Breastfeeding Equipment and Devices

Breastfeeding a baby is a very personal journey for the mother. She might encounter various problems and obstacles on her way but the result is very fulfilling, rewarding and nurturing. To breastfeed the young one efficiently, a mother doesn’t need anything more than her breasts but what she does need is a good support system. A support system that allows her to nurse the baby comfortably, happily and easily. Having the right kind of equipment and devices ensures that the mother is fully prepared and ready to take on this journey in her stride. Lactation support things like lactation treats are very important but we aren’t talking about these here, what we are talking about are the things that make the mother more equipped and ready.

Many of these devices and supplies make the mother more comfortable and relaxed and others are essential if she comes across any problem or challenge on her way. As the market is flooded with breastfeeding products, gadgets and devices it's hard to decipher which one are actually beneficial and which ones should be skipped. In this article, we have compiled a list of all the essential items and equipment that will actually help you in your journey and you won't be able to imagine your life without them. We have tried to cover various stages of your breastfeeding journey and what you might need on a certain stage.

From the best milk supply booster to pumps to nipple shields, we have you covered from all the angles. So, let's dive right into the article and recommend products that will be life-changing for you.

Nursing Pillow

The initial days of the nursing are the hardest as neither the mother is used to it nor the baby. Both of them are figuring what works for each other. The first few days are also the most challenging, hectic, tiring and exhausting as well. A comfortable and supportive breastfeeding pillow plays a vital role in providing the mother vital support and lift. A nursing pillow is very effective in reducing the strain on the back, shoulders, arms and neck. The nursing pillow is also great for cradling the baby and lifting him up, in fact many mothers use the nursing pillow for this reason rather than supporting themselves.

Nursing Bra

During the course of breastfeeding, many times your breasts will feel full, heavy and even engorged. A good, supportive nursing bra is absolutely essential for making the process of latch more discreet and seamless. You can simply unhook the bra, pull down your breast and nurse. A well-fitted bra is also great for supporting the breasts and relieving the pressure off engorged breasts from the shoulder, neck and back. Choose a bra that is good at holding up but not too constraining. Too tight bra can cause plugged ducts or even mastitis. A good bra will make your breastfeeding journey very easy, pleasant and enjoyable.

Nursing Pads

Leaky breasts and breastfeeding go hand in hand, its inevitable to evade this situation. Leaky breasts often happen when you miss a nursing session, when your child is hungry or when you might have taken milk supply booster like lactation treats to increase the milk supply. When the milk leaks from the breasts, it not only ruins the clothes but also puts the mother in an embarrassing situation. This is fairly common in the initial stages of the breastfeeding journey, as both the mother and baby are developing the routine and figuring out the best times to nurse for each other. But don’t fret, we have the perfect solution to this problem which is nursing pads or breasts pads. These are super porous, disc like pads that the mother can slide under her bra to soak any leakage from the breasts. Nursing pads are lifesaver which gives all moms the freedom to wear anything with confidence.

Breasts Pump

Breast pump is an equipment that every nursing mother will swear by. It is relevant and useful at every stage of breastfeeding. The main purpose of the breast pump is to remove the breast milk from the breast but the repercussions of this act are massive on the health of not only the mother but on the little one as well. A mother can pump her milk, save it in the bottles and can go about her day, do her job or run errands without fearing that her child is hungry. Pumping milk from the breasts relieves engorgement, prevents mastitis, acts as a milk supply booster and also helps with managing the milk. There are various kinds of breasts pumps in the market, choose one according to your level of usage.

Nipple Creams, Ointments and Lotions

Every nursing mother comes across sore nipples and sensitive areolas at one time or another during her breastfeeding journey. The constant tugging and sucking on the nipples, bad latching and such motions make the breasts super sensitive, sore, cracked, dry and painful. Nipple creams, ointments and lotions revitalize the breast, provide the much needed moisture, lessens the friction and soothes the sensitive parts. There are a ton of options out there and it's difficult to choose the best one but Lanolin based creams are the most popular and effective ones.

Nursing Cover

When a mother sets to embark the journey of breastfeeding there will be many times when she would have to nurse the baby at a public place or somewhere she isn’t that comfortable. In such times, a nursing cover would be a rescuer as it will help the mother to be discreet, feel secure from the prying eyes of the people and liberate her to nurse anywhere and anytime her baby feels hungry. The other can simply wrap it around herself, over all the revealing parts of her body and make a cozy and comfortable environment for both of them.

Our Two Cents at The End

Although there are a number of more equipment and devices that can further facilitate breastfeeding like Breast shells, nipple shields, breastfeeding clothes, storage and container to store breastmilk and many more but these are a few essentials that every nursing mother must-have.