Editors' Picks - Breastfeeding Essentials

In the third of my ‘newborn’ focused editor’s picks I have been looking at some of my essential products for breastfeeding. If you are going to breastfeed for the first time, it can be a little daunting. We’ll have more advice on the mechanics of the physical side of breastfeeding soon – but in the meantime I’ve been taking a look at some of the fabulous products out there to help make life a little more easy/comfortable... or just to give you a reason to treat yourself!

OK – so you’ve had your baby and you want to breastfeed. In reality, this can’t always be done behind closed doors in the privacy of your own home and whilst I am an advocate of breastfeeding and that you shouldn’t feel you need to cover up – there are many of us who want to, and feel more confident doing so.

Bibee Maternity Dress - RRP £110

I have recently discovered Bibee Maternity Clothes and what a discovery that has been. The quality is amazing and the versatility is to be honest great. Although a little pricey perhaps, you can use them throughout your pregnancy and breastfeeding days – and of course post partum when you don’t want to wear clingy clothes.

Freya Nursing Underwear - RRP £34

Who says that breastfeeding underwear has to be....well drab and dull? I love the range of maternity bras and nursing bras available from Freya and they are so comfortable. Even my husband commented on how much nicer (sexier) they are than the underwear I wore whilst nursing my two older children. Things have changed – breastfeeding bras no longer have to be white...or black! Hooray!

Cantaloop Nursing Vest - RRP £28.49

Another one of my staple must-haves whilst breastfeeding is a breast-feeding vest top. It’s so versatile and you can wear under a multitude of other tops too. I love the Cantaloop Maternity / Nursing Tank Top as you can wear it throughout pregnancy and whilst you are nursing. The material is ultra soft and the cut ultra-flattering.

Breastvest - RRP £15

One piece of advice I can give all Nursing Mums is that clothes made specifically for breastfeeding are fantastic BUT there are ‘normal’ clothes that you still want to wear and now you still can with the addition of a simple, but ingenious product called Breastvest. It is quite simply, a vest top which comes to just below your boobs. This means that you can wear any top you like, whip it up to feed yet keep your wobbly belly covered and warm. You can get back in to your favourite clothes and still feed with confidence.

MamaScarf - RRP £17.99

One of my changing bag essentials whilst breast feeding has to be a scarf or cover of some description. I loved mine for a number of reasons – yes, it allowed me to be more discreet which was especially comforting the first few times I fed in public and seemed to spend a lifetime persuading my baby to latch on correctly. I also found it useful if baby was having a dream feed in the evening but I had the light on – he was still in relative darkness and was less likely to wake. I loved my Mamascarf as it folded so small to fit into my changing bag – and always came out looking un-creased somehow – and who uses an iron if they don’t have to?

OK – so Mum now looks great – but what about the minefield of other products all promising to make it easy? I have a few firm favourites.

Mama Designs Bamboo Breast Pads - RRP £10.95

Clothes are all great but in my opinion you also need breast pads – for a number of reasons. Obviously they soak up the excess milk – wet splodges on your clothes is not flattering by any stretch of the imagination, it is down-right annoying to be honest. They also hide your nipples which tend to be far larger whilst you are nursing and darker – breast pads make this a little less noticeable. I used disposable breast pads with my first baby but with my second I discovered reuseable alternative. The Bamboo Breastpads from Mamadesigns are super super soft and very comfortable to wear. They wash easily and I was surprised at how quickly they dried. They come in a pack of 8 and include two sizes, one for the day and one for the overnight – you could also use the overnight ones if you find that your breasts are leaking and need extra security. Breast pads – you really do need these!

My breastpump and all that goes with it. For my second baby I really couldn’t have coped without this and quite frankly would have given up feeding at the drop of a hat (had I perhaps not been so stubborn and determined to do for son number 2 as I had for son number 1!). There are a number of pumps available, both manual and electric – personally I favour electric. Have a look at the difficult decisions we had to make in our Awards last year – and we have a feeling the decisions are going to be even more tricky this year!

Medela Breastfeeding Starter Kit -  RRP £24.99

Medela have just released their ‘Breastfeeding Starter Kit’ which has just arrived in my office. It’s great – literally everything you need to get you started from day 1. It is designed for the Mum who is going to express and includes.... a tube of Purelan – a feeding essential for any Mum’s nipples (and they will get a little tender at some point I assure you!); breastpads – with sticky backing that is actually sticky (believe me, they don’t all stay in place well); Pump & Save Bags (does what it says on the packet – handy little bags which can be used to store breastmilk safely in the fridge or freezer....importantly, these don’t leak!); Calma Bottles (these are fab –  and one of my essentials for my new baby. They allow for easy transition between breast and bottle and I can’t wait to try them out with my new baby); Quick Clean Microwave Bags (anything with the word ‘quick’ in it get’s my approval when you have a newborn!).

Theraline Breastfeeding Pillow - RRP £44.95

One of the best things I bought for breast feeding for using in the home was a breast feeding pillow. It wasn’t something I had bought initially but once I had one, I didn’t know how I had lived without it. In the early days, it is great for supporting your newborn, especially if you are a bit nervous and as baby gets older, it really does stop your arm from aching during what seem like hours of feeding each day. Theraline produce a maternity/nursing pillow which I really like. I can use it now as a maternity support and later as a nursing pillow. It is ultra soft meaning comfort for both myself and baby. It is large and would be difficult to transport when out and about BUT one pillow fits all for months which for me is perfect!

Aden + Anais Serenity Star - RRP £64.95

Thinking back to when I had my first baby, I was an avid breast feeder but one that quite frankly lacked sleep and had a brain which had turned to mush. Sounds daft but any tired and nursing Mum will probably understand what I mean. I wish I had discovered the Serenity Star from Aden + Anais! It is a multi-faceted ‘gadget’ which is not only useful and practical... but it looks nice in the Nursery too. It has many features but my favourite is the feeding diary – perfect for when you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t for the life of you remember which side your last feed was on! The Serenity Star is also a nightlight so again perfect for those 3am feeds when you need just a little light to guide you.

So these are my editor’s picks for products when it comes to breast feeding. There are so many products available now to help Nursing Mums – but what is important is the time and support you need when breast feeding. It’s not easy and doesn’t necessarily come naturally to either Mum nor baby. If only someone could bottle some magic to ensure that it did. However, I am pleased that I persevered through the tough times and fed both my boys – and I fully intend to do the same for my daughter when she arrives. Time will tell how successful I will be – but my advice is not to forget that there is support out there is you need it. Pop onto our Facebook Page, and we will point you in the right direction.