10 Must Have Breastfeeding Items for New Moms
There are so many wonderful things about breastfeeding. One of them being that you don’t need a whole lot to get the job done. Truthfully, you could successfully breastfeed your baby with two simple things… your breasts and your baby. But, let’s be honest, that would make the job so much harder than it already is. Prior to having Weston, I didn’t do a whole lot of research on the things I would need as a breastfeeding mother. (You can read more about my lack of breastfeeding knowledge here!) I had a few bottles specifically designed for breastfeeding babies and I had applied to get a FREE (I love that word) pump through my insurance company. That was about it. Eight months of exclusive breastfeeding later, I’ve compiled a list of my must have breastfeeding items that make mom life a whole lot easier.
A Boppy
I’m pretty sure a Boppy is a must have item for all. This thing is a life saver. It makes feeding baby so much more comfortable. Mommas, BRING YOUR BOPPY to the hospital with you when you deliver your baby. We brought ours, but left it in the car the whole time (why!?). The moment I got home and used it to nurse, I was obsessed. We have this exact one and still use it (9 months later)! This is definitely my number one must have breastfeeding item.
A Pump
As of right now, you can still apply to get a breast pump for free through your insurance company. I got the Medela Pump In Style and I love it. It’s small, quiet, and gets the job done. You can quickly and easily apply for your free pump through Aeroflow! They even have breast pump support specialists who handle all the paperwork for you and make sure that you get the perfect pump.
Nursing bras
There’s really no way around getting nursing bras. You need something comfortable, nonrestrictive, and easy to maneuver to hold up your brand new boobs. I use these nursing bras. They’re comfortable and easy to clip and unclip (a must if you ever want to feed in public and don’t want to be fiddling with your bra for 5 mintues).
Haakaa
In my opinion, the haakaa is one of the greatest inventions for breastfeeding moms. It’s a silicone pump that suctions on to your breast while your nurse from the other side. It collects your letdown, and for me, usually continues to pull milk during the entire nursing session. The haakaa helped me build my freezer stash, manage an oversupply, and made pumping on the go so much easier.
Related: Haakaa Hacks – Tips and Tricks for Using the Silicone Breast Pump
Nipple cream
Those first few weeks can be brutal on your nipples. The hospital will probably provide you with a small (and I mean small) tube of cream, but be sure to stock up on this stuff for when you get home. You can thank me later.
Nursing pads
I can only speak from experience, but nursing pads were an absolute must for me. I had a bit of an oversupply for the first few months and I had to wear nursing pads day and night. I distinctly remember forgetting to shove them in my bra one night before going to a friend’s house. Luckily it was a close friend because I had giant wet rings around my boobs shortly after arrival. I stick with the Medela pads, only because I trust the brand.
Bottles
If you ever want to leave the house baby free, have a few cocktails, or let daddy take over a night feeding, you’re going to need some bottles. There are tons of options for breastfed babies, but we use Latch by Munchkin and they work like a charm.
Bottle drying rack
I use this thing for both bottles and pump parts. After every pumping session, I wash my pump parts and let them dry out on the rack. It’s great for they many pieces that come along with both bottles and pump parts.
Extra pump parts
Speaking of those super-fun-to-wash pump parts, go ahead and get yourself some extra… unless you enjoy washing the parts and want to do it every time you pump. I had a girlfriend who wasn’t able to breastfeed and she had a ton of extra parts she had never used. I would have never thought to have gotten them on my own, but they have been a life saver.
Hands free pumping bra
One of my favorite must have breastfeeding items is the hands free pumping bra. Now that Weston sleeps through the night (for the most part), I always pump from both sides right before I go to bed. It’s helped me build up a pretty great freezer stash and prevents overnight engorgement. My hands free pumping bra is my best friend when it comes to those pre-bedtime pumping sessions. Strap on the bra, hook up the pump, and scroll social media with my free hands.
You can see my full breastfeeding wish list here!
Bonus:
Since I started Coffee and Coos and really began digging into finding solutions for new moms (especially in the realm of breastfeeding). One of the biggest issues breastfeeding moms face is a lack of information. Sure, there’s plenty of information out there, but there’s also a lot of myths and misconceptions around the topic as well. For example, I had no idea what cluster feeding was before I had my son. I always believed you had to pump and dump if you were going to have a glass of wine, and I had no idea how to increase my milk supply when I saw a dip in my pumping output. One of my best suggestions to any new mom is to educate yourself and learn everything you can about the sometimes difficult world of breastfeeding. My all time favorite breastfeeding resource is Milkology. Milkology is an online video course that walks you through every phase of breastfeeding. It covers topics like milk supply, latching and positioning, and troubleshooting common breastfeeding issues (just to name a few). The entire course can be completed in 90 minutes, but you can go at your own pace and refer back to it whenever you like. I absolutely love the course and recommend it to all of my pregnant friends who want to breastfeed. There is just so much to learn when it comes to nourishing your little one and Milkology does an amazing job at covering each topic.
If you’re a breastfeeding mom, what’s your favorite product? What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without? Drop it in the comments below for other mom’s to read.
Related:
- 10 Breastfeeding Hacks for Brand New Moms
- 8 Simple Ways to Increase your Milk Supply
- What to Expect in the First Two Weeks of Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding Must Haves for New Moms
DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
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