8 Breastfeeding Products that I Used in the First 8 Weeks
When it comes to breastfeeding, the truth is, you don't need a lot of fancy equipment or products. In fact, all you really need is a breast and a baby. It's as simple as that.
Of course, support and guidance from healthcare professionals, lactation consultants, and experienced mothers can be incredibly valuable as you navigate the world of breastfeeding. Below, I list some items that I found incredibly useful, but not necessarily essential, in my first 8 weeks breastfeeding our newborn. These items can serve to make things a little easier, but remember that, at its core, breastfeeding is a beautifully uncomplicated act that requires nothing more than you and your baby.
*The links below are amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying sales. Please trust that I will never link products that I have not used and loved myself.
Breastfeeding supplies make great shower gifts- start an Amazon Baby Registry here.
I found this kit incredibly valuable for both antenatal colostrum collection before my son's birth and for collecting colostrum to feed him in the hospital. It made the process much easier and ensured that I was able to collect each valuable drop. Highly recommend it!
The hospital nurses recommended I use a nipple shield for flat nipples, and it played an essential role in our breastfeeding success. I do not recommend buying these ahead of time, as they can contribute to supply and milk transfer issues- and you hopefully won’t need them. I do, however, recommend that you order more immediately if you do use one in the hospital (my mom nearly sent my only shield down the garbage disposal on our first day home).
My Brest Friend nursing pillow
I was given this nursing pillow as a gift from a friend who highly recommended it. I'm so thankful she suggested I bring it to the hospital because it truly helped me effectively position my baby during the early days of breastfeeding.
The girls are sore in those early days, and this cream is effective and safe for baby (no need to wipe it off before feeding!).
While my supply was still regulating, I experienced a lot of leaking from the opposite breast while baby was feeding. This passive milk collector helped me catch up to a couple of ounces each feed, which I was able to freeze for later use.
When my son started sleeping longer stretches at night (4-5 hours, hooray!), our pediatrician recommended I use a manual pump if I woke up engorged and uncomfortable before baby was ready to feed. This works like a charm- a couple minutes of pumping and I am comfortable and can go back to sleep. This is also a great way to stimulate the opposite breast if baby snacks just from one side.
If you have insurance, you can obtain an electric breast pump at no cost to you! I recommend everyone take advantage of this. Based on the recommendation of many doctor moms before me, I got the Spectra S2 and am very happy with it. To obtain it through insurance, I went through Aeroflow Breastpumps.
Again, I received storage bags free of charge through insurance. Full disclosure, I didn’t love the brand provided by insurance, as they were difficult to seal and prone to leaking. So far, the Lansinoh bags linked above are my favorite.
Honorable Mentions:
These Sleep Nursing Bras are perfect for overnight and lounging.
These Kindered Bravely Nursing Bras are comfy but structured enough to look good under clothes.
These Kindered Bravely Nursing Pads are a bit of a splurge, but offer extra protection against leaks when I’m away from baby for a few hours or more.
So, there you have it! You don’t have to spend a lot to have a successful breastfeeding journey. Remember that all you truly need are breasts and a baby, but all of these other tools can help make the intimidating but beautiful process a bit smoother.
I would love to hear about any products you love that I missed- drop them in the comments below!
