My Favorite Nursing Gear: WBW, post 5

There are few things I love looking at more than baby gear.  I think it's an illness or an addiction, or maybe it's because that's the phase of life I'm in.  Either way, I've definitely got a list of favorites when it comes to nursing gear.

From a purist's perspective, all you really need is mommy and baby.  That's the beauty of nursing.  If a storm hits and you're out of power for days at a time, as long as you're with your baby, you have no need of anything besides diapers.   

But many of us are on-the-go, so some of the items on this list are geared towards on-the-go moms, or they simply make nursing more comfortable.

Boppy:  It should come as no surprise that the Boppy tops my list of must-haves.  These things are awesome.  My mom frequently comments on all the great baby items we have now (I think she envies my super cool cloth diapers).  But the item she loves the most is the Boppy.  They're a must have, even if you don't plan on nursing, because they make it much easier to hold the baby.  A Boppy will also assist those younger family members in holding the baby without fear.  They're great for propping up baby before she can sit up on her own.  Be sure to get two slipcovers.  It's inevitable that the Boppy will be baptized with spit up at some point, so you want to be prepared. 

Nursing Cover:  Bebe Au Lait and other companies are making the cutest nursing covers.  They make it very convenient to nurse in public without fear of the baby yanking down a blanket or burp cloth and exposing mom.  I never nursed in very public places, but I used mine all the time at Bible study, at friends' houses, in the car, or in a sitting area of a women's dressing room at the mall.  Most nursing covers are made with boning at the top, making it easy to peek in on baby.  They often have a small pocket in the corner that can hold nursing pads.  These pockets are usually made of terry cloth so they can also wipe baby's mouth when he's finished nursing.

Ointment:  To avoid or treat chapping, use a lanolin ointment.  All of the ointments can vary in consistency, so my personal favorite is Lansinoh because it is so thick.  I was also advised to use it for Isabelle's chapped lips when she was just a few days old.  This stuff is wonderful and one tube can last quite a while.  I've also read that plain old breastmilk can work wonders too, but this was always my favorite.

Nursing Pads:  I also loved Lansinoh's nursing pads.  I tried every brand out there and decided these are my favorites because they're very discreet.  They're individually wrapped, which is nice for tucking into the diaper bag, but not so fun to fumble with at 3 am.  I often used a cheaper brand of pads, without wrapping, to keep on my end table for nighttime feedings.  Along the same lines, you must have nursing bras and maybe a nursing tank or two.  I know these truly are nursing essentials, but I didn't feel like blogging about under garments.

Gimble:  OK, so this isn't really a nursing necessity, but I loved mine.  My husband picked one up for me at the bookstore in town because he had watched me read and nurse for the previous 8 months.  I'm sure he noticed that at times I had to put something on the edge of the book to weigh it down so that I could read "hands free."  The Gimble, a simple plastic hook, fixes all of that (the package comes with two plastic hooks of different sizes, to fit various books).  I'm an avid reader, so I loved it.  Damian earned mega brownie points when he brought that home for me.  It's what I call a perfect "Gabby Gift."  Gabby Gifts always involve reading or cooking. 

A Good Breastfeeding Book:  My personal favorite is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.  I borrowed it from a friend.  Siri came over one evening to bring us breakfast for the next day and see the baby, and I immediately dumped on her with all of our nursing issues.  She called her mom, a former La Leche League Leader, who talked me through some issues and was supportive of our efforts to get rid of the nursing shield.  Siri then ran home to get her nursing book, which I read avidly.  It will answer every question you have and more.  After reading most of the chapers (at least twice), I felt like an expert. 

Breast Pump:  If you're going to pump, you'll want a really good quality breast pump.  Don't skimp or cut corners.  I hear it really makes a difference.  It might be good to borrow one from a friend instead.  Another option for buying a good pump at a cheap price is ebay.  Nursing often doesn't work out for moms, but they've already invested in a $300 pump that's been used twice.  They sell their barely used pumps on ebay for great prices.  Only the horns, valves, and milk storage items actually touch the milk, and you can sanitize these easily.  You could also just buy a replacement package of accessories and you'll still save a ton of money.  Be sure to do your homework so you know what you're buying.  The newer pumps have BPA-free components.  My pump was given to me by my sister-in-law, and it's a very good quality Medela pump.  I didn't think I'd really need it, since I don't work outside of the home, but it really came in handy when we were having our nursing issues.  I've already decided that if my pump ever goes out, I'll buy one from ebay. 

You may also want to get a hand pump.  I rarely gave Isabelle a bottle, but I found it made car trips easier, since she was a slow nurser.  I sat in the backseat of the car and gave her a bottle, and we'd pull over to burp her and change her diaper.  Then I would use the hand pump to make another bottle and maintain milk supply.  Some hospitals give out hand pumps in the new mommy bag, which is how I ended up with several of them.  My sister-in-law received them at Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, so she gave them to me when she was done with them. 

Bottles:  I was really hesitant to give Isabelle a bottle because we had worked so hard to get her to nurse.  Breastflow bottles relieved some of my fears.  These bottles mimic the nursing process more than any other bottle.  With a typical bottle, the baby just needs to suck to get milk.  With Breastflow bottles, a baby must suck and compress it with his tongue, just like nursing.  I loved these bottles and found that the four pack was more than I needed, since I rarely gave Isabelle a bottle.  To me, bottles are too much of a hassle. 

SNS (Supplemental Nursing System):  These aren't exactly a must-have either, but they can come in handy if you have to supplement in any way and you want to avoid giving a bottle.  If you have a real nursing problem, like I did, then an SNS can be a life saver.  Mine is still sitting in a box in the closet, since it arrived in the mail after we'd resolved all of our nursing issues.  But I have it for next time, or to loan out to any mom who might need it.

My favorite website for answering every imaginable nursing question is Kellymom.  Kelly is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), so you can be sure that her ideas and thoughts are well-researched and intelligent.  My husband discovered this site when we were troubleshooting our nursing issues, and it was extremely helpful.  Kelly's opinions lined up completely with those of my La Leche League leader and my breastfeeding book.  I still prefer a good breastfeeding book because after having a baby (and having a c-section), the last thing I wanted to do was sit at the computer to look up info. 

Is there anything I've forgotten?  What are your favorite nursing items?  I hope you've enjoyed the World Breastfeeding Week posts.  I've loved the feedback I've received from many of you.  Thanks for reading and discussing with me!