There are a few key things to consider once you’ve decided to be a nursing mom. Most breastfeeding moms know that they should have a breast pump on hand, but few think about the comfort level of breastfeeding or even the level of vitamins their breast milk has. It’s important to think about what’s best for the baby and mom during nursing, and the products that help make your breastfeeding journey successful. Today I’m sharing the 5 must-have nursing items for moms that will provide comfort, peace of mind on the freshness and nutritional value of breast milk, and help you enjoy this time in motherhood.
5 Must-Have Nursing Items for Moms + MilkStrip Kit Giveaway!
Nursing Pads
I can’t stress this enough! As your baby starts nursing regularly, your milk supply will increase. Your breasts work on supply and demand. A good nursing pad will help minimize any leakage of breast milk onto your clothes.
Your nursing pads are great for comfort, too! Some nursing moms buy nursing pads along with a natural baby-safe lotion to protect their nipples after each nursing session. I normally buy disposable nursing pads but you are now able to get reusable ones that are more eco-friendly.
Breastfeeding Pillow
A breastfeeding pillow will be shaped to go around your body so that your baby may lie comfortably on your lap as your nurse. During daytime breastfeeding sessions, you’ll be sitting on the couch or in a chair. This position needs some support to help reduce your chances of slouching while trying to feed your baby.
A quality breastfeeding pillow will give your baby enough support to nurse without much effort on your part. A breastfeeding pillow will make nursing time comfortable for baby and mom.
Breastfeeding Clothes
Many nursing moms continue to wear their maternity clothes while nursing. These clothes are larger with room to breastfeed, but you should opt for some breastfeeding clothes. Shirts made for nursing moms have an easy-to-access pocket that you can open without showing your full breast when you have to nurse out in public or at family gatherings.
Breastfeeding clothes come in many shapes and sizes. The clothing options for nursing moms have come a long way over the years, and most make you look & feel fabulous during this stage in motherhood.
Breast Pump
Breast pumps are a must for when you want to store extra breast milk for later feedings, but sometimes your insurance will cover the costs associated with an electric breast pump from the hospital, and sometimes it won’t. You’ll want to call your health insurance company to see if they have any options to help with the cost of a breast pump. If they don’t, you can purchase a breast pump online at pretty reasonable discount prices.
Another option is to start using a hand breast pump. This is where you’ll manually pump your breastmilk in between nursings to keep your milk supply stable.
MilkStrip kit
Whether you plan on exclusively breastfeeding or do a combination of breastfeeding and pumping, MilkStrip Expiration and Vitamin C test kits are something that I wish I had with my two other babies.
When my son was born (more than 12 years ago) I read that pumped breast milk could stay outside for about 1 hour before going bad. Five years ago, when I had my daughter, that fact also changed. Fast forward to today and the information on how long breast milk stays fresh for has changed yet again. This can be quite confusing for first-time moms, and is why I really like MilkStrip. It is a great way to reduce wasted milk due to freshness uncertainty and can also ensure you’re feeding your baby the right amount of vitamin C to help nourish their growing bodies! The MilkStrip mobile app is so easy to use, just dip the strip, scan with the mobile app and get quick analysis and tips.
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These are just some of the must-have nursing items for moms that I feel confident every new breastfeeding mom should have. Using these products will help you feel more relaxed and comfortable as you breastfeed your new baby.
Do you pump in addition to nursing? Check out the giveaway below on how you can enter to win a MilkStrip Expiration or Vitamin C kit. I will be picking five winners!
Follow MilkStrip on Instagram at @Milk_Strip to stay up to date on all of their products!
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