Breastfeeding provides a lot of benefits to your baby. Aside from supplying all the nutrients needed by your little one, it also provides bonus antibodies for extra immunity for your baby. A lot of studies show that breastfed babies experience lesser sick days because of the antibodies they get from their mother’s milk.
This is the main reason why a lot of women opt to breastfeed their babies from day one. Since breastfeeding is not really an easy task, mothers need some supplies and gear to make their breastfeeding journey a lot better. Here are the basics you need to prepare if you’re planning to breastfeed your baby.
Nursing Bras
Wearing regular bras might not be comfortable at all when you’re a breastfeeding mom since your breast gets filled up with milk all throughout the day. A good nursing bra is what you’ll need to provide that extra support as well as easy access to the goods anytime your baby is hungry. Nursing bras are non-restrictive and are easy to maneuver when feeding. Invest in a lot of these as one of your breastfeeding clothes essentials if you’ve decided to breastfeed.
Nursing Pads
It’s natural for milk to leak out every now and then when it’s coming in. To prepare for these, you’ll need some nursing pads to absorb the leaks and prevent them from leaking through your shirt. Simply wear these pads inside your nursing bra for extra coverage. You can opt for disposable or washable ones, whichever is convenient for you.
Nursing Pillow
Breastfeeding takes a long time and it would be straining to the back if you just hold your baby while feeding. A nursing pillow will help you support your little one while feeding so you don’t easily get tired while breastfeeding. A good nursing pillow helps hold your baby at just the right height for feeding, giving your arm some time to relax a little.
Warm and Cold Compress
Having a warm and cold compress helps a lot during breastfeeding. A warm compress helps in proper milk flow so you won’t have clogged ducts. It also helps promote milk letdown, making it a perfect companion while breastfeeding. After nursing, you can apply a cold compress to your breasts to relieve the swelling of the milk ducts.
Breast Pump
If you’re a busy or working mom and you need someone to look after your baby while you work, you can still provide your baby with the goodness of breast milk even when you’re away. A breast pump helps you pump out your milk and stock it in the fridge so others can feed your baby with all-natural breast milk. You can choose from manual or electric pumps. However, the electric types are really convenient to use and also pump faster than the manual type.
You could still add some items that you think you might need when breastfeeding. However, be sure to have all those supplies ready before your baby comes for a more convenient breastfeeding experience.
