Nursing Essentials I Couldn't Live Without

Nursing my first daughter did not come easy.  It was a very long and hard few months in the beginning.  You can read more about my breastfeeding story with Emma (and a yummy lactation cookie recipe) here, but in a nutshell, we struggled.  She couldn't figure out how to latch properly on one side and I was left in a lot of pain.  Once we made it through it, we were able to breastfeed until she was 14 months old!  We only stopped because I found out I was pregnant with our second daughter and it was becoming uncomfortable for me.  It was such a bittersweet moment when we stopped.  Now I get to experience it all over again with Charlotte!

Emma 2014

Charlotte 2015

I've listed some of my favorite must-have items for all you nursing moms out there.  Some of these I had when I was nursing Emma and helped make things easier and some items, I wish I had when I was breastfeeding the first time.  I hope they come in handy for you too!

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Camelbak- I know they tell you how important it is to drink a lot of water, but it is much easier said than done.  This was the only way I knew how much I was drinking and helped me drink more throughout the day.  It's so easy to take everywhere, that Michael and both girls have one now too. 

Premama Lactation Support- This is something that I didn't have or know about with Emma.  I didn't have any problem producing with her, so I never did the research.  Charlotte has been different and I've had to work harder on my milk supply.  I started drinking this and have noticed a decent increase in just a few days.  I will say that I did experience one of the side effects of Fenugreek, which was more annoying for me than anything.  I would still recommend trying if you are needing a boost.

Motherhood Maternity Nursing tank- I still live in these nursing camisoles! They snap down from the top and are so convenient for those middle of the night feedings. 

Medela Lanolin Nipple Cream- I can't begin to tell you about the pain I experienced when nursing Emma.  This is what I used to help with the soreness and cracked nipples and it worked great.  I would air dry after nursing and then put a little expressed breast-milk first, then apply this cream! Honestly, you can't go wrong with any brand and if you want something natural, you can always go with coconut oil. (Be sure to consult with your pediatrician before using coconut oil)

Lansinoh Hot or Cold Breast Therapy- I don't know what I would have done without these.  My breasts were so sore all the time and these helped tremendously.  I would pretty much go to bed with them every single night!

Medela Advanced On the Go Breast Pump-  This pump has been great.  It has been through a lot with both girls.  After maternity leave, I went back to work (until Emma was 5 months old and we decided I would stay at home full-time) and pumped at work.  It's not very quiet like some others I've seen, but the quality is amazing and you won't need another pump!

FirstYear app- This app was such a lifesaver!  Being a first time mommy, I was a little OCD with everything that I did and this helped keep me sane.  I was able to keep a log of everything Emma did and when she did it.  It helped us develop a consistent schedule.  There are a lot of apps out there, but this was my favorite and very user-friendly.

Other things I found helpful:

a breastfeeding station like the one here
a nursing pillow like the Boppy

Lansinoh nursing pads
 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NURSING ESSENTIALS?

Don't forget that most breastfeeding supplies are Tax Deductible and check with your insurance company about a FREE breast pump!