If you plan to breastfeed your little one, then you need to prepare for it by ensuring you have everything ready in advance. And yes, while you might have the most important things on you already (literally!), there may be must-have baby feeding products you’re missing.
To help you out with that, we’ll go over both a quick checklist of what you need, as well as nursing tips for moms. Let’s get started!
The Breastfeeding Essentials You Need
So, what do you actually need for your breastfeeding? Assuming we’re only talking about direct nursing and not pumping (because that deserves its own article!), here's a list of breastfeeding essentials:
Nursing clothes - You can get nursing bras, tops, and covers that are designed to keep you comfortable as you feed your baby without giving up your privacy. Here’s a tip for the bras in particular: be prepared to switch to ones in a new size, as most moms see drastic weight change throughout the nursing period.
Nursing pads - These absorb milk that may leak from your breasts, saving you both discomfort and added laundry work!
Nursing pillow - For the first few weeks, you’ll very likely struggle to find a position that works for both you and your little one. A nursing pillow will make that much easier.
Nipple cream - This isn’t necessary for all moms, but it is for a lot of them! If you find your nipples getting sore, this can be a lifesaver. Bonus points if you can find one that’s safe for your baby, as it means you won’t even need to wash it off before nursing!
The Most Important Nursing Tips for Moms
All right, so you’ve prepared your nursing essentials. What else do you need to do? Here are the tips that we think are most important for breastfeeding moms in general:
Get the burp cloths ready
Trust us when we say that you will very likely use a tonne of these when breastfeeding! Buy at least a dozen of the ones you like and make sure they’re always in easy reach. Your baby will go through them so fast you won’t believe it.
Look into putting a dedicated “nursing chair” in the nursery
While some brands actually make nursing chairs, you can technically use a really comfortable and supportive armchair for this too! What matters is that you have a comfy chair you can get in when you’re breastfeeding the baby at home, so that both you and the little one are fully comfortable and relaxed.
Get the number of a breastfeeding consultant or specialist
A fair number of maternity hospitals or clinics will actually have someone like this. This person can be your go-to if you happen to run into problems or concerns while breastfeeding, so having their contact details ahead of time will be useful.
Prepare easy-access food and beverages for yourself
Hey, moms get hungry too, especially while regularly breastfeeding! So, make sure you’re ready for that ahead of time.
All you have to do is prepare some snacks and drinks that you can get to quickly, even as you’re breastfeeding your baby. Dried nut mixes are good options, along with water in a travel bottle.
Get more mummy and parenting advice!
That should help you get started on getting ready for your breastfeeding sessions with your little one.
If you want more advice like this, whether it’s about decorating your nursery or figuring out what should go in a changing/diaper bag, check out our blog. We have even more tips for moms and new parents there!
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