Key Supplies for Breastfeeding Your Baby
Chances are you have one of two expectations about breastfeeding: that it’s going to be blissful and natural, or that it’s going to be fraught with difficulty. The reality usually falls somewhere in the middle.
Most parents need some instruction when it comes to breastfeeding -- and it’s helpful to get practical guidance both before and after birth. The biggest thing to know is that breastfeeding should not be painful -- the key is finding a good latch. Sometimes, a pro needs to watch your baby nurse and give you pointers on what to look for and how it should feel.
No matter where you plan to deliver, we highly recommend taking a breastfeeding class before your baby arrives and preparing yourself with the right supplies.
Here are a few Key Supplies to Have BEFORE Birth:
Nursing Pillow: The Boppy is incredibly popular for good reason. You’ll want to bring this to the hospital or to your birthing suite so someone can help you with positioning in the first hours of your baby’s life.
Soothing Nipple Butter and Silicone Gel Pads: Even if your baby is a champion latcher, you’re likely going to have some rawness for the first week or two. Nipple butter and silicone gel pads help soothe cracks.
Nursing Clothing: While optional, nursing tanks are nice because they provide easy access without showing a ton of skin or forcing you to strip off layers. This makes them helpful for feeding in public. You might also want some kind of cover for public feeding, but that’s personal preference.
Breast Pump: Your insurance has to cover a breast pump, but if you’re going to do a lot of pumping, you might want to buy a higher-quality one. You can also rent a hospital-grade pump from CB&W, which is a boon if you need to do a lot of pumping in the lead-up to going back to work. Think about a hand pump, too. This is especially helpful during the first few days when you’re likely to experience some engorgement.
Bottles: If you’re going to eventually want your child to take some milk from a bottle (if, say, you have to go back to work), your lactation consultant will likely recommend giving the first bottle after around week three or four. Breastfeeding is then well-established, but your baby will still be open to a plastic nipple. Some babies are picky about shape and some aren’t. You may want to get a couple of different types of bottles to test and then buy sets of those that your baby likes the most. Or, get bottles that go with your breast pump.
At Colorado Birth and Wellness, we're here to support you on your breastfeeding journey! We have a weekly feeding class on Wednesdays 10am at our Lowry location well as an incredible lactation consultant.
Breastfeeding is an incredible journey! You’ve got this!
Want to birth with us? Come tour of Colorado Birth & Wellness and connect with us!
