happy friday friends!!
it’s been a hot minute since i’ve had my act together enough to get a friday favs post up but after a lot of requests to share my breastfeeding must-haves, i figured this would be the perfect way to get back into it!!
after breastfeeding twins and working my tush off to make it work through being dairy + soy free due to a milk allergy, being a first time mom, battling 5 rounds of mastitis, constantly being on antibiotics, all-purpose nipple ointment… let’s just say i barely scraped by.
SO much has changed since then and while miller was easier to nurse, i truly feel like i have it DOWN this time. i’ve always loved nursing and i fought through some really tough times to make it work but before we get into my favorites this time…let me start with that whether you’re a first time mom or you’re on your 5th, breastfeeding is work. and it’s hard. and if you love it and want to do that journey, then know that it takes work but it’s so worth it. IF that’s not your story and it stresses you out, you simply can’t for one reason or another, or you just don’t like it?? that’s okay, too. it will not decide whether your child is happy, or successful, or kind or anything else that is truly important in life. you can bond with your baby whether you bottle or breast feed!
#fedisbest
let’s get into it!! here are my nursing must haves with little miss maisley!
silverette nipple cups
when silverette reached out to see if i wanted to try out these nipple cups {on amazon + prime shipping!}, i’ll be honest, i thought it was hocus pocus. just put them on your nipples to help protect, heal and prevent sore, cracked, and blistered nipples? right… but, after my terrible past experiences with mastitis, cracked nipples, etc., i was willing to try anything. when maisley was born unexpectedly at 34 weeks, i asked my sister to grab these little nipple cups and bring them to the hospital and i just stuck them on. i kept them inside my bra virtually 24/7 other than when she was nursing….and to this day, i haven’t had any damage at ALL. if you are experiencing any damage, you should for sure make an appointment to see a lactation consultant {i lived at their office with the girls!} but in the mean time, these have been a gem. i wore them for a solid 2 weeks and then slowly started wearing them less and less! the science: silver is antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial with anti-inflammatory agents so it is a natural way to combat the struggles of nursing nipples. i showed every single doctor that would listen to me in the hospital, haha! but they were very so intrigued!
fun fact: the dressing that our hospital is now using for c-sections {and who knows, maybe other surgeries?} is lined with silver for the exact same reasons that the silverette cups are made for!
silicone breast pump
while in NICU, i always ask the lactation consultant to come check on us and watch a nursing session to see if they have an advice or see anything i’m missing when it comes to latch. maisley had an incredible latch {praise GOD!} but while hanging with us one afternoon she gave me a haakaa, a silicone breast pump, and we chit chatted about it for awhile and guys, this one changed my life! seriously so easy to use {and clean!}, i used it all the time those first few weeks and now, once daily! i wanted more than one after accidentally leaving it at my mom’s house one day so i ordered a few from a different brand and honestly they work the exact same, but this one is cheaper and comes with a little stopper which i would highly recommend {and this is the double pack that i purchased!}!
as far as how i use it… at first i had so much milk. like major oversupply so while i was trying to decrease my supply, i didn’t want to get mastitis so i wanted to empty as much as i could while also building a freezer stash. i would nurse maisley on one side and use the haakaa on the other side, gently squeezing the pump, attaching it and letting it do it’s thing. i easily pumped 4-8 oz. on one side. now that my supply has dropped a bit, i use it once for the first feeding of the day and i still get about 8oz on the one side. i know some people simply use it to catch let-down milk and store up that way!
nursing bras bralettes
hear me out… i’ve used nursing bras for the last nearly 4 years and i’ve hated them. i’ve bought cheap ones, expensive ones, etc. and the pads always get bunchy and let’s be honest, i kinda just feel like a cow in them. i was over it and hated them for a solid year while i nursed. while determined to find something else, i started wearing barrettes from altar’d state while i was pregnant and also discovered this padded version {and cheaper!} of my favorite free people bralette and i’ve fallen in LOVE. they offer enough support and also have enough padding for the nursing nips to not show through! i either lift up from the bottom or just pull out from the top and it’s held it’s shape beautifully!
electric breast pump
before you go and buy a pump, make sure to check with insurance! i’ve worked with aeroflow in the past and they have a whole team set up to help with navigating insurance {they’ll take care of it for you!!}. i’ve used this motif duo electric breast pump with miller and now maisley and love it. it’s SO quiet, i think it’s more effective than the medela pump was i used with the girls and it holds a charge so well making it so easy to use on the go! if for whatever reason you can’t use your insurance, you can find it on amazon here!
hands-free nursing bra
i’ve used the same hands-free nursing bra for the past 4 years and apparently they don’t make them anymore because they’re super expensive on amazon but if you are pumping AT ALL, you HAVE to have a hands-free bra. it will change your life. this is very similar to the one i have, but my best recommendation is to have a bandeau type of bra {not one with straps} so you can put it over your regular bra and around your shirt!
milk storage bags
hallelujah, meddle changed the design of these since the last time i had to buy them and they’re great!! if you’re building a freezer stash, these have been my favorite + affordable storage bags!
liquid IV
if you follow along on instagram, you’ve heard me talk about this stuff before… i first tried this after hearing amber talk about it and i’ve never looked back! you add it to a bottle/glass of water like crystal light but it turns one bottle of water into the hydration of 3! the science behind it is pretty cool but i have noticed a huge difference in my supply when i drink 2-3 bottles of water with this in it vs. when i don’t. i truly think this is the only reason i have been able to work out as much as i have without my supply being affected! {safe while pregnant, nursing and with kids!!} and it tastes pretty good!
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