Breastfeeding Essentials

Piggy-backing on my last post I am going to compile a list of what worked for ME (that doesn't mean everyone) to help me with beginning my breastfeeding journey. It was a lot of trial and error of things, so I hope you do not have to go through that, and this can be helpful for you and your babe!

Timing:

BF or pump every 3 hours in the beginning (it gets better, I promise). I was pretty much on the clock. My first two months I exclusively pumped, so I would be on the machine, like clockwork, every three hours. This is so you do not experience a supply drop. Breastfeeding is very much a supply-and-demand concept. It's not how LONG you BF or pump, it's frequency (but try to do at least 120 minutes a day if you are exclusively pumping). If you go slightly longer between sessions, that's totally fine. And when your babe starts sleeping through the night (it will happen!) your body will adjust to what your baby does, and you will produce what you need.

Pump & Parts:

Get a decent breast pump, and plenty of supplies. You can find out what your insurance will cover for a breast pump at aeroflowbreastpumps.com. You will input your information, and go from there. Make sure you are getting a pump that can be unplugged from the wall and has a battery life. You do NOT want to be attached to the wall while you're pumping and then all of a sudden your babe wakes and you are absolutely f*cked as to what to do next. Get the damn battery pack Spectra it's like $30 more usually.

Also, get a TON of extra sets of bottles/supplies. I would say 4 sets will give you peace of mind. You will have to wash your pumping parts each time you use them. So, in the beginning that is about 8 times in a 24 hour period you would wash your parts. OR, if you have 4 sets you can do a batch and wash them altogether just twice in one day (get the partner or hubbs to do it for you, you're doing enough). You can also choose to run them through the dishwasher. It's dealers choice. Whatever you feel is easier for you and your situation, or makes you more comfortable.

Miscellaneous Supplies:

I tried out a ton of different brands of nipple creams, ice packs, and things of that nature to help with soreness, clogs, and engorgement. The brand that I kept going back to was Lansinoh (found at Target or Amazon). I used their nipple cream, lanolin cream, ice & hot packs, & breastmilk storage bags. I also found all of their products were super affordable, but worked really well. For easy-cleaning of bottles & supplies in a pinch, the Medela wipes were the best.

Pumping Station

It's not a bad idea, especially if you will be exclusively pumping, to have a pumping station set up somewhere that you think you will be often (the living room or your bedroom). This can include your breast pump (charged), bottles & connectors set up and ready to go, storage bags, Medela cleaning wipes, and any nipple creams or comfort you might need.

Purchase Nursing & Pumping Bras

This is essential, for comfort AND for ease of pumping (if you're going that route). You do not want to be holding bottles to your boobs for 15-30 minutes sessions. You'll want to be hands-free, especially if you're alone with the baby and need to do other things whilst pumping. My favorite bras were also my cheapest bras, that was sheer luck. Most of my nursing and pumping friends & family loved their Kindred Bravely-wear. I preferred my Target nursing bra and amazon non-brand pumping bras (I would link it-but there's actually no tag-it was $10). I would start cheap and go with the more expensive brands when you find you are going to stick to nursing & pumping for the long-haul.

I'm probably forgetting a ton of things, here. But these are the things I can think of that really helped me and would have helped me knowing prior to Jack's arrival Earth-side.

xo Courtney