Breastfeeding Must-Haves for your Baby Registry

Putting together your baby registry is fun, exciting, and well......a little stressful. Not stressful because it is hard, but stressful because you don't want to miss things you'll need! Everyone has their own opinion about items that worked or didn't work for them, so where do you even start??

Start with Necessities:

1. Nursing bras- Yes, get them!
2. Nursing-friendly attire- You need easy access to the boob. There's no doubt about that. Think about robes, nightgowns, nursing tops, etc. Dedicate some time to thinking about YOU and your comfort. Your baby will go through phases of wanting to nurse every hour, don't make it harder than it needs to be.
3. Breast pads- They have disposable or reusable/washable ones. Do whatever you prefer. The reusable ones are much softer and more comfortable in my opinion, but I like the convenience of just throwing them away sometimes. DO NOT skip breast pads please. I will never forget showing up to my baby's 3-day checkup, with my dress saturated and sopping from leaking so much. So embarrassing, save yourself.
4. Nipple cream- There are a million choices out there. I went with Lanolin, but have heard great things about the other organic ones like Earth Mama as well.
5. A GOOD breast pump- There will be a time and a place where you just have to pump. For whatever reason. Invest in a good electric pump, whether it be hands-free or regular. Reliable and effective is what matters.
6. A manual breast pump- I personally like to be prepared for disaster. What if my typical pump for some reason has died on me or I cannot use it?? A manual pump is a great way to have a back-up plan in case you cannot use your go-to electric pump and are away from your baby. You can release some milk in the car, on-the-go, and there's minimal hassle. Better to be safe than sorry!
7. Breastmilk storage bags- Well, you gotta have something to store any pumped milk in, right?? The bags are cheap and space-saving in comparison to the storage bottles.

Other Nursing Items to Consider:

1. Nursing pillow-  The Boppy, My Brest Friend, Momcozy....there are lots of options. I had a C-section and hated having anything around my incision, so I never used my nursing pillow. But other people swear by them!
2. Haakaa breast pump- This is awesome for catching your let-down milk from the opposite side that your baby is nursing on. It is a cool way to start a milk stash too! Otherwise, feel free to just use a towel/rag, or cup to catch the falling milk. Totally your call. Sometimes I was too lazy to use it to be honest, but I do see the perk of it.
3. Nursing covers- These are good to invest in if you know you will have company and don't prefer nursing in front of the crowd. Some people don't care, others just go to another room. You do you!
4. Hot/cold breast packs- Not necessity, but can be nice. Heat them if you're promoting your milk, freeze them if you're weaning or trying to stop your oversupply. They can definitely be handy.
5. Breast massager- I used this, multiple times. This is great for clogged ducts. Turn it on and put it on your affected breast tissue. It helps break up the clogs. Pair this with manual hand massage and heat, especially a hot shower!
6. Hands-free pump- There are many brands, the Elvie, Willow, etc. Many women purchase these as their primary electric pump. You are not tied down next to an outlet for 30min, and can walk around and do something while simultaneously pumping. Definitely convenient!
7. Bottles- Even if you are planning to exclusively breastfeed, I find it important to always have a back-up plan. What if something happens to you and you have to be in the hospital? Your baby still needs to eat. Having bottles on deck helps keep you prepared for anything.
8. Milk warmer- Again, even if you are stictly breastfeeding, there may be a time and place when the bottle gets used. You can use the hot water method to heat your milk, it's just not highly recommended.  This is simply another "convenience" item that you can put on your registry if you would like.

There you have it! I hope you find this helpful while you are nesting and baby-planning! x0x0