My Top 15 Breastfeeding Essentials
- Brainz Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Written by Amy Spofford, Pre & Postnatal Coach
Amy Spofford is well-versed in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and mom life. She is the founder of Eat What Feels Good, LLC, a platform promoting healthy preparation for and healing from birth so new moms can enjoy their little ones.
Breastfeeding is hard in many ways. There's the time commitment, physical discomforts, supply management, milk storage, latching logistics, and the list goes on. In this article, I want to share the top 15 things that made breastfeeding possible for ME. The first five items are more logistical and situational advantages, while the next 10 are physical items.
Circumstantial privileges
Though I like to think I have good taste in husbands, there are factors that impacted my breastfeeding journey that were influenced by dynamics out of my full control. These are the indirect, intangible things that allowed me to pursue my dedication to breastfeeding uninhibited by a lack of support or funds. I want to mention these things because naming gadgets that were helpful feels emptier without acknowledging the bigger picture factors that made the whole process possible. I also want to validate those who may not have the privileges I did, because without the following circumstances in place, I may not have been able to continue my breastfeeding journey. Pumping counts as breastfeeding, so I will be referring to both direct feeding from the breast as well as pumping in this list.
1. A supportive partner
My husband was able to take time off due to having six weeks of paid paternity leave, courtesy of his company. He took one month off after the baby was born and then the other two weeks around the holidays. Being able to have four weeks of support from him in early postpartum made the whole process easier on me. He would change the baby in the night and bring them to me in bed so I could feed. He took turns with infant care when I was exclusively pumping. He filled my water, heated up food, did laundry, and cleaned the house. He parented right alongside me. This item is number one for good reason.
2. Health insurance
This may largely apply to the United States, where I live, but my insurance company covered the full cost of a regular plug-in breast pump or half the cost of a portable pump during the two pregnancies in which I was eligible, sparing me a large chunk of the financial burden of pumping breastmilk. If you are in the U.S., your insurance company will likely have a similar program.
3. Someone to hand down supplies and advice
This could be a sister, friend, mother, cousin, neighbor, aunt, coworker, or otherwise. Whomever you have in your life who has been there and can lend support and supplies, please take them up on their offers to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for hand-me-downs and tips, but keep in mind that each person’s situation is unique, and what worked or didn’t for them may not apply to you. If you are short on support people, joining a virtual or in-person breastfeeding support group can be helpful.
4. Strategic spending
Finances impact everything in postpartum, from the supplies you can afford to the time off work you can take. There are many ways to maximize the funds you do have, like by getting second-hand baby contraptions and clothes, which are often very gently used at a small fraction of the price (or even free)! While breastfeeding itself is not “free,” as some people like to claim, you do not need to be rich to breastfeed if you are discerning about what needs to be spent vs. what is frivolous. Asking your friends, family, and local community social media pages for hand-me-downs will save you tons. People are often giving away gently used breastfeeding garments and unused breastmilk storage bags. Most breast pumps are closed systems, meaning that no milk goes through the actual machinery or tubing. This also means you can hand down those pumps without fear of milk contamination. You can always buy replacement tubing and flanges while still getting the machine for cheap or free.
5. Access to a lactation consultant
If you are having your baby in a hospital, there will likely be lactation consultants on staff to assist you with early feeding challenges. Some pediatricians' offices have lactation consultants on staff as well. Otherwise, you can do an online search for professionals in your area. Lactation consultants can help you and your baby establish a productive latch and give you tips on managing milk supply. These professionals can be a game-changer for your breastfeeding journey.
The physical items
6. A portable breast pump
If you are exclusively pumping, a portable pump is a lifesaver. Exclusive pumpers and working moms are attached to a pump so often that it becomes impractical to be perpetually tethered to a wall plug. It’s vital to be able to move around and get things done during those times, so the flexibility of a portable pump is a major asset. I did dishes, put on makeup, typed on my computer, mingled with the crowd at parties, and even drove while pumping. If you don't need it to be portable, it will be cheaper or fully covered by insurance; just remember that it means you will be connected to a wall outlet any time you need to pump.
7. Handheld/Manual breast pump(s)
There are several brands that make handheld silicone pumps that suction to the breast. I used these for catching extra milk on one side while feeding from the other, and for managing engorgement and preventing or relieving clogged ducts. There are also manual breast pumps from which you extract milk by squeezing a lever by hand, allowing for stronger suction, quicker pumping, more complete emptying, and more effective relief of clogged ducts. I found both extremely helpful.
8. A nipple shield
Breastfeeders use this device to compensate for flat, inverted, or very sore nipples while feeding. It provides a protruded prosthetic of sorts for a flat or inverted nipple, allowing the baby to latch. Over time, the nipple will often start to protrude from suction, and the baby will improve their ability to latch. Once this happens, the hope is that the shield won’t be needed, but some use them long-term. Even when I didn’t need it for protrusion, at times I used one as a physical barrier to protect my irritated skin from further abrasion during feeding.
9. Nipple cream
I ended up using a prescription cream to soothe sore, dry, cracked, and bleeding nipples between feedings. It worked very well to relieve pain by accelerating healing, allowing feeding to continue when otherwise I would have wanted to give up. Since my cream was medication, it was recommended that I wipe it off before the next feeding. If using organic creams or natural substances, though, that is not required.
10. Nursing bras, tank tops, and breastfeeding garments
Clothing items designed for breastfeeding and pumping usually have clips right near the armpit or folds in the fabric so they can easily be pulled down for feeding. Bras and tanks with clips can be reclipped around a pump flange for easy pumping as well. They make feeding and pumping easier and more discreet, especially when on the go. While breastfeeding covers are available for purchase, covering up is not mandatory or necessary. Feeding a baby is not something that must be hidden, though I encourage mothers to do what feels comfortable to them.
11. Breast pads
I used two versions of breast pads to soak up milk leaks and thus prevent leaking through my clothes. I used disposable ones for when I was out and about, and washable cloth ones for when I was at home, which are less wasteful.
12. An app to track feedings
With seemingly constant feedings in those early days, it is difficult to keep track in our heads of which side we started on last feeding and how long ago it was. I found it helpful to keep track of feedings in the first few weeks, for my own comfort and for the baby’s benefit as well. If the baby is getting bottles, other caregivers can log feedings as well. These smartphone apps can also track diaper changes, which is a method of knowing that the baby is getting enough milk. It also ensures their safety, as wetting diapers is an essential marker of a newborn’s overall health.
13. Cold compresses
These, along with massage and other strategies, can relieve clogs in milk ducts and prevent mastitis infections. When I was going through frequently clogged ducts, I received the advice that warm compresses could be helpful to loosen up the clogs. I found this to be true for me, but more recent research on this topic has shown that cold compresses work better, especially to prevent and relieve mastitis. They can reduce inflammation, whereas a warm compress could contribute to it. You can purchase compresses that can be either warmed or put in the fridge, as they are often multipurpose. It is recommended to defer to the advice of your lactation consultant or physician if you are experiencing clogged ducts or mastitis symptoms so they can consider your specific situation and provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations.
14. A nightlight
A dim nightlight can be helpful for nighttime feeding sessions. It’s nice to be able to avoid turning on bright lights in the night so you and your baby can go back to sleep quickly, and to avoid disturbing anyone else sleeping in the room with you.
15. Breastmilk storage items
I’m referring to designated bags for freezing milk and an extra freezer to hold it all. This applies to those who have enough of a milk supply to allow for storage, and who plan to need it for when the baby is away from mom or for after mom weans. If you won’t use an extra freezer for meat or other storage in the future, it might not be worth it. Also, if you don’t know whether you will be pumping or have the supply to need the freezer space, I would wait until you know these things. You will have time to decide after your breastfeeding relationship and supply are established. Having breastmilk storage bags on hand is a good idea either way.
Everyone is on their own journey
Breastfeeding was very important to me. I am an advocate for exploring options and avenues for making it work if that is what the mother wants. I also advocate for doing what's right for you and your family when other things take priority over breastfeeding. If discontinuing breastfeeding or choosing formula from the beginning is what’s right for you, I give my full support and respect. I believe that a fed child is what is most important, and there are too many factors at play to impose expectations for new moms on how they should and shouldn’t feed their babies. Blanket advice in this arena can be unhelpful and can even come off as shaming, so I try to remind new moms that you must choose what works for you in the end. While no two women will share the same experience, I have found that learning from the stories of others may help us confirm or deny what we want for ourselves.
Note: You must research and determine if it is safe (and legal) for you to pump while driving. This is not advice. I personally had a 45-minute commute to work while I was exclusively pumping, and that, plus my schedule, made it a necessity of life. I made sure my seatbelt still fit securely while I drove with the pump on (it required configuring the tubes to make sure of this). There is also a risk that you could get injured by the pump if you were in an accident, and you could place yourself and others at risk if trying to connect or disconnect bottles and tubes while driving. I did this in the safest way I could, setting up and dismantling only while parked. Check your local laws; there are none in my area prohibiting pumping while driving.
Read more from Amy Spofford
Amy Spofford, Pre & Postnatal Coach
Amy Spofford is a Pre & Postnatal Coach, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and a mom of three little ones. Practicing as a speech-language pathologist in a nursing home rehab setting during a pandemic made pregnancy and early parenthood beyond difficult. Amy used her holistic nutrition certification and research skills to dive deep into all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, thinking there has to be a better way to navigate this season of life. This led to her becoming certified as a Pre & Postnatal coach. Her mission is to reduce the incidence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders by providing education and support to pregnant women through their transition into postpartum.
