All things breastfeeding

Top recs from your new mom friend 🫶

Everyone loves to talk about how hard breastfeeding is. Because, well, it can be difficult! And time consuming. And tiring. BUT. It can also be really wonderful! And I feel like that part isn't talked about enough. I breastfed my first for a year and after those first few weeks of figuring it out, found that I really loved it. It was the sweetest time, just him and me. And I found I loved it just as much, if not more with the second and third, since my 1:1 time was more limited with older kiddos running around.

So if you're nervous about whether you'll be able to breastfeed or not, just go in knowing this: you'll try everything you can to make it work and ultimately you'll do what is best for you and your baby. And no matter the outcome, breastmilk or formula, or some combination of both, you are an AMAZING mom. Anyone who says otherwise can kick rocks.

If you do end up breastfeeding, here are some items I have found helpful. And if you end up formula feeding, I'm working on a post about formula/combo feeding.

Breastfeeding items.

• Nipple cream - it may be a little painful at the beginning, this will help prevent cracking. Try to use after every feed if you can. Would recommend getting a few so you can leave them in the various places you may be nursing.

  • For a little self-care, I always rubbed any extra on my cuticles and you can use it as a lip balm too

  • Sounds weird but your nipples will toughen up after a month or so and you won’t need to use it as often. FWIW, with my second and third I didn't need to use it beyond the hospital.

• Disposable breast pads - you will go through these like hotcakes! Especially in the beginning

  • Washable version - these are my preference

• Soothing gel pads- I used these a lot the first week! Super relieving.

• Haakaa breast pump - this is amazing and helped me ease into pumping. Basically you put it on the boob the baby isn’t nursing on and it will “pump” all by itself. Every bit helps to build the “milk stash” so others can help out with feeding. This is a daily item for me when breastfeeding!

• Button down shirts and jammies (all about the easy access!)

• Sleeping nursing bras -you basically want something soft and stretchy. It's Bodily also has some I tried with baby #2 and loved, but they are pricier for sure.

• I also set up a nursing cart and it has been awesome - video here. Highly recommend so you have all the things organized and in reach. I got a cart with wheels so it’s mobile but I keep mine in the nursery since that’s where I feed baby most often.

  • All the baby care things go here so I can fix her up (nails, nose, ears, hair, etc) while seated comfortably

BF routine (newborn).

When you sit down to breastfeed, make sure you’re comfortable and have everything you need in arms reach. In the early days, I liked to have:

• Big glass of water

• Snack (breastfeeding makes me so hungry!)

• Breastfeeding pillow

• Nipple cream/butter for afterwards

• Haakaa (if using)

• Phone if you’re using an app like Huckleberry to track the feed

  • I also read a lot of books on my phone during those middle of the night feeds. It helped give me something to do and kept me awake.

For the new breastfeeding mama: this is the most natural thing in the world but like anything, it takes time to get used to. Give yourself grace. It’s not always easy and in the early days it takes up pretty much all of your time. It will get better. If you’re nervous about your supply, drink a ton of water and sleep as much as you can (lolz!). I’ve read that eating/drinking certain things (oatmeal, coconut water, etc.) and/or taking supplements isn’t likely to make a huge difference, but everyone is different! Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your supply or want to try any supplements. You can also add in pumping sessions to signal to your body to produce more milk - highly recommend Karrie Locher’s IG highlights for more tips. Here's one on low supply that I watched when I was nervous in those early days with my first. And you can, and should, absolutely supplement without guilt if you have concerns about baby getting enough. Now that I've been through this journey three times, if I EVER have a concern I will supplement with formula if nothing else, to remove that nagging question from the back of my mind.

BF routine (4 months onwards).

• 7am feed - I use the Haakaa during the first feed of the day to help build up my milk stash. I find I typically get a few oz (2-5 oz) and still have enough milk for little man to eat too.

  • I put the Haakaa on the side he’s not nursing and do this on the first side only

  • I also use our Vitamin D drops during this feed. It’s easier for me to remember if I do it consistently at the same time every day. Our pediatrician gave us ours - ask yours for a recommendation!

• For all other feeds, my routine is pretty much the same. Baby nurses on one side, which at 5 months took us about 6-8 minutes. I give a quick burp break (1 minute) and usually let them stand up in my lap during this time, which seems to help. Then we do the other side, give him another minute to burp, and we’re done!

  • Moms on Call likes to call the first side the “entree” and the second side “dessert” meaning it’s okay if baby doesn’t want it every single time. Well, much like their mama, these babies have never declined dessert a day in his life. So, all in all it takes us about 15 minutes for a feed these days.

  • I do my best to alternate which side I start on every time but don’t drive myself too crazy about it. Yes, my boobs are slightly uneven and yes, I am okay with that.

  • I stopped tracking feeds with all three babies around 3 months when I was confident they were gaining well and I was getting more sleep so I just didn't need the reminder on side anymore

My favorite pumping items. Yes, pumping is breastfeeding too! I really did not enjoy pumping with my first and didn't do it often but found my groove with my second with the help of these items.

• Legendairy Milk silicone nipple ruler - this is something I wish I'd gotten right away. Most pumps only come with 1 or 2 standard flange sizes - the part that goes directly on your boob. And spoiler alert, nipples literally come in all sizes. WTF. How could they think two is enough!? I had no idea, I just thought I hated pumping or was really bad at it. Once I got this ruler thing and figured out the correct size of inserts to get (below), I was off to the races!

  • Legendairy Milk flange insert - after I took my measurement with the ruler, I got two sets of these just to make sure I had a good fit. Made a HUGE difference in my pumping experience.

• Legendairy Milk pumping spray - I personally think this makes pumping much more comfortable! Helps get a good seal for the insert to the flange, also.

  • I have since seen that coconut oil can be a good dupe for these types of sprays but haven't tried it!

• As always, my girl who doesn't know she's my girl Karrie Locher has the best tips. She's the one I learned about flange sizes and Legendairy Milk from, aka my pumping savior.

• I have the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and an Elvie as well to have a wireless option. I used a discount code for 15% the Elvie - check around for one before buying!

Breastmilk storage tips. Be sure to check out the CDC guidelines for safely storing breastmilk. It feels like a lot to remember at first but you’ll get the hang of it! Get your partner involved too so you're in it together.

• Fresh breastmilk can stay at room temp for 4 hours. If it’s not consumed by then, label it and put it in the refrigerator, ideally towards the back / away from the door. It can stay in your refrigerator for 4 days.

• If it’s not consumed within 4 days, move it to your freezer. It can stay in your freezer for a year but using it sooner (by 6 months) is better to get all of the nutrients!

  • Lay the milk bag down flat until frozen, it will be easier to thaw this way vs. if you leave it standing up

  • If you know right away it’s not going to be consumed within 4 days, put it into the freezer immediately - it will preserve all the good stuff better!

• I love these bags to store breastmilk, especially if it’s going in the freezer

• There are several ways to warm up breastmilk. I like to put a metal bowl in my sink and let warm water run over the bottle (with a lid on it) or freezer bag for a few minutes. Don’t use hot water and DO NOT microwave it. There are also bottle warmers you can get if you are planning to do a lot of bottles - my sister lent me this one for baby #3 and it's super easy to use.

  • Some babies are fine with cold milk right from the refrigerator

  • If you’re seeing fat separation in the milk (normal!), you can shake it up to redistribute

  • If baby doesn’t take the whole bottle, DO NOT THROW IT AWAY! I would just put it right back in the fridge and use it again, although the CDC says not to do that since it could introduce bacteria from baby's mouth into the bottle. I kinda feel like that is overkill so I do it anyway... You do you.

    • Even if it’s spoiled or you left it out accidentally overnight you can save breastmilk and pour it into baby's bath. It supposedly works wonders for their skin.

General breastfeeding tips.

• If you’re spending time outside in the heat, you may find baby seems hungrier more often. Breastmilk is their hydration too! So if we’re at the pool or went to the park that day, I don’t hold back on the snacks. Both of my boys were literally always hungry again at mealtime even if they had a snack 2 hours ago. No idea where they got that from! ;)

• I always have a few light swaddles or receiving blankets with me in case I need to discreetly feed in public. I typically prefer more privacy since both of my boys loved to pop off, look around, "talk" to me in the middle of feeds, but there have been a few times it’s just easier to feed baby right then and there. Everyone has their own comfort level with this - do what works for you and do not let anyone shame you for feeding your baby! This is LITERALLY what boobs are for!!!

• Your body makes the most milk in the wee hours of the morning so the first few months if you’re nervous about your supply, this can be a good time to wake up and pump. Everyone is different but I personally did not do this. It took some time but by about 3 months my body got used to the feeding schedule. And using the Haakaa every day told my body to keep making that amount of milk, so I'd always be able to store a little bit each day.

  • There were some times around 2 months with my first when I felt like I was pretty empty by the end of the day (when milk production is the lowest) and Tripp still seemed hungry so we’d supplement with a bottle of pumped milk after he nursed.

  • Breastmilk is produced on demand - keep putting the baby at the breast or pumping, and that tells your body to keep making more of it. Be patient and don’t be afraid to supplement with a bottle if you need to!

  • I think a lot of women get nervous about their supply when breastfeeding because there's really no way to measure how much baby is eating. The important thing is that you're getting enough wet diapers and baby is gaining weight. But if you're still concerned or questioning if baby is getting enough, try supplementing with a bottle after you breastfeed - either pumped milk or formula. If nothing else, this may just put you at ease to know if baby is still hungry or just fussy.

    • For some reason it can feel like your options are either breastfeed OR formula. You can literally do whatever you want. Breastfeed in the morning and at night, formula for those middle of the day feeds. Breastfeed and then top off with formula. You get the idea. Go in with an open mind and see what happens!

• With both boys we introduced a bottle early on just to make sure they would take one. For a while Ricky gave the bedtime bottle every single night and that was awesome too. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!!!

Bottom line: stick with it if it’s important to you to BF and after the first few weeks you’ll be a pro. And there is absolutely zero shame if it does not work out either. You're a beautiful mom no matter what.

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will be compensated if you click through and take action. These are all items that I purchased with my own money, or was gifted from my registry, so please know I am only recommending things I truly use.