7 Breastfeeding Essentials for New Moms

by Melissa Psihudakis January 25, 2021

Being a new Mom means starting a whole new chapter of life, full of adventures and challenges, unlike anything you may have experienced before. If you’ve decided on breastfeeding as your method of nourishing your little one, there are a few things you’ll want to add to your wishlist to make this experience easier for you and your baby. Breastfeeding may be a natural process, but that doesn’t make it any less challenging for new mothers, especially those with busy work schedules. Thankfully, there are quite a few goodies on the market that can help you be able to breastfeed with confidence and get the most out of this bonding time with your baby.

1. Breast Pump and Accessories

One of the things you should definitely mark down as one of your essentials is a Breast Pump. Especially if you plan to go back to work or spend any amount of time apart for your baby during the day. The modern breast pump is an easy way to ensure that your baby always has access to your milk and can even alleviate breast pain by giving you a way to release your milk supply when your baby isn’t hungry. Pro Tip: Invest in a set of extra accessories for your breast pump to ensure that you never have to go without the equipment you need.

2. Nipple-like Bottles

You can also stock up on bottles specifically designed to look and feel like a real nipple. Once your baby is accustomed to drinking milk directly from you, it can be a challenge to encourage them to drink from a bottle. These can help the baby feel more comfortable feeding in any instance where you can’t nurse them.

3. Breast Pads

One uncomfortable truth about breastfeeding is that leaks are pretty much inevitable. Thankfully, you can make your outings much less stressful by stocking up on set up breast pads. This will keep you feeling dry and leak-free no matter where your day takes you.

4. Gel Pads

These are similar to your traditional breast pads but come with a cooling gel sensation that helps alleviate nipple soreness and overall breast pain. That’s right, breastfeeding can be downright painful, and many new Moms aren’t aware of these side effects until after the fact. Do yourself a favor and snag a few sets of these cooling gel pads; your breasts will seriously thank you.

5. Nursing Pillow

Once your baby has arrived and you’re ready to start nursing, it can be tricky to find a comfortable position that both you and your little one agree on. You might even find your arms and shoulders exhausted from trying to prop your baby up during those late-night feedings. Not only will a good nursing pillow help make you and your baby comfortable, but you can also use it as a comfy seat for your baby as they continue to grow. You can snag a nursing pillow in tons of adorable styles to make your nursery even cozier.

6. Nursing Bras and Tops

Suppose you are nursing your baby while on the go; you may experience your fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to your clothing. Luckily, more and more retailers offer comfortable nursing clothes that are made to help you feed your baby quickly and easily. Adding a good selection of nursing bras to your drawer can keep your girls nice and supported during the day and allow you to nurse when you need to with ease. Even better, you can shop for specialty nursing tank tops and shirts built for breastfeeding in a pinch so that you never have to deal with a fussy outfit and fussy baby at the same time.

7. Breast Milk Bags

This addition can come in very handy, especially if you find that some days your milk supply is more generous than others. Investing in freezable milk bags allows you to keep a backup stock of your milk so that you never have to worry about not producing enough or being unable to nurse on any given day.

Breastfeeding your baby is a beautiful, challenging journey. These goodies can help you breastfeed with comfort and ease every step of the way.