If you choose to breastfeed your baby, then there are a number of bits and pieces of equipment that can help make the process a little easier. We’ve rounded up some of the basics that you might want to invest in.
A good maternity bra
When you’re breastfeeding you’re going to need good quality supportive and easily accessible maternity bra. There are a number of reasons that your usual ones might not cut it. For instance, most maternity bras don’t have underwire, as this can press on your milk ducts and potentially cause irritation or even swelling.
As your breast size has probably increased, you want good support to give you the best chance of maintaining the look and feel of your breast tissue. Many women decide to look at uplifts or breast implant revision after they have finished feeding.
Last but not least, breastfeeding bras have handy clips that let you easily feed your baby without having to struggle to move your bra out of the way or take it off.
Breast pads
Your breasts are going to leak from time to time. You don’t want to have to keep changing your clothes so the answer is breast pads. These are just shaped pads that slip into your bra and can be changed as and when you need to. You can buy disposable pads fairly cheaply, or there are a lot of great reusable ones on the market too. These are often made of bamboo or another soft material that can be washed and used over and over. These are better value over time and also mean that you’re not adding to landfills.
Nipple cream
In the early days of breastfeeding, you’re going to be a little sore. After all, it’s a new experience and you and your body need to get used to it. Many people recommend using a little breast milk to soothe cracked and chapped nipples, but if that doesn’t work, then there are a lot of great creams and balms on the market that can help you.
Breast pump
A good quality breast pump is a great addition to any breastfeeding routine. You might be building up a frozen stash of milk for the future in case you’re ill or need to leave your baby with someone. There are so many different ones to choose from. You can choose a manual one, an electric, single, double. You can even get breast pumps that are completely portable and fit inside your bra while you go about your day. They can take a little getting used to but once you get the hang of it, the entire process will be easier and quicker.
Takeaways
One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that you don’t need a lot of specialist equipment to do it. But it is well worth investing in a few pieces that can make breastfeeding more comfortable and convenient for you. Everyone will get into their own rhythm eventually and know what works for them.