa music during my late-night (delirious) feedings. More recently, I connected to my Audible subscription and I’m able to listen to my books while nursing, or sometimes I just listen to the news or music. We even connected ours to a smart plug to enable me to turn the lights on late at night (handsfree!) with a simple command.
