Are you a new or soon-to-be momma looking for tools to make your breastfeeding journey EASIER?! Well, then you’re going to want to stick around, because in this post, I’m sharing my top 13 breastfeeding essentials for new moms.
These were my ride-or-die breastfeeding essentials that helped me on my breastfeeding journey.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through one of my link, I make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check out the video version of this post below (or keep reading)!
BOPPY
First up we have a Boppy, or nursing pillow. This was an absolute MUST for me. These pillows are specially contoured to wrap around your body and firm enough to support baby, giving both mom and baby a more comfortable breastfeeding experience.
Being comfortable is extremely important when breastfeeding and you definitely don’t want to be leaning over your baby, so the support of a pillow is really helpful.
I brought my Boppy everywhere with me and actually had two of them so I could keep one downstairs and one upstairs for convenience.
Breast Pump
If you need to be away from your baby, or you’re planning on going back to work, then you’ll want to have a breast pump on hand.
I had the Medela Double Electric Breast Pump, which I had no issues with and really liked. An electric pump also comes in handy as a tool if you need help with boosting your supply. (You can check out my video on tips for boosting your milk supply here.)
Make sure you check with your insurance company to see if they will cover you for some or all of your breast pump costs. You can see if you qualify through Aeroflow here.
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
If you have an electric pump you’re going to want a hands-free pumping bra. If you don’t get one, you’ll have to hold your pump the whole time, which I found to be really annoying.
I loved having this because it left my hands free to do other things, like work on the computer or read. It definitely comes in handy, especially if you’re pumping for 15-20 minutes or longer.
Breastfeeding Course
This next must-have item might be something you haven’t heard about before, but taking an online breastfeeding course really helped me.
The course I took was the Milkology Ultimate Breastfeeding Course. It’s online and super affordable, so I definitely recommend checking that out.
Stacy Stewart, who is the course creator, is a certified lactation educator.
In the course, she goes through things such as the benefits of breastfeeding, what to expect, and different tips, and techniques. I took this course right before I had my son and it was definitely worth it, so be sure to check it out. You can find it here.
Milk Storage Bags
If you’re going to be pumping to build up a stash of milk, then you’re going to want some breast milk storage bags.
The bags that I used were from Medela. I had the ones that come with attachments to pump directly into the bag, but I never actually used this feature.
They have bags on Amazon that don’t have this feature and are strictly for milk storage. You pump into a bottle and pour the breast milk into the bag. These are more cost-effective than the ones that you can pump right into, so I definitely recommend them if you don’t feel like you need the direct-pump feature. You can find them here.
Comotomo Bottles
When it comes to bottles, we initially tried SO many different ones! We wanted to introduce our son to a bottle pretty early so he could get used to drinking from one and so my husband could feed him, too.
He was actually great with taking a bottle and switching back and forth from bottle-feeding to breastfeeding, so I feel like my husband and I had more of an opinion when it came to bottles, than our son did.
The Comotomo bottles are definitely our favorite! They are great for breastfed babies because they have a naturally-shaped nipple and a wide top to help simulate the feeling of a breast.
They have anti-colic vents that let air in and milk out to help minimize your little one’s consumption of air and are also super easy to clean, which is why we loved them so much. I always recommend them when anyone asks me about a bottle for breastfed babies!
Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream
The next product I’d highly recommend picking up is Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream.
When you first start breastfeeding, it’s likely that you will have sore or cracked nipples. This lanolin cream is really soothing and safe for babies, so you don’t have to worry about wiping it off before a feed.
I kept this stuff EVERYWHERE! It was such a lifesaver and was always with me!
Lansinoh Soothies Cooling Gel Pads
Going along with the Lanolin cream, we have the Lansinoh Soothies Cooling Gel Pads.
Again- sorry ladies, but those nipples are gonna need some T.L.C.!
So you pop these little gel miracles in the fridge and apply them when you need some relief. They don’t have to go in the fridge, but I found the chilled gel pads definitely worked better and were more soothing.
They also help create a barrier between your nipple and clothing to prevent further irritation. They can be reused for up to 72 hours.
Just a little side note – you don’t want to use these WITH the lanolin cream, so be sure to alternate between the two if you want to use both, because the lanolin will cause the gel pads not to stick.
Nursing Bras
Up next we have nursing bras. And while they may not be very glamorous or sexy, these bras were SUPER soft and comfortable. I LIVED in them all throughout my time breastfeeding…and I’ll tell you a secret…I still live in them now!
I purchased these from Amazon.
Silicone Breast Pump
Next up we have a silicone breast pump. These are AWESOME for catching your letdown on your opposite breast from the one you’re feeding on.
I had an oversupply when I first started breastfeeding, so basically when you’re feeding your baby on one side and your milk starts to come down, it can sometimes come out on the other side too. This was great for avoiding a soaked shirt and capturing every bit of your precious milk!
If you only feed from one breast per session, it’s also great to use as a “pump” for the other side you’re not feeding from, so you can save the milk!
Manual Hand Pump (Optional)
The next product is kind of optional, but I found it came in handy when I needed to pump just to get comfortable again and that is a manual hand pump.
This is great to use if you need to pump a bit when your milk first comes in and you’re engorged. Releasing a small amount of breast milk before you feed your baby will soften the breast, so baby can get a good latch.
I would use this during those times when I didn’t feel like taking out all of my pump supplies. It’s also affordable (I think this one was under $30 on Amazon).
You can by all means use this to pump full bottles, but it will take a lot longer than an electric pump.
Nursing Pads
If you don’t want to be soaking through your shirts, then you’re going to want to pick up some nursing pads!
I chose to go with disposable ones, but you can use washable ones if you’d like.
I never leaked through the Lansinoh disposable ones and I loved that they had the adhesive plastic-lined back so they stuck to my bra and had that extra layer of leak-proof protection.
Gel Packs
Last but not least, I would definitely recommend getting yourself some kind of hot/cold gel packs.
These gel packs from Lansinoh are great and I loved that they could be cool or warm.
Put them in the fridge for help with engorgement or cooling relief, or put them in the microwave for help with clogged ducts, mastitis, or help with let-down.
So there are my breastfeeding must-haves! I hope you found this helpful! For your convenience, you can find all of the products mentioned above together in a kit on innovativefaves.com. Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO,
Jess
