Breastfeeding Must Haves and Tips For First Time Moms
Here are the best breastfeeding essentials, must haves, and tips for first time moms! I hope these breastfeeding tips, tricks, and products can help all the new moms out there or any mamas!
Breastfeeding is seriously a full time job and I wish I knew how much work went into it before I had my first baby. I was definitely not prepared for the amount of time, effort, and sleep deprivation that went into it.
Breastfeeding must haves I seriously can’t live without:
Here are the things I wish I knew before breastfeeding and what products I wish I had on hand before my baby was born. I hope you first time (or second time!) breastfeeding mamas find it helpful!
Elvie Curve
This is my NUMBER one breastfeeding essential if you’re a breastfeeding mama! The Elvie curve sits in your bra on the opposite side of where you’re nursing and collects all the milk that leaks.
When you breastfeed, milk can leak out of the side not being used, and if you’re like me, all this milk can really add up! I collect about 14oz total in my Elvie per day. We occasionally use this milk in bottles for Isaiah, but primarily we just freeze it! It’s really great to have this milk on hand for when I don’t want to pump or have time.
I was told to purchase the hakkah while I was pregnant, but personally, I love the Elvie Curve so much more because there’s no way it’s falling off! I’ve heard moms say their babies kick off the hakkah while nursing and milk goes everywhere! I seriously think this is where the saying “don’t cry over spilled milk” comes from because I would absolutely cry if that happened haha.
Nursing Bras (& Tanks)
These are the nursing bras I have and I love them because they also double as a pumping bra! I originally bought one and ended up buying three more. They’re comfy and super convenient.
I also purchased two nursing tanks from Target, but they aren’t my favorite. I am going to purchase some tanks off amazon and will report back once I find ones that I love!
Best nursing pads
Don’t waste your money on disposable nursing pads when you can get reusable ones! I love this brand the most because they are by far the softest. These nursing bras I purchased came with nursing pads; however, I much prefer Bamboobies over the ones they came with. They really are the best nursing pads ever. A breastfeeding essential for sure!
Best Portable Breastpump / Hand pump (medela)
Having a portable breastpump like this one is handy when your little one starts sleeping longer stretches and you get engorged. Randomly Isaiah has had 5 hour stretches here and there.
Breastfeeding TIP if you have an oversupply:
When I wake up, my boobs are super engorged and since I already struggle with an oversupply, I pump the first couple ounces off before feeding him. This prevents the milk from coming out too fast, causing your newborn to choke on milk or gulp and ingest too much air.
You have to be careful if you have an oversupply though because you don’t want to pump too much and signal your body to make more milk! It’s a tricky balance, but this Medela hand pump has been great for me! I definitely recommend getting a portable breast pump!
Best Milk storage bags
These are the breastmilk storage freezer bags I was given at my baby shower and I love them so much I ordered 100 more! I pour the milk that I collect from my Elvie Curve every day into these bags (in 4oz increments) and freeze it. Just be sure to date it and lay it FLAT in your freezer before storing it. You want them flat so you can eventually stack them all in a single line. If you freeze them standing up they will be bulky and awkward.
You can keep breastmilk frozen for 6-12 months in these bags. I hope to breastfeed for a year, but if something happens, I find comfort in the fact we have all this extra milk stored for Isaiah. 🙂 Be sure to grab some of the best milk storage bags before you begin your breastfeeding journey!
Freezer Storage
You can buy freezer trays on Amazon to store your milk, or you can use leftover boxes instead! I am using leftover spindrift boxes to store in our freezer because they work the same and are free. 😉
GIANT water bottle
You will never be more thirsty in your life than you are while breastfeeding! I have this gallon-sized water bottle that I originally bought for my hospital bag, but it’s been even better for breastfeeding! When I was at the hospital they continually were bringing me water and I didn’t even need to bring a water bottle.
Prenatal Vitamin
I took this one while I was pregnant and am continuing to do so while I’m breastfeeding. This article goes into detail about why you should take a prenatal while breastfeeding.
Why prenatals are a breastfeeding must have:
In a nutshell, if a mother isn’t getting enough nutrients/vitamins for both herself and her baby, her body will pull from her own stores to ensure there is enough in the breast milk- putting her at risk of deficiency in certain vitamins. You don’t need as much iron while breastfeeding as you do during pregnancy, but I don’t mind the extra iron so I’ve continued to take the same prenatal.
Nursing Cover
I love this boppy four and more cover because it not only works as a nursing cover but also a car seat cover! I use it primarily as a car seat cover when I take Isaiah on walks or drive somewhere; however, I love the fact I can simply take it off and use it as a nursing cover as needed. You never know when your baby is going to get hungry (hello cluster feeding), so it’s wise to always have one on hand when heading out the door!
Snacks
I have never been hungrier in my LIFE than I am right now while breastfeeding. I feel like all I do is eat and nurse Isaiah. It’s WILD. Be sure to have snacks on hand that will fill you up and provide a good amount of extra calories since you are burning so many while breastfeeding.
To be honest, I am not a big snacker and prefer to eat larger meals, but even with my meals being larger I still find myself snacking at least twice per day. My favorite snacks are oatmeal protein bars, cookie dough protein bars, Air Fryer Chex mix, protein puppy chow, nuts, peanut butter (literally just eat spoonfuls of it haha), Lesser Evil Paleo Puffs, Pretzels and hummus, pretzels and cottage cheese, or leftovers.
Button-up shirts
I’m still trying to navigate the world of breastfeeding when it comes to my wardrobe. I am currently relying heavily on button-up shirts (like these) when I need to look presentable or I’m going out somewhere and Isaiah will need to eat. When I’m home, anything goes haha. I normally wear lightweight short-sleeved shirts at home that can easily be pulled up and tucked into my bra strap on the opposite side of where I’m feeding.
Lightweight Robe
On the topic of wardrobe, I highly recommend getting a lightweight robe for everyday wear and also night feedings. I got this robe for Christmas and LOVE it. It was super inexpensive but is soo soft! I love the convenience of wearing a nursing bra/tank under it and throwing it on around the house or for night feedings.
Baby Tracker (App) For Breastfeeding
I am obsessed with this app called Baby Tracker! Michael downloaded it at the hospital and it’s been so super helpful for tracking Isaiah’s feedings. It tracks how long he’s gone between feedings, how long each nursing session is, which side I started on last, and more. You can also track dirty diapers, pumping sessions, and their sleep. I only use it for breastfeeding, but in the hospital, I used it to also track dirty diapers.
Spectra S1 Pump
This is the pump I ordered through my insurance and definitely recommend it! I HATE pumping but Michael has started doing a bottle at night, so when he does, I have to pump to keep up with supply/to not get engorged for the next feeding.
I chose this pump because it’s portable! It’s not as portable/convenient as the Willow or Elvie Pump, but it’s also a quarter of the cost as well haha. It was a happy medium. It has a battery so you can charge it and take it with you wherever you need it. I love that I don’t have to be sitting by an outlet to pump and can easily pump in bed, on the couch, in the car, or carry it with me around the house if I need to be mobile.
Lanolin Nipple Cream
I was really lucky with how well Isaiah latched from day one, but the first week in the hospital was still ROUGH on my nipples. I’m extremely thankful that I didn’t need nipple cream for long, BUT it was a huge life saver when I did need it. In the early stages of breastfeeding, this stuff is a MUST. Your nipples will most likely crack, bleed, and just be sore in general. I remember being terrified every time he needed to eat because I knew how painful it was going to be. I got this kind from the hospital, used it for a couple of days, and the cracks cleared up immediately! Ever since I have been fine, but if something were to happen again this is for sure what I would reach for!
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I hope you found this blog post all about breastfeeding must haves, essentials, and tips helpful! Give it a share or send it to a friend that is about to start breastfeeding to help them be as prepared as possible.
Is there anything I forgot to mention? Let me know in the comments below or over on YouTube!
