Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links.
Inspired by Lindsay’s post, I bought the DOHM white noise machine on Amazon. Thanks to my membership to Amazon Prime, it shipped in a day!
My Favorite New Mom Nursing Essentials
Now that I’ve been a new mom for six months, I can list out some of my favorite ‘new mom’ items that are legit useful when you are breastfeeding. Here we go.
Nursing Pads
These boobs of mine. SMH. They STILL LEAK at six months post-partum. I don’t know about the rest of you breastfeeding moms but when Spawn nurses one boob, the other boobs decides to join the party and leaks. What.the.hell?
My favorite nursing pads are the Bamboobies overnight blue pads and Lansinoh disposable nursing pads. (Read my interview with the Bamboobies founder/CEO here!) The Lansinoh pads are handy for when your boobs leak through everything. (I had very heavy letdown in the beginning; it was not fun.)
But wait there’s more!! I just found out Bamboobies came out with disposable pads!
Nursing Pillows
I inherited a friend’s Boppy Pillow, which was a lifesaver in the first couple of months. It fit perfectly around my waist and gave Spawn enough height to get to my boob. I didn’t have to grow a third arm so I could hold Spawn and position my boob. Then she started to gain weight. Friends recommended My Brest Friend, and it was even more awesome than the Boppy!
My Brest Friend had a velcro waist and buckle so it was always at the right snugness for me. The Wife joked that it look like I was selling cigarettes, gum and candy with this tray-like pillow. It also has a bit of lower back support because it wraps around you. I love it. I’ve since retired both – the Boppy now serves as a stunt pillow for Spawn, in case she flops from her sitting position.
Nursing Bras
If you’re like me, you’ll need to sleep in a nursing bra that’s easy to whip a boob out. I have a couple of these cheapie Motherhood Maternity sleep bras and they’re great. You basically move the cup and whoosh, boob!
For daytime I really like Bravado’s Body Silk Seamless nursing bras. They come in S, M, L, XL and have three hook clasps in the back. Amazon carries them by different vendors; Target is offering 20% with the code DEAL20 (watch the expiration date!). I wear this bra with my “regular” tops and pull them up or down to nurse Spawn. It’s supportive and easy to hook and unhook.
Glamourmom’s Adjustable Chest Band Nursing Tank is the best nursing tank I’ve worn. My friend Caryn, also a new mom, raved about this tank – they’ve got cutouts for your nips so you don’t have to pull out your entire boob in public. They are pretty expensive but I believe they are well worth the money. These tanks also have an adjustable chest band, so you can tighten the band for more boob support.
Nipple Cream
In the first month or so, my nipples were sore and cracked. Spawn and I were not best friends at all. It took a few weeks for us to get the hang of it. Til then, my boobs suffered. I was gifted Earth Mama Angel Baby’s Nipple Butter from yet another mom and the team at Motherlove sent over their Nipple Cream. Both did the job and are non-toxic to baby. Because you know, you don’t always remember to wipe your nipples before they latch on like a piranha.
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So there you have it. I don’t have nursing covers on this list but I know that they have been very useful for moms who want a little more privacy or need to get their babies to focus. I get it. Spawn whips her head around when she hears The Wife talk, nipple in her mouth. Ouch.
I met the founder of Cover My Heart last year, and I thought her nursing covers were pretty cool. They also double as scarves. Plus, leopard!
source: Cover My Heart
Sidenote: The Law
In case you are harassed by idiots in public, please note that you have the RIGHT to nurse in public in the state of California. The people who are “offended” by your feeding your baby can go straight to hell. If you live in another state, you can look up your rights here. (I believe almost all 50 states do not prohibit mothers from breastfeeding in public; but check your state government for updates.)
In any case, I hope you don’t feel embarrassed or harassed by anyone when you nurse your baby. Your baby is hungry, for crying out loud!
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What other nursing essentials have you found valuable as a nursing mom? Share them in the comments, won’t you?
I’ve nursed three kids, and your list is spot on! I’m still nursing my youngest (once a day) and have lived in sports bras for nursing. They’re so easy to pull down.
This is a great list. The MotherLove cream has been really helpful for me, too. I haven’t found a sleep bra I like yet and going to check out the Motherhood Maternity ones. Thanks for the rec!
And LOL at the wife saying you look like you look like you are selling cigarettes and candy with the My Brest Friend. We joked that I looked like a server when I wore mine, too!