The Best Supplies for Breastfeeding Mothers

Most people know that you will need many items if you are going to be a bottlefeeding family. But most people don't know that you also need several items if you are going to be a breastfeeding mom. I asked several breastfeeding mothers, as well as remembered back to my favorite breastfeeding supplies, to compile the following list of the best supplies for breastfeeding mothers.

Nursing Pillow- Many women will swear by a nursing pillow. There are many out there on the market but the most popular seems to the Boppy pillow. The Boppy nursing pillow is a "C" shaped pillow that a breastfeeding mother would place around their wasit and use it to prop up your baby while they are breastfeeding. For my first two daughters I just used simply pillows off of my bed. With my third daughter I ended up with a Boppy pillow but never really could get the hang of using it. It is a wonderful pillow but not great for the plus sized breastfeeding mothers. Any pillow at all will come in handy for any breastfeeding mother. Pillows can help you hold up your newborn when you are too tired to do it and can help you position your little one just right for feeding.

Lanolin- Lanolin has come in handy for many, many breastfeeding mothers. It is perfect for dry and cracked nipples in those early days of breastfeeding. One of the most popular companies for lanolin is Lansinoh. This is the brand that I used in those early days of breastfeeding. All you do it apply it to the nipples and let it soothe the dryness and cracks. You don't even have to wash it off when your baby feeds.

Cooling Breast Pads- Cooling breast pads have to be one of the most fantastic inventions for a breastfeeding mother. They are very useful in soothing sore nipples and can even help with the pain of engorgement. Soothies are one of the most popular brand of cooling breast pads. You simply insert them into your bra and they are held in just the right place to soothe your sore and sensitive breasts.

Nursing Bra- A good supportive nursing bra is almost a necessity when it comes to breastfeeding. As you may know, all women will go up at least one bra size when they are breastfeeding. Therefore, it is necessary to get just the right size nursing bra. A bra that is too tight can cause pain, clogged milk ducts and could possibly lead to a serious breast infection. I don't suggest even buying a nursing bra until your baby is born and your milk has come in. It's probably not the most opportune time to be bra shopping but it is the safest time to buy a new nursing bra and ensure that you don't get a bra that is too small for your new physique. You should have several good nursing bras and possibly even a night bra if you need the support at night. Most breasfeeding mothers will have to deal with leakage so having more than one bra will ensure that you still have one to wear when you finally get the chance to wash the milk stains off of the other one.

Nursing Pads- Nursing pads are another important supply for breastfeeding mothers. Most breastfeeding mothers will have a problem with leakage at one point or another. Usually in the early weeks when your milk supply is overabundant and trying to adjust to the demands of your baby, There are a few types to consider when searching for just the right nursing pad for you. Disposable nursing pads are the most popular these days. They are found in any store that sells baby supplies. I've used the Gerber brand and they are very easy to use. They are basically like a maxipad only in the shape of circles. They are placed in your nursing bra and will soak up any milk leakage that you have while you are wearing them. You simply throw them away when they are full. A draw back is that they don't breath very well and can cause troubles for you sensitive nipples. Cloth nursing pads are another option for breastfeeding mothers. These are easily found online and in some baby stores. Cloth nursing pads are great for breathability and all you have to do is throw them into your washing machine when they are saturated. A drawback for cloth is that for women who have a heavy leaking problem you may need more than one set of cloth nursing pads at a time. If you are looking for something a little different then maybe try a product called Lilypadz. These are very unique nursing pads. These nursing pads basically just block the flow of milk rather than absorbing the milk that leaks out.

Breast Pump- You are probably thinking "Why a breast pump if I'm breastfeeding?". There are many reasons that a breastfeeding mother might find a breast pump useful. If you are planning to go back to work then you can pump during your work day in order to still be able to give your baby the milk they need when you are away from them. If you are a breastfeeding mother who does not plan to go to work you may enjoy having a breast pump handy in order to leave the baby with your husband when you need to go out for a little while. If you are like me and neither of the above apply to you, then you may just enjoy having a breast pump to relive engorgement or to even create your very own freezer stash of breastmilk for "just in case".

Milk Storage Bags- If you are a pumping mom then you will need something to store your expressed breast milk in. Bottles are ok but they take up a lot of space in the freezer and cost a little too much just to use for freezing. My favorite milk storage bags are the ones from Gerber. The Gerber Seal 'n Go milk storage bags are the easiest bags to use. They stand up on their own to make it easy for you to pour your milk into them. They have liquid measurements right on the bag so that you will always know how much breastmilk is in each bag and they have an easy zipper closure at the top. When you lay them flat in your freezer you will be saving tons of space over bottles.

Burp Clothes- Whether you use a towel, a cloth diaper or just a small receiving blanket, something to use as a burp cloth is necessary for any breastfeeding mother. There will be many times where milk will be freely flowing and not into your baby's mouth. I had an overabundant supply with all three of my daughters so I know how important having something handy to wipe up spilled milk is.

Rest and Fluids- While these are not exactly "supplies", they are important parts to being a successful breastfeeding mother. It takes a lot out of a woman's body to fulfill the nutritional needs of your newborn. To be sure that your body is strong enough to keep up with the supply and demand of breastfeeding you will need to get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try to always have a big bottle of water by your side at any given time. Especially when you are sitting down for a feeding session with your baby.

I am sure that there are many other favorite breastfeeding supplies out there. These are just a few of the ones that were continually being repeated by the breastfeeding mothers that I spoke with and many of the supplies that I used myself. Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing that you are doing for your child/children so why not get a few supplies to make it easier on yourself.