Last Updated on 03/02/2021 by Mama Must Have
I bet you have probably heard that breastfeeding is the best thing to do for your baby. That it will be wonderful and allow for the creation of a special bond between you and your baby. But have you ever heard about how difficult, painful, and rollercoaster of a journey it could be? It is a journey that causes many women to doubt themselves and their ability to nourish their child. But with all the struggles, and especially as a first time mom, know that if you can make it through the first 30 days, things will get better.
The early breastfeeding days are difficult. You’ve just been thrust into the world of needing to have your nipples sucked for the sole purpose of providing nourishment. Add to that the fact that you’re doing this multiple times a day…ouch! Your nipples will be SORE! They will hurt when the shower water hits them, they will hurt when your shirt rubs against them, they will crack and they will be raw. But you will get through it and before you know it those suckers will be tough as nails and guess what, you may actually enjoy the breastfeeding process.
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Through all of this, here are some items that can help make this stressful process a little less painful for you.
- Nipple Butter – This is essential to help moisturize your nipples and soothe any pain you may be encountering. Just a small dab of it will make a big difference. It’s quite likely that you’ll only need this at the beginning of your breastfeeding journey because after your nipples toughen up, breastfeeding may feel like a walk in the park! You can also feel confident using it because it is safe for the baby.
- Heating Pad – A heating pad will help clear clogged ducts and get the milk flowing. This particular one also doubles as an ice pack. If you don’t have a heating pad try a hot shower or even try massaging the breast. Sometimes that will do the trick!
- Nursing Pads – This is something that you may or may not end up using. During the early days of nursing it’s very common to leak milk throughout the day. Use nursing pads to help catch the leaks and to keep your shirts from soaking through. Some women though don’t leak at all, others leak for the first few weeks, and others still for many months. So better to be prepared just incase you need them.
- Nursing Bra – A nursing bra is convenient if you’re out and about and need to quickly feed the baby without feeling like you need to fully undress. You really don’t want to wrestle with a regular bra while you’re out and about and your baby is screaming in hunger.
- Nursing tank– A nursing tank is convenient for when you’re at home. In fact you might actually spend all day, everyday in a nursing tank top so you might as well get a handful of them. An added bonus of a nursing tank is it’s very convenient if you need to pump.
- Gel cooling pads – Sometimes your nipples will need some soothing relief. These are most helpful during the early breastfeeding days when you’re dealing with raw nipples. These can numb the pain a little bit.
- Nipple shield – A nipple shield is a life saver during the early breastfeeding days. It helps you forget your nipple woes if not only for a few minutes while your baby nurses. The shield is also helpful in situations where a baby has a tough time latching. Be sure to size your nipples so that you can get the right size.
- Nursing Pillow – What you might not know is that nursing is going to take a toll on your back and you need to be careful to not spend hours a day hunched over. A nursing pillow can help with this. It is convenient and removes the need for you to pile up nine pillows in order to feed the baby. You can also get an adjustable nursing pillow which may be more friendly to the changing midsection post-birth. Don’t forget pillow cover replacements incase of any spills and messes. These will save you from having to wash the entire pillow.
- Haaka – This gem will save you from wasting precious milk. Essentially this is like a bottle that you suction to your breast. As you nurse your baby on one side, attach it to the other breast and it will catch your letdowns!
- Nursing Cover – If you want to nurse while you’re out but don’t want to be exposed then use a nursing cover. These are great as they can also be used as a car seat cover or even a shopping cart cover to keep your baby from touching the cart and then sticking their hands in their mouth.
- Comotomo Bottles – These bottles are a mom favorite and are great for a baby as they help mimic breastfeeding and make it easier to go between breast and bottle. Additional bonuses, they prevent colic and are very easy to clean.
- Breast Pump – If you’re exclusively breastfeeding it’s very likely that you’ll need to use a pump at some point during your journey. First thing you should do is check to see if your insurance will cover some of the cost if not all of the cost for a new pump. You can also sign up on a breast pump program like Aeroflow.com to see if you qualify. Added bonus of using a breast pump program is that they will send you free replacement parts. Before you purchase a pump, make sure to do your research to find the pump you think would work best for you. Try to find a place (ex. breastfeeding or pumping facebook groups) where women will share their experiences with different pumps.
Check out our article on Postpartum Must Have Items!