Top First-time Mom Breastfeeding Essentials – Things You Really need

Having a comfy nursing bra is an absolute necessity if you are planning to breastfeed. It took me a while until I found the perfect nursing bra that would fit my requirements. You need easy access to your boobs and comfort, especially if you’re nursing on demand.
The most amazing part is that you can also sleep with it, which is always a bonus!

Make sure that you load up on breast pads, and these are going to be your best friend for the next three months or so. Why so long? In this period, your body is still adjusting the milk flow according to your baby’s needs.
You’ll also notice that when your baby starts crying, your boobs will immediately begin to leak. Fascinating, how our bodies work.

It’s up to you whether you decide to use disposable or reusable breast pads. However, I do believe that it would be best to use reusable ones.

Unfortunately, I used the disposable ones when I breastfed, about three years ago, so I didn’t know that reusable breast pads even existed.

I was one of those lucky breastfeeding moms who didn’t have severe nipple pains or other breastfeeding issues. I guess my baby was gentle with my boobs.

However, my nipples were a bit sore and sensitive a few times. That’s when I used the Lansinoh Nipple Cream, and it instantly felt better. As little, as I used it, it was perfect for me. What’s even better about this cream is that you don’t have to rinse your boob before a feed.

Probably, the only downside to this nipple cream is that it stains your clothes. So, if you don’t want to spoil your clothes, you have to use either a breast pad or cotton pad in between your bra and nipple.

I bought the Multi-Mam Compresses only in case I needed them, but luckily I never got the chance. Nonetheless, I wanted to add it to this list in case someone else needs it.

Many breastfeeding mommies who are experiencing pain while breastfeeding, cracked nipples, or even bleeding are recommending this product.

So if you are a first-time mommy and don’t know how breastfeeding will affect your boobs, I would suggest buying a pack of these compresses to have them on hand. You never know when you might need intensive nipple treatment.

I had to mention these swaddle blankets from Aden + Anais; they are my favorites. I think every single person on the internet recommends them! 

That’s because they are of fantastic quality and extremely versatile! I love using them as a nursing cover, hence why I mentioned them here. 

It would be best if you continuously had something like this. These blankets last for an extended period, and you can use them for literally anything such as a:

• blanket
• cover – cot, buggy
• nursing cover
• scarf for yourself 🙂 

I used the Medela Swing Electric breast pump, and I loved it so much! It helped me so many times, and I am forever thankful to whoever invented the electric breast pump. My husband bought it for me when I was still in the hospital and struggling with hand expression and massages.

Once I started using this bad boy, everything started flowing. It also helped me get through the nursing strike when my 3-month-old baby has decided to stop nursing suddenly.

It’s portable and easy to use. I never ran out of batteries, and it comes with a cable, too, so you can plug it in whenever you need to.

You should also know that the pump already comes with a few breastmilk storage bags. Make sure you load up on them if you are planning to pump and bottle feed.

If you haven’t bought anything bottle feeding-related, consider purchasing a whole starter set.

Because I wanted to both breastfeed and bottle feed, I fancied something that wouldn’t create nipple confusion. So I found out that Closer to Nature from Tomme Tippee is an excellent choice. Ensure that the bottle teats are slow flow, especially for newborns.

If you were to purchase all these separately, it would be a bit more expensive, at least that’s what happened in my case because I didn’t know these sets existed.

Not sure if you would need a bottle warmer, but it’s good to have for convenience. I didn’t own one, and it was just fine.

I wanted to use glass bottles only because glass is healthier than plastic, especially when it comes to warm food.

I went for NUK Glass Bottles with latex teats. Supposedly the latex teats are similar to the nipple.

We wasted money because we didn’t use it. So if you are on a tight budget, definitely wait a bit longer.