Breastfeeding Essentials List

Breastfeeding - there are a million and one opinions on what works, what's best, what helps increase milk supply, and and and and and... It's quite frankly overwhelming and frustrating with all the opinions people have with breastfeeding. This list is not going to preach about what you need to be the ultimate queen of breastfeeding, what it will do is attempt to give you a list of products that make the whole thing more comfortable, less daunting and more approachable. It's certainly not the easiest thing to do, and requires commitment, time and effort. The below products have made things a little easier, and I hope they help you too, everything is linked below:

• Nursing Pads - for leaking milk
• Lanisoh Nipple Cream - to keep nipples nice and soft
• A basket to keep all your go-to breastfeeding items by your bed (KEY!)
• Tons of water!
• Supplements - the ones commonly recommended are Upsring Milkflow, Motherlove More Milk Plus, Organic India: Moringa
• Lactation Tea: Organic Mother's Milk
• Breast Pump - the two I highly recommend are the Madela Symphony (hospital grade, and can be rented directly from a pharmacy) and the Spectre S1 Plus - which is also an electric pump but has the added benefit of an internal battery, making it portable. The Madela is pretty heavy to carry around, so if you do intend to do lots of pumping on the go, I'd recommend the Spectre over the Madela
• Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bra - this allows you to pump, and still do other things - total game-changer 
• Nursing Bras
• Milk Freezer Storage Bags (if you're planning on pumping and storing)
• Lanisoh Therapearl - if your breasts become super full (or engorged) you simply put these into the microwave and put them on your breast for instant relief
• Night dress - key for breastfeeding, to allow seamless opening and closing
• Silver Nipple Shields - available on Amazon, and really help to soothe sore or cracked nipples
• Haakaa pump - this is an amazing, low-cost gadget made out of 100% Silicone which essentially catches all the milk that would otherwise get wasted when you're breastfeeding on one side. So, how does it work? When one breast is stimulated, the other naturally starts to produce milk and so it would ordinary leak out if there is no baby nursing on that side, but the Haakaa simply sticks on to the breast you're not feeding on, and catches all the leaking milk, without you having to pump or do anything at all. Sounds pretty magical - and it really is.