Product Spotlight: Nursing Aids

sammierose464

Posting a second since this one was requested.

All things nursing:
- Covers
-Pillows
-Lactation aids
Anything else?

KFrob

Thank you!

Anyone have suggestions or feed back on nursing covers?  With DD I thought a receiving blanket would be enough but it was annoying, and then after a week I ended EPing and not really needing a cover.  Also, what's everyone's favorite nipple cream?  

SweetSweetTooth

I have heard lots of people make their own nipple cream. I swear I save the recipe but can't find it. I know one ingredient is oil and they caution against using coconut oil as it can be an allergen thing which bums me out as I love coconut oil!

hellopartyof5

Favorite nipple cream is earth mama angel butter. The nursing cover kind of came in handy, but not enough for me to remember which one it was. 

DunkinDecaf

Lanolin for nipples.
lanisoh soothies gel pads for sore nipples. They’re incredible. Store them in the fridge.

Also this tea if anyone has supply issues. I know it sounds gross (I’m not a licorice person. So I balked at that) but it’s actully really good. Doesn’t taste like licorice at all.

Edited bc link was broken-
ugh I give up on fixing the link. Google Mother’s milk tea. It’s got a pink stripe on it.

I hated all nursing covers and pillows.

sammierose464

@DunkinDecaf the link didn't work for me

adahl311

Everything is personal preference of course, but from my experience nursing my first child: I used the boppy pillow all the time; I used an app called “baby tracker” to help track length, time between, and side of feeds; I also much preferred nursing tank tops vs nursing bras because I just didn’t like having to lift up my entire shirt and have my entire belly hanging out when I nursed, with the tank I could just unhook the top clip and the rest of my shirt stayed in place. 

sammierose464

I've registered for a "my breast friend" pillow

chopchop25

Me too @sammierose464! I've heard it's great

britvahok

The earth mama nipple creme is the best! I have 2 bobby pillows, one stays in the bedroom and one stays in the family room.

A lot of people love the milk snob nursing cover. I prefer the covered goods nursing cover because its larger and there is more stretch. I have a friend who has the $20 cover from Amazon and hasn't had any issues with it.
https://www.coveredgoods.com/
https://milksnob.com/

princessandthegator

I don't know how people survive without boppy pillows. I loved mine. Will definitely be buying a new one this go around. 

I used the glow baby app for feedings, it was super easy because i could either hit the timer once she started eating or add it it later. I also logged wet and soiled diapers in it, I found it much easire than keeping a handwritten journal. 

I really liked my boppy nursing cover. It was like an apron but had a plastic lining on the top so I could easily look down and see baby. I'm going to buy a milk snob this time around to see if I like it but I'll also get the boppy because it's old faithful. 

knottieamusements

One question on nursing pillows (either boppy or my breastfriend) - how do they work for larger sized women?  

I’ve been looking at Bobby just because it looks like it would be squishier to go around my body...  (For reference- I’m 16/18 in jeans pre-pregnancy.)

sammierose464

The breastfriend has an adjustable strap.

princessandthegator

@knottieamusements my Mom would use the boppy when she would bottle feed DD or to help put her to sleep and she's like a 16/18. I don't think it was uncomfortable for her, but she also didn't use it all the time like I did. There's also some that aren't u-shaped but are just little pillows. See if you can test drive it at BBB

Laumb11

@KFrob
I used a nursing scarf. It covered the top of my chest which is where I was most uncomfortable with showing if out at certain places. If I NEEDED to I could open it up to cover babes. Of course I have no idea where it is, so am just going to get another one. I hated the actual nursing "covers" they are a pain.

I had a boppy that I think I used more to prop him up in then to nurse. I used a small pillow I had, it fit me better. 

tinattt23

My Lactation Consultant hates the boppy. It puts baby on their back which is asking for all kinds of latch issues. First thing she tells every mom is buy a Breast Friend pillow. It should be placed high, right under your boobs, not around your waist. You want to bring baby to you, not you to baby (your back will thank you). She showed us her preferred hold with the pillow (baby on their side, hand supporting their head/neck) and it made all the difference. Pain gone. He started transferring way more milk. Weight gain picked up. Miracles. @knottieamusements  The breast friend has an adjustable strap that goes all the way around your body. It extends pretty far.

I hated all nursing covers. Can’t see crap. Baby feels hot. Older babies pull them all over and you’re constantly readjusting. I usually just went back to the car to nurse if I could. It was just easier. 

SawyerRichardson

I loved my Milk Snob covers. I have two and still use one every time we go out to eat as a high chair cover. I bought them both when they had a "seconds" sale and I can't find any defects in them at all. The only down side is the second sale is kind io a grab bag so you don't get to pick the pattern on it. I got lucky and ended up with two stripey ones. My only gripe is the neck hole is a little on the small side so it's not super easy to see baby.

I liked my Boppy a lot, but I always used it kind of angled up on whichever side I was nursing on. That way baby is sort of on an incline and I'm not bent over backwards trying to get to down to the baby's level.

I'll be interested in milk saver nipple cover things. I leaked a ton all the way until like 5 or 6 months.

Last time I used Lanolin for nipples, but I'm kind of thinking about trying Earth Mama this time. Nothing wrong with Lanolin, just heard great things about Earth Mama.

mommy2ane

I have a Boppy and to be honest, I use it more as a way to prop baby up so he/she can see type of thing. I just found the pillow to be more of a hinderance. I’ve had three different nursing cover. One was a Boppy, one a brand I can’t remember and the other an over the head one. The first two were ones draped ones that hung from my neck. They all worked fine but in the summer, I had to make sure I left a side open a little so they wouldn’t overheat if we were outside. This was mainly for my first since we were in the desert, where the regular daily temp was 117. It wasn’t nearly as bad for my daughter. For us, they were used to the cover so they didn’t tug or mess around with it as much. I’d stop nursing when they started messing with it and they figured out that if they wanted to eat, they had to leave it alone. In fact, my daughter would see the cover and get really excited since she knew it was food time! 

I used also used the Baby Tracker app with my daughter I keep track of which side and length of time since we had weight gain concerns and feeding concerns. 

pajamstagrams

So I was researching Boppy vs. My Brest Friend last night, so I'm so glad to see this thread today! My internet research was pushing me toward the MBF, is that a general consensus from the STM+ here? The Boppy pillow is way cuter so was leaning that way just for cosmetic reasons, but now I'm rethinking. I read the MBF was a pain for nursing in bed?

mariek312

Earth mama nipple cream. It'll actually help heal and in my experience lanolin doesn't. If you get a stubborn crack ask your provider about all purpose nipple ointment...it saved me! You have to find a compounding pharmacy to mix it but it's so worth it if you end up there. 

The boppy works just find once baby gets a little bigger and you're both better at nursing. I used it with a combo of pillows and survived. I don't have a MBF so can't comment. I've heard about something called the Nursie that just goes on your arm and I really want one, as that was my biggest challenge long term...arm aches behind a nursing babies head!

I leak A LOT so I'm going to try the Hakaa this time. It's a natural suction collector thing for the opposite side during a feeding and I'm hoping I can slowly collect a little freezer stash. As someone who drenched themselves overnight and during feedings, let me remind you to get some disposable nursing pads. They got me through the worst of it then I was able to switch to reusables--Bamboobies and the cotton ones at Whole Foods were my favorites. 

arome2311

I really enjoyed my boppy and had no issues with it. LO actually laid on his side, not on his back with it, so we didn’t have any latch issues in my experience. I have heard nothing but good things about my breast friend, so I don’t think you can go wrong with that one. 

I also have a milk snob cover and really like it. It was great for nursing as well as a car seat cover. I actually forgot it at daycare one day when my son was little and I guess he really wanted to cuddle with it because it smelled like me. Made my heart melt when they told me that. 

As for nipple creams, I’ve used a few random ones and they all seemed to work well for me. Mother’s love, honest company, lansinoh are the ones I remember. 

tinattt23

@jemmerjams I’ll agree MBF isn’t the smoothest to get on/off in bed. My two cents (coming from the perspective of someone who did not have a smooth time nursing), tiny babies are hardest to feed. The bigger they get, the easier the positioning gets (until they’re doing boob gymnastics, but that’s way down the line). So when DS was teeny tiny, I needed the pillow and would deal with is annoyance because it really made a huge difference. As he got bigger, it got easier to nurse half laying down/half asleep. We ditched all but a little throw pillow by about four months old anyways. Once they can hold up their own head, it’s all a lot easier. 

BabyRobbinsAdventure

Earth mama nipple butter is amazing. Not just for nips either. I still use it when DD has cracked lips or dry skin on her face, it heals skin like crazy.

Also got the licorice tea mentioned above, not sure if it actually helped or not but it was easy to drink.

I baked lactation cookies (Pinterest has many recipes!) they were tasty and in my mind I think they helped.

Have the milk snob, never really used it. I don’t like when I couldn’t see baby. It was nice to cover her car seat when we went places and she was asleep though. 

Boppy was good when I angled it. It really came in handy when DD needed propping up to see other things or doing some tummy time activities.

cdepperschmidt

I loved my boppy. I used it more to prop my arm up so i could relax and hold DS up though. I also had several covers because spit up happens.

nasalot188

Agree with @DunkinDecaf @tinattt23 nursing pillows and covers suck.

Most of the time I just used any pillow that was lying around and worked fine. 

Covers suck but i did really like my Bebe Au Lait one for when necessary. It was nice and big to cover everything and was light fabric so airy and breathable. 

sammierose464

I didn't even think of needing an extra cover for spit up...

jennybean80

I had a Boppy with my first, and a MBF twin pillow with the twins. The Boppy is much softer (like a typical pillow) and the MBF is more firm and structured which was really helpful with the twins. It was
stable enough that I could sit on the couch with both babies, get the MBF on, get one baby and latch them, and then let go of the that one and they would have enough support from the MBF for me to grab and latch on the second. Tandem nursing in the Boppy was much harder. 

norahkate

Random, but I am just sharing this here because all the BF talk made me think of this. if you have not seen it yet, it is pretty hilarious...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LURZqBig734

estellegetty

I second the covered goods covers. That thing saved my life in the beginning. Now a year and half into BFing and I’m just whipping them out all over without a care in the world LOL

tropical1982

knottieamusements said:

I’ve been looking at Bobby just because it looks like it would be squishier to go around my body...  (For reference- I’m 16/18 in jeans pre-pregnancy.)

That's my size - never had an issue with the boppy.

KFrob

Talk to me about nipple shields.  I didn't try them with DD but would like to have some on hand if trouble arises.    

krzyriver

I hated the boppy. It was too bulky and didn't fit around me. I had a Nursing Pillow pillow. I got it for free with a promo code and I loved it. I'll be buying another one.

tinattt23

@KFrob Hospital nurses gave me one. One nurse would say I needed. Next shift would say didn’t need it at all. I found it easier, so I kept using it. Then once we had weight gain issues and ended up at the Lactation consultant (2 weeks later), she told me to throw them all away. One, I didn’t need it. Two, they aren’t meant for long term use (which no one told me). They can cause clogged ducts or drop in milk supply if they don’t fit right or aren’t on right. She said they’re meant to be used under the care of an LC for a specific issue that is being addressed. But a lot of hospital nurses use them as a cure all without addressing the underlying issue. 

KFrob

@tinattt23 Interesting that the hospital just kind of throws them out there without further suggested help.  I did notice that they all say to use under the supervision of a LC or medical professional.  I didn't see a LC last time, I wish I did and plan on it this time.  

ETA so maybe I'll just wait until then, but panic at the thought of bleeding nipple again 

tinattt23

@KFrob Defintley see the LC. They’ll all tell you serious pain or bleeding is not normal. Usually a latch issue they’ll work with you to fix. 

lest12

Our LC was really helpful.  I had a hard time in the hospital with DS and they were great. 

I never could get comfortable with the boppy while nursing, but I used it with both my kids for tummy time, propping up and as they were learning to sit unassisted, so I would still recommend them.

I did not have good luck with lactation aids.  My supply was fine but our pedi made me nervous about weight gain so I tried a few.  I ended up engorged and then with mastitis... I think this is the exception, not the rule but it does happen.

This may/may not be on topic, but if you plan on pumping and putting together a milk-stash for when you go back to work (or any reason), the Lansinoh freezer bags always seemed to be the cheapest, and worked well. 

Also more pumping than nursing, but if you plan on pumping a lot, and you don't want to buy the pumping bra, you can make your own out of a sports bra... but that doesn't work quite so well when it's time to go back to work.  Then, invest in a pumping bra. 

nasalot188

I used a nipple shield with DS for the first 2 months due to inverted nipples (nothing for poor guy to latch on to). I just kept trying every now and again to go without it, and eventually he latched! 2 months seems long term, but in my case was necessary. My sister used it for 4 months...similar issue. They do get less milk with a shield, so keep that in mind. DS would feed FOREVER because of this..

KFrob

@lest12 I did the same thing with a sports bra for at home and it was great!  My vote for breast milk bags is Target brand.  They were heavier weight plastic then the name brand and I found they leaked less.  

One that note a PSA for the freezer stash.  If you have a mess of a freezer like me and end up having a bag slide out and hit the floor, double bag it since there's a high chance the original bag now has a hole in it 

sammierose464

I signed up for our hospital's breast feeding class today, it's in September. They also offer LC services after birth.

tinattt23

Along the line of what @KFrob said, when you thaw milk, but the bag in a bowl or ziplock or something. That way if it does leak, you’re not out the milk. 

cdepperschmidt

@norahkate love it!