This week is World Breastfeeding Week, and some people might roll their eyes at that and ask why we need a holiday or themed week for everything. However, if you are or were a breastfeeding mom, I’m sure you get why there is a week to celebrate and recognize breastfeeding. Being a new mom is hard enough without trying to literally nourish your newborn baby with nothing but the milk coming out of your own body. It honestly blows my mind to think about.
I’m going to share a bit about my own breastfeeding journey and will also share all the products that made it possible, because having the right gear seriously helps.
I knew I wanted to give breastfeeding a shot, even though I’ve heard a wide range of experiences. I know a lot of women struggle and breastfeeding can be painful, stressful, and downright hard. We currently live in Portland, which is a very pro-breastfeeding city. At doctor’s appointments it wasn’t much of, “are you going to breastfeed” and more of, “you’re going to breastfeed, correct?” I am a firm believer that fed is best and if breastfeeding isn’t what you decide or isn’t working for your family, that is perfectly fine. You need to do what is best for you and your baby and make sure they are getting nourishment, whether it’s from you or formula.
But for me, I definitely wanted to try it. I had gotten plenty of advice in advance and also had a lot of support along the way. A lactation consultant came into my hospital room to provide help each day (multiple times if I asked) after birth, which got us started on the right foot. Part of me feels guilty for saying this, but breastfeeding actually did come very naturally to us. I didn’t have supply issues and while there was pain the first few weeks, it wasn’t anything major and it didn’t last. My daughter had a good latch and we pretty much had smooth sailing.
That being said, it’s still a lot of work! Especially in those first few weeks, you are literally breastfeeding around the clock. My daughter would nurse every two hours for about 40 minutes. This meant little sleep for me, plus exhaustion at trying to properly feed my child. The good news is, it gets easier and eventually you get to sleep again! While I spent upwards of five hours a day breastfeeding in the beginning, as Millie got older, each session could be as short as five minutes.
I did a little pumping but honestly found it much easier and more enjoyable to simply nurse. I did eventually build up a freezer stash and spent a few weeks pumping, but then the pandemic hit and Millie and I were never apart, so I dropped pumping immediately. I found pumping to be uncomfortable and time consuming (both the actual pumping, as well as the clean up of pump parts). It’s also incredibly hard to juggle a baby while pumping. Some mothers exclusively pump and I’m in awe of them, because that is some serious dedication.
My initial breastfeeding goal was to do it for at least six months. That time came and went and we were in a good rhythm. Yes, it was annoying and I was feeling ready to be done, but it was easy and if I’m being perfectly honest, a lot cheaper than formula. Had I been returning to an office, I’m sure my opinion would have been different (I really hated pumping), but since I was working from home and was with Millie so much, it actually was fairly easy to continue.
I decided to start weaning Millie when she turned one. This was an arbitrary amount of time, but I felt like it would be good for me to feel like my body was my own again for a bit. I slowly transitioned her over to whole milk, dropping a feeding a week, and by 13 months our breastfeeding experience was over. I was surprised to be a little sad about it, seeing my little girl grow up. But basically at 13 months she took her sippy cup of milk and didn’t give me a second glance. It was like she didn’t even notice she had been breastfeeding her entire life and suddenly one day stopped.
I’m glad to have had such a smooth breastfeeding experience and I’m also glad that my body feels slightly more like it belongs to me and isn’t at the beck and call of a hungry child. I also like that I know longer have to base my wardrobe on deciding if something is nursing friendly or not (sometimes I still forget I have freedom to wear whatever kind of shirt I want these days!).
While my breastfeeding experience was on the easier side, support and the right products are really important. If you plan to breastfeed or are currently breastfeeding and are struggling in any way at all, I highly recommend taking advantage of the lactation consultants available at whatever practice you visit. And if you don’t have that option, you can look into private practices to help you in your journey. I had a couple of lactation appointments that were automatically set up after Millie’s birth and I also had a postpartum doula come to our house a few times and she gave me extra guidance.
In addition to people helping and supporting you, getting the right products is incredibly important as well. Below are the items that came in handy for me and may help you as well (though every mother and experience is different!).
1. Motherlove Nipple Cream: Sorry to say it, but breastfeeding can be pretty uncomfortable. This cream helps. I recommend tossing this in your hospital bag.
2. Reusable Pads: If you experience leaking, which many women do, these reusable pads are a must.
3. My Breast Friend Pillow: Ok, so unpopular opinion, I actually did not like using a nursing pillow. I did use it a bit at the beginning but usually found a regular bed pillow to be more comfortable. However, I know I’m in the minority with this opinion, so if you do want one, this is the one I had and the one everyone recommended to me.
4. Simple Wishes Pumping Bra: Is this a cute pumping bra? Certainly not. But a pumping bra is essential if you plan to pump (otherwise you’d be stuck holding the pump for 30 minutes). This was one comfortable, easy to use, and stayed in place. I previously didn’t really understand the difference between a pumping bra and a nursing bra, but yes, both are necessary.
5. Gap Nursing Nightgown: I recommend bringing one of these to the hospital. I lived in these the first few months postpartum.
6. Lively Nursing Bras: Personally I ended up getting some cheap bras from Target and Motherhood maternity and I don’t recommend them. They were cheap for a reason. I wish I had invested in a couple of nicer bras since I did have to wear them for over a year. These are what I’d buy if I could go back in time.
7. Haakaa Pump: This little suction pump thing can be used as you are nursing your child (you use it on the side they are done nursing with). If additional milk drips out, you can catch it and freeze it (no pumping required!).
8. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags: These allow you to store your milk flat in the freezer, thus taking up less space.
9. Medela Bottles: Again, if you plan to pump, having extra bottles is helpful. These connected right onto my pump. I also recommend getting a second set of all pump parts as it will cut down on the rush to clean items between uses.
And one more bonus item to mention!
10. Blanqi Everyday Highwaist Postpartum Nursing Support Leggings: I wore these all the time while nursing. They are super high waisted and had good compression which I loved. They didn’t hold their shape too well so once my stomach got smaller they didn’t fit so great, but still totally worth it for those first few months.
If you want to read more of my thoughts on breastfeeding, here are some stories I’ve written about it for The Everymom:
How Breastfeeding Has Improved Since My Mom Had Me–And the One Thing They Had Right
Breastfeeding and Pumping: 7 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Success
