Moms and Dads
12 Must-Have Breastfeeding Tools for Every First-Time Mom
Breastfeeding doesn’t need to be a painful or challenging journey. Here are breastfeeding tools to help make things a bit smoother for first-time moms.
When buying items for your baby or the nursery room, don’t forget about yourself! You’ll also be needing several breastfeeding tools to make the journey a bit easier to manage. We’ve listed several must-haves for every new mom to take note of.
Essential Breastfeeding Tools to Buy
1. Nursing Bras
Nursing bras are crucial because they provide comfort and extra support as compared to regular bras. Moreover, these have latches or access that easily and quickly expose the nipple to breastfeed your baby. There are different types and designs but we recommend nursing bras from Mamaway. The premium quality of their pads allows you to bend them as often whenever you breastfeed, and it retains their shape every time. Their bras have a good fit as well—which is important to avoid clogging your ducts. Another option would be nursing bras from Yabyab.
2. Let-Down Catcher
During the first few weeks when your breasts are still adjusting, you might experience let-down or milk ejection reflex at random times. This is why it’s convenient to have a let-down catcher nearby so as not to waste precious milk! You can try the ones from Haakaa. A local brand, Orange and Peach, has its own version, too.
3. Breast Pump
If you’ll be returning to work soon, you’ll need to build a milk reserve for your baby. So it’s essential to have a good breast pump that you can bring with you to the office. There are a lot of options in the market but a convenient one to have would be a wireless breast pump. This way, you can multitask and pump while completing your tasks and deliverables.
4. Storage Bags
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After pumping, you’ll need a storage bag to keep your breast milk in. Milk Easy’s storage bags are pre-sterilized and have a double-safety lock to keep your liquid gold secure. It can store up to 8 ounces or 240 ml. In addition, it’s equipped with a spout for easy pouring and you can label the bags.
5. Travel-Friendly Cooler Bag
While in transit, you’ll need a travel-friendly cooler bag to safely transport your breast milk. We love the simple design of Medela’s Cooler Bag, which can hold up to four small bottles or several storage bags.
6. Nursing Pillow
Nursing pillows make it more comfortable to breastfeed your baby, especially during the first three months. It prevents your arms from getting pins and needles. Plus, it allows you to feed in different positions. Many moms swear by the Chicco Boppy Pillow or the Child Care Infant Nursing Pillow.
7. Comfortable Chair
We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a comfortable nursing chair. Some moms prefer recliners while others recommend a rocking chair. It’s up to you! But we do suggest getting one with big armrests to support your arms while breastfeeding. Additionally, place the chair beside an outlet so you can conveniently charge your gadgets. Lastly, place a side table so you can put your snacks, water bottle, let-down catcher, and other breastfeeding tools.
8. Nipple Cream
Nipple creams help soothe sore nipples, which may happen especially during the first few weeks. It’s good to have one just in case!
9. Nursing Cover
Having a nursing cover makes it possible to breastfeed in public while maintaining privacy for you and your baby. Consider Koemie’s unique breastfeeding cover design made from organic cotton. It is breathable, allows airflow, and features handy pockets for burp cloths and other small breastfeeding tools. Another brand you can check out is Nursing Covers PH.
10. Water Bottle
Having an insulated water bottle nearby, especially when you nurse, is vital since breastfeeding tends to dehydrate you. We love how local brands like Aquaflask, Sinag, and Above Athletica have a variety of colors and sizes to choose from.
11. Snacks and Supplements
Aside from making you thirsty, breastfeeding will also make you extra hungry. Stock up on healthy snacks like ones from Morsels. Or complement your diet with supplements that can help with milk production such as Vera Blends Coffee, Milking Bombs by ABC, Mega-Malunggay, and Nature Earth M2 Malunggay Tea.
12. Nursing Clothes
Especially if you’re a working mom, you’ll need nursing clothes that will make it easy to feed or pump. Fortunately, there are so many new brands that offer a range of tops, dresses, and jumpsuits. If you’re looking for something timeless and sophisticated, check out Elin and Tricia Gosingtian’s latest collection—Forever. Another premium one would be Jenny Dresses. For affordable, everyday wear, MUM and Latched have an extensive selection. For comfortable loungewear, there’s Koko Bear Wear. Lastly, if you’re a mom who loves to work out, MOMents Clothing has sports bras that are nursing-friendly.
Let these breastfeeding tools make the journey smoother!
Thanks to technology and more brands keeping up with the times, there are so many helpful breastfeeding tools that support and encourage mothers. After all, breast milk has so many benefits for babies. It helps them grow healthy and strong and protects them from infections and illness. So, here’s to all breastfeeding moms working hard to nourish their babies!
Find more stories related to breast feeding tools here on Modern Parenting:
23 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
Breastfeeding Guilt: The Pressure of “Breast Is Best”
These 5 Swimwear Brands Are Pregnancy and Breastfeeding-Friendly!
