Having breastfed Esther and William for fifteen months
And Tilda for nine
Her whole life!
I am hoping that I will be able to feed Rainbow Baby too
One of the great things about breastfeeding
Is that you do not NEED any resources or equipment
But there are some things that it is nice to have
Here are some of the things that I have used when feeding my children so far
Some of the things that I feel made a difference to our breastfeeding journey
Tommee Tippee Breast Pads
There are so many different types of breast pads available and you will need to look at them and try a few out. For me I keep returning to Tommee Tippee. These disposable breast pads come twin wrapped so they can be kept in your change bag and stay clean. They are also adhesive so they stay where you need them to stay. The pads are thin and breathable and I have always found them to be comfortable to wear. I have mine at the ready for when Rainbow Baby comes.
Medela Breast Pump
With Esther and William I had a Medela Pump in Style Advance, a double electric pump. I used it a lot while Esther and William were in hospital and it was wonderful. Easy to use, easy to clean and efficient. Once the twins were home from hospital and feeding on demand I did not have time or need to pump anymore. We had a freezer full of milk from our hospital stay. Because of this lack of time with Esther and William, we gave the pump away and we did not buy another one when Tilda came along. Now though I really wish that I had. For two reasons. The first being that I suffered mastitis twice in my early feeding journey with Tilda and it would have been great to have a pump to relieve some of the pressure and make it easier for Tilda to feed. The second reason being as feeding established Tilda favoured my left breast and I ended up incredibly lopsided. Looking back I should have expressed the milk from my right side to address the balance and to use the milk when we started weaning. So now that we are expecting our Rainbow Baby along I am going to be prepared and we are going to buy a Medela Swing. I love Medela as a brand as I love their ethos and they way that they work so hard to provide a knowledge bank and a community for breastfeeding mummies. They also support parents of preemies which is a personal passion of mine.
Theraline Nursing Cushions
This weekend I have been away at Brit Mums Live. I missed my husband and my children so much. I also missed my Theraline Maternity and Nursing Pillow. I had one of these cushions throughout my pregnancy with Tilda and have one again for Rainbow. I sleep with it every night and now I am getting bigger and heavier I will use it more to support me during the day, and once Rainbow is here, I will use it to support us both through the early long days and nights of feeding. I also have a Theraline Wynnie Feeding Cushion ready to use, to support baby as she feeds and to lay her on, on my lap, to admire her. Just as we used to do with Tilda.
Chilling Out With Wynnie
Muslin cloths
Muslins have so many uses. Bibs, swaddles, cleaning cloths, playing games of Peekaboo, nursing cover, play mat, mopping up milk … The list goes on and on. There are so many different muslins around. I would recommend having a stash of plain, cheaper ones from somewhere like Asda and then some prettier ones from somewhere like Faye and Lou, or Aden and Anais. They are a practical, multi functional product that you will not want to be without.
Bravado and Carriwell Nursing Bras
I love both of these brands. I have worn them both throughout all my pregnancies and through feeding three children, soon (I hope) to be four.
At the moment I have the Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra in black, nude, pink and red. I wear them all the time as they are just so comfortable. This is what I said about them when I was pregnant with Matilda Mae.
This bra is the most comfortable item of clothing I currently own. The material is so soft and stretchy and seems to be growing perfectly with my ever changing chest size! The bra is gentle enough to be worn all day without leaving marks or causing any discomfort. It seems to caress tender breasts and keep them safe and supported right through the night. It is really very comfortable for sleeping in which is important when pregnant and breastfeeding when you often need that extra support.
I love the fact that the bra has a low back so that when I am nursing Matilda through the summer months I can wear it with some lovely vest tops and summer dresses, and not have to sacrifice style for the practicalities of breastfeeding.
I find this bra to be very supportive of my ever enlarging shape and it also makes a great shape under my clothes.
It comes with extra padding if you feel you need a bit of oomph or nipple discretion! The pouch where the pad fits could also be used for securing a breastfeeding pad.
If you buy one of these bras I am certain that it will see you through maternity, nursing and beyond. It can be converted into a non nursing bra by removing the clips but to be honest I have not even noticed that any clips are there. This is a very well designed and made bra with great practical features for every mummy and mummy to be.
The Carriwell Maternity and Nursing range is also excellent. Pretty and practical through pregnancy and beyond. The bras are stretchy and so can grow with your changing shape but they also give great support. They are soft enough to wear day and night and come in a range of pretty styles and colours. I love the Seamless Nursing Bras and they were the bras I chose for my hospital bag with Matilda Mae. The styling of these bras is pretty enough that it does not matter if they show beneath a dress of vest top. They are lovely maternity wear and perfect for easy feeding.
Mama Jewels Breastfeeding Bracelet
Life with a new baby is busy, add other children into the mix and your days become a haze of activity. One of the things you will want to keep track of is baby’s feeds.
When Tilda was born and I had three children under two I found a breastfeeding bracelet an invaluable tool. It was pretty too. The bracelet reminded me what side Tilda needed to feed from next. When she took to only feeding from one side Tilda took the bracelet for her own and now it is in her memory box as she loved it so much. Mama Jewels has some beautiful feeding bracelets and you can also use your Count The Kicks wristband for the same purpose.
Feeding Vests
On their own or under shirts, tops and dresses a feeding vest is an essential I would say for breastfeeding. They allow you to feed discreetly without showing your belly. There are some wonderful vests around from a range of sellers including The Essential One and Babes with Babies. One of my favourites with Tilda was the Emma Jane Deluxe Feeding Vest
.
Bibee Dress
The Bibee dress is a great dress for days out and evening dos. It is a gorgeous dress with interchanging bibs so that you can change your look or swap your top if there is an accident or spillage. The dress makes a flowing flattering maternity silhouette and gives new mummies great confidence when feeding out and about. I adore my Bibee Dress and wore it all the time with Matilda Mae. I also wore it often earlier in this pregnancy. For a full review of the Bibee Dress you can go to my post here.
Activities for Toddlers
Over the next few weeks I am going to be collating ideas for preschooler busy bags. Little activities for Esther and William to tackle independently whilst I am giving Rainbow her feeds. Esther and William were so young when Tilda was born it was hard to do but this time they enjoy activities that are a challenge for them to attempt together or alone without an adult. If you search Pinterest for toddler busy bags you will find many, many wonderful ideas. Or stop back here in a few weeks time when I will be starting to share mine!
Coca Cola and Mars Bars
Ideally you will be eating a very healthy diet and drinking plenty of water but once in a while it is nice to sit down for a feed with something a little bit naughty that you really fancy. For me it was always Coca Cola and chocolate, often a Mars Bar or chocolate raisins. A little bit of what you fancy does you good and if you are happy and relaxed chances are your baby will be too. My coke and chocolate routine started when Esther and William were in NICU and is something of a tradition now. I hope one that I will get to repeat soon enough with Rainbow.
So, these are some of the bits I think will help you get the best from breastfeeding.
What would your top tips be?
For more breastfeeding tips and stories you can have a look here
Mummies Waiting
Diddle Diddle Dumpling
Mummy is a Gadget Geek
The Mummy Adventure
A Mixed Bag
I love the idea of toddler busy bags, how about those Magic Slates you can get? Once they get the hang of how to clear it, it could keep them occupied for a while.
One thing I did use was story books with tapes (well, it was a long time ago!) then T used a Fisher Price tape recorder and could quite happily put in a tape and follow along in his reading book while I was feeding W. Nowadays, I guess it would be a Cd or a video.
I’ve found with both my little nurslings that a fiddle necklace is essential once they get to be about 4 months. I have a lovely teething necklace with a safety snap on the strap for if/when Eleanor gets a little too grabby.
I wish I’d gotten a nursing pillow. I was prone to terrible posture when feeding in the early days.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and demand it repeatedly when needed, we went to a local bf clinic probably a dozen times before we finally met with a midwife who was specialised in tongue ties and we finally found out our son had it and that was the reason why he wasn’t latching! x
Toddler busy bags sound a wonderful idea!
I’m now on my 3rd Medela Swing as the 1st 2 developed faults & stopped working. They are great pumps when they work but don’t seem to have the stamina to be used as a full time replacement for breast feeding. Good luck with breastfeeding rainbow baby, I’m in awe of you for feeding Esther & William given how tiny they were & for the minor detail that there are 2 of them! There must have been many times when you felt that you were constantly feeding, you truly did an amazing job to keep going to 15 months.
Persevere – it takes time to get the hang of it. But it’s free and convenient!
Don’t try and be talked out of feeding if that is the choice you make. I think it’s a generation thing, but hubby’s nan was desperate for me to stop and was very negative about the whole thing.
Relax! and don’t be too hard on yourself xx
Have water handy- I’m always dying of thirst!
I do find breastfeeding a lot harder with a little one about wanting attention. Busy bags sound a great idea.
I found I used feeding rooms more out and about as my older child liked exploring/ being noisy and having a chat.
Read up before & during the early days
Lansinoh cream for nipples!
snacks always lots of snacks and water in the early days
Relax , Take your time, Remember the more you do it, the more Confident you will become <3
Don’t give up on a hard day.
Unfortunately I didn’t breastfeed, but my friend is due to have her baby very soon and will be
Prepare before the baby is born (e.g find sources of help and get a sling etc).
Find out about groups and breastfeeding support in your area before baby is born so you know where to go for support or just to meet other breastfeeding mothers
I currently have no tips of my own for breastfeeding. I’ve got a 12day old, and I’m struggling to breastfeed. He only takes to the right side, but even that’s a trail. But I will continue for as long as possible
My top tip for breastfeeding, keep at it, look after yourself while you are breastfeeding – so drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet! Also make sure you are sat well supported while feeding.
Take a muslin cloth for dribbles and spills!
I wish I’d sought out support for when I was trying to breastfeed all of mine – I managed each for about 10 weeks but really struggled.
I’m not pregnant or breastfeeding at the moment but a friend is expecting her first baby soon.
dont be afraid to ask for help if you need it
don’t give up 😀
Dont stress about it as if you do your milk can dry up .x
Definitely a good nursing necklace 🙂
Things I found useful were: feed me mummy breastfeeding vest, Lansinoh breast pads, button up tops, sleep bras, lots to drink and a fab hubby!
The bibee dress looks great but very costly. I’d want too many of the bibs and at between £35 and £65 each and the dress at £115 it’s not really do-able for me, especially on maternity pay!
Large muslins (for messy burps) and loose fitting tops.
Have a bottle of water – one of those with a straw, eg camelbak.
Be patient,if your baby don’t take to it straight away 🙂
My top tip for breastfeeding is to educate yourself before baby comes so you’re prepared. Forewarned is forearmed!
In my opinion, the only essential kit is breast pads, Lansinoh nipple cream and various cushions! But support and advice will keep you going through the rough times…
Have water and snacks within easy reach. Breastfeeding is hungry/thirsty work!
Just relax baby will notice if your on edge
Some breastfeeding products aren’t just gimmicks, I only breastfed my son for 4 months and regret it so much, I was much better prepared with my daughter, we on to month 5 and still going strong. I cant recommend the right bras enough!
There are so many different types of breast pads available and you will need to look at them and try a few out. disposable breast pads come twin wrapped so they can be kept in your change bag and stay clean. Things I found useful thanks for sharing