Gifts a Breast-feeding Mother-to-Be Will Want and Need

The typical American baby shower involves many gifts of bottles, bottle warmers, insulated diaper bags and pre-measured containers for formula.

While these gifts are helpful to women who choose to use formula, a recent study found that nearly 75% of new mothers are choosing to breast-feed. With the needs of new mothers changing coupled with the startling reports of BPA in baby bottles you may have the need to buy presents for a breast-feeding mother. But what does a breast-feeding mother need?

The answer is: not much! Breast-feeding is very convenient and requires very little. There are some products on the market today that make breast-feeding, particularly in public, easier on a new mother.

Almost all nursing mothers will want nursing bras. Depending on your relationship with the mother-to-be you may not be comfortable buying a bra for her. If you would like to help her get a few, you can always give her a gift certificate to Motherhood Maternity. Most of their stores have nursing bras. Even if your local store doesn't carry them, the gift certificate can be used on their Web site.

Another alternative is to buy nursing tanks. These are like regular tank tops with a built-in bra and nursing access. These are very convenient for around the house wear, and also go great under regular clothes. These can be purchased at places like Motherhood Maternity and online at retailers like GlamourMom and Motherwear. While you are shopping at these stores, you may consider purchasing nursing shirts as well.

Many nursing mothers are helped by using baby carriers. For newborns, stretchy wraps such as a Moby or Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Stretch or ring slings are most popular. These items aren't typically carried in chain baby stores, so you may have to go to a specialty shop or buy them online.

Some nursing mothers may experience soreness or discomfort when first learning to nurse. While there are several brands of ointments and salves available today, most lactation consultants recommend using a pure lanolin topical treatment such as Lansinoh brand. This is sold as most drug stores. You may also consider breast pads for leaking. If you are crafty, you can sew some of these up yourself using these directions. I recommend reusable pads, as the paper ones can be uncomfortable.

While nursing mothers are encouraged to eat a normal, healthy diet there are a few foods known to promote lactation. Fenugreek tea or Mother's Milk Tea is available in health food stores and now many grocery stores. Oatmeal and licorice are supposed to boost supply too. To have fun with this, you can bake some oatmeal cookies or include licorice candy in a gift basket.

There are a few good books available for breast-feeding mothers. The most popular is The Womanly Art of Breast-feeding which is updated and released by La Leche League. If you can locate the contact information to local LLL leaders or lactation consultants you could write this information on a handmade book mark.

The best gift you can give any mother or mother-to-be is your time and love. After the baby is born offer to bring her meals or do a load of laundry. Encourage her if she is feeling down. Remember, you are the best gift!