Nursing Essentials?

egraves4 · January 2016

What all do you and don't you need for nursing?

I've got my lanolin (although I've heard more natural nipple butters are better?), nursing pads (disposable and washable), nursing cover, breast pump, boppy, two nursing bras that can be worn overnight plus I am getting my favorite bra converted to a nursing bra, and I have a nursing nightgown that I can wear at night...

But other than that, I was looking at shirts and tanks online and it seems like they are really freaking expensive. Is it possible to get away with regular tanks and shirts as long as I'm using the nursing cover when I'm in public? Or is it more for convenience to have the ones that are more boob accessible? Don't really feel like wasting my money...

petere · January 2016

I always wore regular shirts but did like the easy of my nursing tank tops

other than that I think your covered

Latina211508 · January 2016

I have also wore regular clothes when I nursed. Just pull them down or up lol. I also never bought nursing bras or tank. Just wore a regular bra, regular bra tanks or sports bras. I have my electric pump (I produce a lot). Nipple cream and pads.

Aussiechicka · January 2016

The only other thing I might suggest is something hubby got me in my stocking for Xmas - they are called booby tubes and they can either go in the freezer or microwave and they are for helping with engorgement or mastitis. When my milk came in the cold was amazing! https://earthmamaangelbaby.com/products/booby-tubes

charliegoldengirl · January 2016

They are expensive but I loved (love!) my undercover mama nursing tank. It attaches to any nursing bra. I had one with my first and wore it probably 5 days a week. It's held up well given how often I wore/washed it. I'll break it out again once this baby is born and add it to the two new ones I got for Christmas.

Ju111310 · January 2016

I liked the washable nursing pads best, sleep bras were a must. I think the nipple creams vary a lot on personal preference. I tried some of the Earth Mama's natural nipple butter but hated the smell and beadiness. I preferred medela lanolin. Hopefully your hospital will give some samples to try.

These lanisoh breast therapy packs were the best thing I purchased for nursing! When my boobs were sore at the beginning of nursing, I kept a pair in the freezer at all times and cycled them out. Later I used them warm while pumping or anytime I got a plugged/sore duct. I'll try to attach a pic.

I almost never wore my nursing tanks in public. They were more for lounging at the house with sweat pants and no bra. I just wore regular shirts with a regular spaghetti strap tank underneath and a nursing bra so I could pull shirt up and tank down to nurse without exposing much skin.

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

I've always preferred the $1.99 Camis from Forever21 to nursing tanks! Super easy to just pull down and so cheap that I don't feel bad stretching them out. Although, the ones that I have have made it through three pregnancies and nursing two babies for a year, so they actually don't stretch out of shape that easily! Haha.

With my first two, I bought cabbage and put leaves in my bra when my milk came in. I found some lanisoh ice packs specifically for breasts on clearance a few months back and bought them, so I'll try those this time around. But honestly, the cabbage leaves from the fridge are so soothing and easy to replace once they start to warm up that I wouldn't be surprised if I run to the store to grab some again!

egraves4 · January 2016

charliegoldengirl said:
They are expensive but I loved (love!) my undercover mama nursing tank. It attaches to any nursing bra. I had one with my first and wore it probably 5 days a week. It's held up well given how often I wore/washed it. I'll break it out again once this baby is born and add it to the two new ones I got for Christmas.

They're honestly not much more expensive than any of the other tanks I've been looking at, thank you!

Achae · January 2016

My hospital was recommending coconut oil for sore nipples so I'm trying that. I liked the lanolin last time and so far I don't like how non-greasy the coconut is, but if it will work I'm willing to try it out. Will be going on day 2 of nursing this one and it hurts, they say he's latched properly so hopefully with time it eases up!
And I say this as I type in my nursing sleep bra. So stretchy and comfy

I also just wear regular shirts and pull up or down as needed with a nursing cami or bra underneath.

egraves4 · January 2016

So should I definitely invest in something like these?

Ju111310 · January 2016

These are the ones I used last time and loved so much! But I might grab a pack of those soothies too, they look nice.

Shatzegirl · January 2016

I loved my Brestfriend with my son. It's similar to a Boppy but I felt more supportive because it straps around your waist.

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

Ju111310 said:
These are the ones I used last time and loved so much! But I might grab a pack of those soothies too, they look nice.

Yay! This is what I have, I think. Glad you like em.

OP, I also have a boppy and mybrestfriend, and preferred a regular old bed pillow to both:/ just thought I'd throw it out there - don't stress if you don't have every perfect thing. You might not have needed it anyway!

egraves4 · January 2016

I got my boppy for free so it's not the end of the world if I don't like it anyway!

heatherlemieux · January 2016

I agree with the pricey nursing clothing but I think a tank would be a good investment because that makes any too more friendly for nursing as you can just lift your shirt and still be covered. I got one for 15$ I think at target. They didn't have a huge selection but the price point was good for me!

VitaLuna · January 2016

Snacks!!! Seriously, I was starving all the time in the early weeks. As soon as I had letdown, I felt like I was suddenly going to die of hunger and thirst simultaneously.

I used EMAB nipple butter. I've also heard good things about Motherlove. I was told to avoid lanolin ones.

For shirts, I did like some others and wore a nursing bra, regular spaghetti strap cami (from Costco) and regular shirt. When I needed to nurse, I pulled the cami and nursing bra down, top shirt up, and not a sliver of skin can be seen by judgmental eyes. I never used a cover with that method, and sometimes people were so oblivious that I was nursing that they'd come up to coo at the baby and only realize i was nursing after they were standing right smack above me.

I had one of the two sided boppy pillows and hated it. I just used a regular bed pillow.

Shatzegirl · January 2016

Also: Always keep water next to you. I'd always get so thirsty when I'd nurse my son. I loved Mambino nursing balm, as well.

twinmom1121 · January 2016

egraves4 said:

So should I definitely invest in something like these?

I was going to suggest these!! They help a lot in the first weeks when you are sore, cracked or bleeding. Put them in the freezer before you use them and they feel so good.

twinmom1121 · January 2016

Also I never used any type of nursing clothing besides a nursing bra. I just always used a cover in front of ppl and lifted up my shirt.

Mamacat316 · January 2016

The great thing about nursing is you don't need a bunch of stuff (although I feel like some people look for opportunities to buy a lot of equipment because...they like shopping? It makes them feel more prepared?). Breastpads for the first few weeks, coconut oil for sore nips, two or three nursing bras should do it!

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

egraves4 said:
I got my boppy for free so it's not the end of the world if I don't like it anyway!

Me too haha. Most people love em!

I'll second snacks and drinks, too. Especially with my first I was just ravenous as soon as I sat down! I'm thankful for this thread - I'm definitely remembering things I'd forgotten.

I'll throw this one out there, too. I have a forceful letdown, and both my kids had to stop for a minute when they were really little until it slowed down. I always had a little stack of burp rags (old cloth diapers for us) to put over my breast as soon as they unlatched. Otherwise it was milk all over their face and my clothes! Eventually, as they got bigger, it wasn't a problem.

Lindsaym5! · January 2016

Costco has the best tank tops that are really stretchy. They are regular tanks but really cheap and good quality. Kirklands brand. I have like 50.

Shatzegirl · January 2016

MississippiCatfish said:

egraves4 said:
I got my boppy for free so it's not the end of the world if I don't like it anyway!
Me too haha. Most people love em!

I'll second snacks and drinks, too. Especially with my first I was just ravenous as soon as I sat down! I'm thankful for this thread - I'm definitely remembering things I'd forgotten.

I'll throw this one out there, too. I have a forceful letdown, and both my kids had to stop for a minute when they were really little until it slowed down. I always had a little stack of burp rags (old cloth diapers for us) to put over my breast as soon as they unlatched. Otherwise it was milk all over their face and my clothes! Eventually, as they got bigger, it wasn't a problem.

I had forgotten about keeping burp cloths and rags on hand for that. I'd put towel, etc. under my son's head when he'd nurse because milk would leak out of his nose! I'd just wash the towel instead of having to wash the Brestfriend cover constantly and/or have it saturate the foam underneath.

egraves4 · January 2016

I didn't really buy too too many burp rags, should I buy more? Lol. I maybe have 8 tops.

Achae · January 2016

egraves4 said:
I didn't really buy too too many burp rags, should I buy more? Lol. I maybe have 8 tops.

I always used swaddle cloths as my burp rags! Larger and multi function!

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

Achae said:

I didn't really buy too too many burp rags, should I buy more? Lol. I maybe have 8 tops.
I always used swaddle cloths as my burp rags! Larger and multi function!

Yeah, I wouldn't rush out to the store or anything. You'll find things to use in the meantime if you need more.

Monkeybutt80 · January 2016

I keep a bunch of burp clothes around the house. I usually put one over the breastfeeding pillow/ under the baby's face and then one in hand in case of quick let downs or spraying. I use these and I love them - cheap and very soft and absorbent
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-Flatfold-Cloth-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1453913924&sr=1-1&keywords=gerber+cloth+diapers

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/zm/2d9qgl49qbod.jpg

Soon2bStaff · January 2016

Tons of great suggestions from PP. You will definitely find your routine with nursing.. it's just one of those things you have to do to have experience and finds what works for you. This is what we did the first two weeks (the time DH was able to take off work). Once DH went back to work, and my milk was coming in fine without heating and cooling, some parts of this were cut out!

With DD, I would prep to nurse. By no means am I an expert, but I had a great experience my first few weeks with nursing, even through the soreness (yes, it's very sore while your milk is coming in and your nipples are building up the tolerance for a hungry baby!)

First, I grabbed two wash clothes (I used these over the soothies just to save on costs and they worked just as good - I used four wash clothes total. The other two are at the end.), got them wet, and put them in the microwave. I would fill up my water bottle (always have and drink water while you are nursing), grab the wash clothes, and go pee (random but the last thing you want is to have to pee while your baby is nursing. lol also, you might experience PP contractions while nursing and depending on your delivery, you don't want to pee your pants. This also helps make heating your boobs timeable.) While I'm doing all that, DH is changing DD and then offers his pinky finger (nail-side down) while I'm finishing. Usually not too long but that does help with getting your baby's tongue down and practices good sucking position. DD never had latch or tongue issues but still something we threw into the "routine". DD never took a pacifier either, just to add.

I would sit down, unlatch my nursing tank top from target (liked those over Walmart), with my water, boppy, burp cloth (gerber cloth diapers like @monkeybutt80 said and aden and anias type swaddle clothes (thin but works for everything) or like a flannel receiving blanket... DD had reflux pretty bad so I would catch her throw up in whatever I could.. just had to be big enough), snacks (for sure), controller/phone, and nurse. I used an app called "Baby Tracker" to record diapers, sleep, and nursing. I also used a nursing pad on the side that DD wasn't eating from. I would leak but I never bought those milk-saver things. Fast forward to when DD was done - put nipple cream on (I liked medela better but lansinoh was fine too), put a nursing pads on, and then let DH burp (if still needed) while I grabbed the two other wash clothes from the freezer to ice my boobs. Sometimes I would ice before cream/pads but it was whatever I was feeling at that time.

Wow, that turned into a novel! Good luck!

AdventureMama · January 2016

egraves4 said:

So should I definitely invest in something like these?

Oh my gosh, if you buy ANYTHING make it these. Huge freaking lifesaver. Keep them in the fridge and they feel amaaaaaazing.

Katty422 · January 2016

My brestfriend pillow, lanolin cream, it is like chapstick for your breast, nursing bras, and pump are the essentials from what gathered at my nursing class.
Oh and disposable pads

Cheryl Renee · January 2016

Thanks for starting this thread! I had a very difficult time nursing with my first baby, so even though I have experience, I'm basically starting new this time! Its good to read what everyone else is doing. I had a nursing cami that I loved wearing around the house and I'll be using that again. I found out I was allergic to the disposable breast pads, so just be conscious of that, in case you have to swap to washable ones. This time I just have a big stash of washable ones. I agree with everyone about keeping water and snacks nearby. I tried to time it where I didn't have to nurse in public, however, this time I had my mom make me an awesome nursing cover thats like a poncho so it covers great! I've already bought one nursing bra and two sleep ones, but I plan on buying at least one more. As for nursing clothing, I don't think its really necessary, just pull up or down and use a cover if you are out.

egraves4 · January 2016

I got this awesome nursing cover off amazon. It's really light and stretchy and it doubles as a car seat cover and shopping cart cover. I'm obsessed with it!! I know someone mentioned they got theirs from Milk Snob, I'm pretty sure it's the exact same thing just a different brand.

mrsc12414 · January 2016

@egraves4 what brand is the cover ? I would like to look it up on Amazon and purchase . Thanks

egraves4 · January 2016

@mrsc12414 The brand I got was Copper Pearl but apparently they are sold out (on both Amazon and their website). If you go to milksnob.com you can get basically the same thing plus they have a lot of really cute patterns to choose from!!

mrsc12414 · January 2016

Awesome thank you @egraves4

dotharyk · January 2016

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posted here!

CountryAir13 · January 2016

I think everything was pretty much covered. The only thing I didn't see mentioned was silicone nursing pads. I had a pair when I nursed DS and they were great. They basically suction themselves to you and are reusable for 2 months. I leaked a lot so they pretty much eliminated that issue.

trishkev07 · January 2016

Wow, that turned into a novel! Good luck!

Thanks for the novel! I copied and pasted your entire post on my "preparing for baby checklist/things to remember"

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