Breastfeeding & Pumping Must Haves
Here are all of my breastfeeding and pumping recommendations that are doula approved and loved by my mommy friends and clients.
For Lactating Mamas
Nursing bras These are my personal favorite bras if you are a D cup or larger. They have great support and have a semi thick lining which I loved because it hid my leaking pads and they are affordable. If you are a fresh postpartum mama, I would recommend a much lighter nursing bra. Wearing a tight bra can slow down milk production. I would either go no bra, or use an option like this one
Nursing Pillow There are tons of options when it comes to nursing pillows but this one is my favorite! It provided great support without being too bulky!
Haaka Milk Collector Wether you are a pumping mama or breast feeding mama, you will notice that if you are pumping or breastfeeding on one side, the other breast will leak. Why let that milk go to waste?! I loved used my Haaka milk collector on the opposite breast to catch my milk for later use.
Colostrum Collector Once I was past 36 weeks in pregnancy, I started to collect colostrum (early milk) by manually expressing my breasts. I wasn’t successful at breastfeeding after my first pregnancy, so for my second I wanted to make sure I was prepared by having some milk for my baby but it also helped me feel comfortable with hand expression and becoming familiar with my breasts. Please keep in mind that you might only collect a few drops but that is OKAY and NORMAL! Please consult with your doctor before collecting colostrum.
Helps strengthen your baby's immune system.
Helps to establish a healthy gut by coating the intestines. This helps keep harmful bacteria from being absorbed.
Offers ideal nutrition for a newborn.
Has a laxative effect that helps your baby clear meconium (your baby's first poop) and lessens the chance of jaundice.
Easy to digest.
Helps prevent low blood sugar in full-term babies.
Electrolytes One thing about breastfeeding is you will be insanely thirsty all of the time but especially during feedings! I remember my mom rage kicking in when I was breastfeeding without having my water available. Shoutout to my husband for being on water duty when I needed it! Electrolytes were something that helped me replenish my minerals.
Water Bottle As I mentioned earlier, the thirst gets INTENSE! So having a large water bottle available is a must!
Burp Cloths Breastfeeding can get a little messy! Have some burp cloths ready for your baby or for yourself.
Rocking Chair We spend SO MUCH TIME nursing and feeding, why not doing comfortably? This oversized rocking chair is a great option because its spacious, it has charging ports, it reclines and swivels and it has a side pocket!
Nursing Pads Have a peace of mind when your breasts start to leak without a warning! There are reusable/washable options but I preferred disposable. I already had tons of laundry to do and having to wash nursing pads just wasn’t realistic for me.
For The Mamas who Pump
Medela Hand Pump Dare I say that I personally prefer using a hand pump over an electrical one? Because I do! I didn’t pump often since my daughter wasn’t really interested in a bottle but I was still building a mini-stash of breastmilk for her to use in the future like in a bath, for a rash, or to drink from a straw cup. I loved how I was able to control the flow myself. It felt a lot more intuitive. However, if you are someone who pumps several times a day, this option might not be ideal as your main pump.
Nipple Ruler for Flange Sizing If you plan to be a pumping mama, PLEASE measure your nipples before purchasing flanges for your pumps! Most “standard” flanges do not fit mamas. Knowing your correct size can help avoid cracked and bleeding nipples. OUCH!
Spectra Breast Milk Pump This is an incredibly reliable pump! It’s strong yet gentle, quiet, and easy to travel with. This is a pump that is loved by birth workers and mamas!
Milk storage bags Can’t forget your milk storage bags! Any will do but these are more on the affordable size. PRO TIP: Store you milk bags laying down until they freeze to get maximum storage space! If you freeze them standing up, all of your milk will freeze into a huge blob at the bottom and take up so much space in your freezer. I froze them flat, then organized them standing.
On the Go Bottle Brushes and Drying Rack This is a great compact tool box that you can easily carry in your diaper bag! I love it because it has everything you could need.
Baby Bottles Bottle sizes will always depend on your baby’s age but my favorite bottles are glass bottles! They were my go to option because I boiled them to disinfect and also steamed them for sanitation.
Baby Bottle Drying Rack This one can hold up to 12 bottles and it’ll look cute on your kitchen counter.
Transitioning from Bottle Feeding to Open Cup & Straw Cup Feeding
Bear Straw Cups Perfect for baby to learn how to use straws. These are great for oral exercise and can be used instead of bottle feeding once baby can sit up. My daughter only wanted to be breastfed and refused bottles. Once she was able to sit up, I introduced this bear cup to her and she loved it!
Benefits of using straw cups:
Tongue & Lip Strength: Using a straw requires suction and helps strengthen the tongue, lips, and cheeks.
Promotes Mature Swallow: Encourages a more advanced swallow pattern, reducing the risk of prolonged “baby swallow.”
Less Messy than Open Cup: Easier for babies to manage while still supporting oral development better than a sippy.
Portability: Great for on-the-go hydration.
Open Silicone Training Cup Once my daughter was sitting on her own, we started training on using open cups. I was so impressed at how she was able to drink from open cups instead of sippy cups!
Benefits of using open cups:
Oral Motor Development: Encourages proper tongue movement, lip closure, and swallowing skills, which are important for speech development.
Jaw Strength: Helps babies learn to control the liquid with their mouth muscles, building strength and coordination.
Natural Transition: It’s the most natural way of drinking (like adults), so babies don’t have to “unlearn” anything later.
Dental Health: Reduces risk of liquid pooling around the teeth, which can lead to cavities.
Breastfeeding Support (Homeopathic Remedies)
The following are homeopathy remedies I used during my breastfeeding journey. Please consult with your doctor prior to use. The following is not intended to be medical advice.
For sore or cracked nipples and or Mastitis: Phytolacca has been extremely helpful for some of my doula clients i’ve recommended this too. They reported feeling symptoms ease in a day.
Mastitis, painful breasts, clogged ducts: Belladona was extremely helpful for me during the weaning process. My daughter and I weaned within 4 days which is quick so I needed some support when my breasts became engorged and painful. It has also been extremely helpful for my doula clients who have experienced clogged ducts.
To learn more about homeopathy and breastfeeding, click here.
Treat Yourself Mama (Things that will make breastfeeding or pumping fun)
Kindle You will spend so much time sitting in your rocking chair or bed so why not make it fun for youself? Instead of doom scrolling on Tiktok, you can read something fun! I mean, you could read educational books too but I highly suggest dipping your toes into Fantasy-romance 🤭 You will finish a book in a month I promise! Start with reading A Court of Thorns and Roses if you haven’t already. You can thank me later!
Rolling Cart There is nothing better than having what you need when you are nursing or nap trapped on your rocking chair! Keep all of your favorite snacks and essentials in your rolling cart. I had mine next to my rocking chair and it was so helpful.
What I had in my rolling cart
Giggles Sour candies, a Skittles alternative because i’m doing a great job at breastfeeding and I deserve a little treat!
Beef Sticks A quick nutritious snack.
Kindle As mentioned earlier 🤭
Phone Charger
Nightlight I love this one because it’s rechargeable and doesn’t need to stay plugged in. It also has a touch to turn on feature.
Burp Cloths As mentioned earlier
iPad I watched all of Gossip Girl and Grey’s Anatomy from beginning to end during my breastfeeding journey thanks to my iPad!
I hope these items are helpful to you! What are your breastfeeding and pumping essentials?
My beautiful mommy friends feeding their babies 🫂
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