I’m not here to tell you or convince you on how you should feed your baby. Weather you should exclusively breastfeed, pump, use formula or do a combination of all the options, that is entirely up to you. I’m here to tell you what I found to be useful as a working mom and now as a stay at home mom, and what breastfeeding and pumping essentials you will need if you choose to breastfeed and pump.
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Breastfeeding & Pumping Essentials check list
Before baby Arrives
Before your baby arrives make sure to have the following items to make your breastfeeding journey easier and you don’t have to worry about getting stuff while you’re still trying to figure out how to nurse.
Check out My Hospital Bag Must Haves to see what breastfeeding essentials I took to the hospital.
Nursing pillow
Nursing pillows come in all shapes and sizes and some with extra accessories but you only really need a C- shape pillow.
This C-shape nursing pillow is the OG of all nursing pillows! It is classic, easy and quick to put on and prop your baby so your back and arms don’t kill you later. It not only helps you when nursing your baby BUT it also serves as a multipurpose pillow for tummy time and to prop your baby into a sitting position when they start to transition to sitting.
Make sure to get an extra pillow cover so you can easily change it in case of a bad spit-up session happens.
If you had or plan on having a C-section, this nursing pillow with back support will be essential for you!
Nursing bras
Having the right nursing bras makes a huge difference in your breastfeeding AND pumping journey.
These easy access nursing bras have very minimal support but they don’t have any clips, hooks, or wires which makes them perfect when you’re lounging at home.
I love these wireless nursing bralettes! They give my ladies the support they need and the clips are easy to reach and unclip/clip back. Plus, it comes in a pack of 5 so you have plenty of color options.
This hand’s free pumping and nursing bra is great for pumping if you have a pump where the flange attaches to a bottle and the system sits outside the bra. It comes in a few other colors as well.
TIP:
If you will be breastfeeding, you can probably find some items in your closet that are nursing friendly but majority of your clothes might not fit you like they used to around the bust area since your girls will be getting more full and plump so I highly encourage you to get clothes that have easy access to your breast so you don’t struggle anywhere while your baby is crying when they’re hungry.
Pump system
Not all pumps are made the same so picking the right one that works for your lifestyle is key!
Wearable breast pump
I knew I needed a pump that was not going to take too much space because I was going to be carrying this pump to work along with my little cooler for the pumped milk.
This portable pump came in super handy when I was working at the hospital. I just bought the pump that came with an extra pair of bottles and lids and I was ready to pump twice during my work day.
The parts are easy to clean, I don’t have to be tethered to a pump and can easily walk around with these on. Plus, all the parts fit in a small lunch bag.
Manual pump
A manual breast pump is the lightest and smallest option out of all the pumps.
I love to take this pump when I take my toddler on a hike to spend one on one time with him without his little brother.
It is also a great item to have during the first two weeks of breastfeeding to avoid mastitis for when your breast get too engorged.
I made a couple modifications to this manual breast pump which improved my milk output and I was able to pump about 3 oz in 5 minutes.
- I changed the valve the manual pump came with for this easy to clean valve and since I’m using glass baby bottles this time around I replaced the plastic bottle it came with and replaced it with these glass baby bottles that fit perfectly and they go straight to the fridge for the next feeding.
IMPORTANT TIP!
- If you are pumping for whatever reason, make sure to NOT EMPTY YOUR BREAST when you’re just trying to relieve the engorgement.
- When you empty your breast your body thinks your baby needs more milk and will increase milk production and could possibly lead to mastitis.
Quick Clean Wipes
When I went back to work I took two sets of bottles from my pump so I can have a total of 2 pumping sessions without worrying about cleaning the bottles, allowing them to dry, and them packing them before my pumping break was over BUT some days I would work a over time and I would have to use one set of pumping parts for a 3rd pumping session. These quick clean wipes were a life saver!
TIP!
You can get 2 uses out of your pump parts before having to wash them again IF you use the quick clean wipes which makes it super convenient for work.
Disinfecting wipes
If you’re pumping at work or in any public space, I would highly recommend packing some disinfecting wipes to wipe the surface you will be setting down your pump parts.
Even if you go to nursing rooms it’s best if you give the surfaces a quick wipe down before you start your session. You’ll be surprised how many mom’s don’t wipe down after their session.
Flange size measuring tool
Whatever pump system you decide on, please make sure to find the right flange size for you nipple!
Finding the right size flange will be crucial in your pumping journey because having the right size will not only prevent injury to the nipple but it will be comfortable for you and you will be maximizing your milk production.
This flange size finder will help you tons if you don’t know what size flange inserts to get for your pump.
Insulated bag
The best way to to store your breast milk when you’re working or when you go to an event is with an insulated bag where you can carry your pump and your expressed milk.
This lunch bag was perfect to carry my pump parts, some snacks, the expressed milk, and ice packs that would cover all walls of the bag to keep the milk cold until I made it home from work.
If you’re planning on going backpacking, camping, or to an event where you can’t refrigerate your insulated bag, I highly recommend this portable cooler bottle. It keeps your milk cooled for about 24 hours.
You could go with the brand name cooling bottle that comes in multiple colors or with the off-brand cooling bottle that comes in only one color but both do the same and are just as effective.
Breast Milk Storage Bag
If you’re trying to keep a stash of breast milk you will need milk storage bags.
There are so many to choose from! I tried the Lansinoh, Medela, Momcozy, and the Kiinde Twist but I ultimately chose these storage bags for my freezing stash because they were easy to use, it didn’t fold on me while I was pouring my milk in, and the milk didn’t get freezer burn, and it was easy to transfer to the bottle.
Bottles
If you want to have a little break from being a milk factory or your want your partner to bond a little more with your little one while you take a well needed nap, you will need bottles.
I personally prefer glass bottles over plastic bottles. If you pump you only need the 5oz glass bottles since your breast milk composition will change to your baby needs without needing more ounces.
If you opt to use glass bottles and you use formula buy the 9oz glass bottles.
BOTTLE HACK!
Both my sons had a hard latching properly to Dr. Brown’s glass bottle’s nipple but they both did better with Dr. Brown’s glass bottle flow system so I decided to keep Dr. Brown’s glass bottles and I ditched the flow system and nipple it came with and traded it for the Evenflo nipple which is design to get a deeper latch and voilà, both babies had amazing latches and less colic!
Milk warmer
Some babies will take your milk right out of the fridge or even at room temperature, but if your babies are anything like mine you will need a bottle warmer to get that milk nice and warm for your little one to drink.
I use this portable bottle warmer that warms the milk in 5 minutes and water for formula in 2 minutes! Definitely worth the splurge if you use formula.
Bottle sterilizer & Dryer
All those pump and bottle parts are not going to sterilize themselves so you will need a bottle sterilizer.
This bottle sterilizer and dryer gets the job done and it doubles as storage for the baby bottle parts, however, you still need to pre-wash everything you put in there.
Dish basin & brushes
I prefer to keep the baby’s bottles and pump parts separate from everything in the sink and this collapsible basin with a drain I use when I go camping was ideal.
The same goes for the dish sponge/brush, I use this travel set of silicone brushes instead.
If you don’t want a bunch of brushes, this silicone brush is easy to clean and gets into all the weird nooks some pumps have.
SPLURGE ITEM:
If you want to skip having to buy the basin, brushes, and the sterilizer you should splurge and buy this baby bottle washer that takes care of all of that for you. Think of it as a mini dish washer for your baby’s bottles. The only downside I see is that you have to buy the detergent tablets but I would do it in a heart beat if I was exclusively pumping or using formula.
Gentle Dish Soap
With my first son I washed everything with this baby dish soap but as a second time mom I started washing everything with a gentle dish soap and always made sure to rinse them with hot water so there wouldn’t be any soap residue.
Bottle & Pump parts storage
I didn’t have a place to store all those baby bottles and parts that I was constantly washing when I had my first baby so they would just sit on the drying rack until I was ready to use them and I hate it!
Get yourself clear storage containers with different size containers and place that in the cupboard so you can organize, store, and keep the baby bottles and pump parts out of sight and organized for easy access.
What to expect right after giving birth
When you give birth, your body will go through a process where it thinks you will be breastfeeding your baby and it will get ready to create milk whether you decided on exclusively breastfeed, exclusively pump, exclusively formula feed, or a mixture of any of the options I just mentioned so these are some things you should expect and what items you will need to make this process a whole lot smoother on yourself:
- You start by creating colostrum; you might even experience some leakage before you even give birth.
TIP:
Sometimes babies will get tired from trying to get milk when they are not latching properly in the first 2 days after giving birth. Hand express some colostrum and feed them with a spoon if necessary, this will not only help your newborn but it will help your milk supply to keep rolling.
Nursing pads
You will experience some milk leakage within days after you give birth as your breast adjust to producing the right amount of breast milk your baby will need. Sometimes this can last up to weeks after giving birth!
While leaking breast milk is completely normal, it is incredibly annoying. Your clothes get soaked and sticky so you need to keep some nursing pads on hand.
You have the option to go with disposable nursing pads or with reusable nursing pads.
I use disposable nursing pads while my breast adjust to making the right amount of milk those first few weeks since you go through so many and it is easier to just dispose of them.
Once my supply has been established and I noticed I don’t leak as much (mainly during feedings) I switch to these super soft reusable nursing pads.
Nipple balm
24 hours after you give birth your sleepy baby will suddenly want to feed non-stop (cluster feed) which serves to make your milk transition from colostrum to mature milk and this will make your nipples sore, dry, and might even crack if the baby is not latching properly.
To avoid any or all of the above things I just mentioned, apply a generous layer of nipple balm to your nipples after every feed to keep them from cracking, or sticking to your bra which hurts when you try to remove your boob from your bra if you don’t have anything. Keep applying it even if you have sore spots or blisters, it will help heal them, trust me on this!
Hot/Cold breast pads
Another staple during the first 24 hours will be hot and cold breast pads.
Use them cold to relieve some of the pain that comes from your breast being extremely sensitive after breastfeeding or pumping thanks to those lovely hormone surges.
My first son latched right away but had quite the suction which made my nipples have sore spots (tiny bruises) if I would do it incorrectly when I was learning how to position him to start breastfeeding and this nipple balm + cold breast pads was the perfect combo that saved my nipples AND my breastfeeding journey.
Some of my friends swear by silver nursing cups instead of using a nipple balm and cooling breast pads so this is another option you could explore.
Day 2-3
Day 2 or 3 your breast will become engorged as your body transitions to making mature milk.
- Your breast will be sore and even sensitive to the touch, sometimes to the point that the water from the shower head might feel very uncomfortable as it lands on your breast.
- Cooling breast pads will help with relieving some of that discomfort.
- If you are an “breast milk over-producer,” meaning you oversupply breast milk after the cluster feeding period your milk ducts could clog and you will be at risk for developing mastitis if the clogged milk duct doesn’t get addressed quickly. Please seek medical attention if you suspect you have a blocked duct or mastitis.
- After you establish your milk supply you will experience an uncomfortable feeling right before you start leaking milk from your breast, this is called the letdown reflex. It feels like your muscle tissue in your breast is cramping which I was not expecting at all but it’s totally normal.
NOTE:
- If you are an “over- producer” you could end up with a mild case of mastitis and here are some things that help me:
- I am an “over producer” which means that my body will make more milk than what my newborn needs right after cluster feeding happens and I always end up with a mild case of mastitis which makes me feel like I have the flu (night sweats, body aches, extreme fatigue, and enlarged under arm lymph nodes which are painful to the touch) because my milk ducts get clogged so I highly recommend the following:
- REST and SLEEP as much as possible.
- Hand massage the blocked milk ducts (they feel like solid little balls) while you continue to feed your newborn, they will help you unclog your milk ducts.
- Use cooling pads constantly to relieve some of the pain and swelling.
- Warm compress/ showers to encourage milk flow.
- Nourish your body with nutritious food for a faster recovery.
- NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON YOUR NEWBORN IF YOU’RE AN OVER-PRODUCER:
- They have a harder time latching and could swallow more air leading to gas or digestive issues that create frothy stool because the milk flow is too fast so try doing this to improve your newborn’s breast feeding experience.
- Relieve some of the pressure by using a hand pump, pump, or hand expressing a little bit of milk before feeding you newborn, just make sure not to empty your breast.
- Adjust feeding positioning by laying back more to allow your newborn to control the flow of milk.
- They have a harder time latching and could swallow more air leading to gas or digestive issues that create frothy stool because the milk flow is too fast so try doing this to improve your newborn’s breast feeding experience.
Remember that whether you breastfeed, pump, use formula, or all the above, fed is best!
You got this mama!
