BABY

My Baby Feeding Essentials

08.12.2019

There were so many things I wasn’t quite prepared for when I became a mom. Even with the classes, discussions with other expecting parents and friends, and reading all the books, I still was overwhelmed by some of the challenges I faced when I had my first baby! It’s amazing how something that millions upon millions of women go through can feel so lonely sometimes. However, I have found so much support through family and friends and this community I’ve found through The Autumn Girl and I hope some of my tips will help some of you.

Today I’m excited to partner with Walmart in honor of Breastfeeding Awareness month to talk about my favorite feeding products as well as my nursing journey!

First, I will say that I am a firm believer in #FedIsBest and you do whatever you need to do to feed your baby. Nursing is such a personal thing and at the end of the day, all that matters is you do what you need to for your family! I’m a pretty modest person when it comes to my body and was very anxious about breastfeeding. It just didn’t feel natural and definitely not beautiful to me. It felt awkward. I was fortunate that both my babies figured it out pretty easily but with my first, I was totally lost in so many ways and my supply suffered. I spoke with a lactation consultant who helped me get back on track but I didn’t feel good about myself at the time. With my second, I felt much more comfortable doing it but still didn’t love it. I made it to 4 months with some extra to last me a month longer!

I decided to wean when I did so I could be on my best game for both my kids (and me!). There was no way I could be out and about feeding a baby while trying to manage a toddler at the same time. Now my daughter is on a mixture of formula/breastmilk and even trying her first solids too! I feel happy and proud of where we are.

Here are my favorite nursing and feeding products:

Medela Breastpump – for anyone who plans on breastfeeding, a pump is a necessity! I used the Medela Pump and it was quick and efficient for me. I love how easy the parts attach and how easy it was for me to figure out how to use. It’s a great product that lasted me through feeding two babies!

Hands-free Nursing Bra– a MUST when you’ve got to pump but you also want to check your phone, read your book, or have your hands totally free while the job gets one!

Avent Pacis: the first few weeks with a newborn are pretty tough! Sometimes you’ll think your baby is hungry when actually all she needs is to self-soothe by sucking! Pacis were our savior and Avent is our favorite.

Tommee Tippee Bottles– I have tried a variety of bottles but Tomme Tippee is by far my favorite. They are sooooo much easier to clean than some others and I love that they are small and compact. I started using these with M at 2 weeks and they have a variety of nipple sizes so you can increase flow as they get older!

Milk Storage Bags– Getting out a sharpie to mark and load up my storage bags of breastmilk was something I looked forward to every week (or when I had extra and could do it). Here’s a tip on Breastmilk & Storage: your milk is good for 5 hours out, 5 days in the fridge, and 5 months in the freezer!

Boppy Pillow– I had one for upstairs and downstairs! All about the comfort of having my babies supported so my arms wouldn’t get super tired! #necessary

Haaka Silicone Breast Pump– this was a new product I used with M that I wish I had had for C! For any new moms planning on breastfeeding, this is a game changer! If you aren’t familiar with a Haaka, it’s a silicone cup made to catch your let-down of the opposite breast your feeding with. It’s a great tool for engorgement when you don’t want to break out that pump!

Bibs– as soon as your baby starts using a bottle, you’ll want a bib! We have TONS of these around here as it’s a constant laundry factory and spit up is just part of the daily routine!

Enfamil Gentlease Formula – This is the first formula we tried and have never looked back!

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Walmart has tons of deals on feeding products such as breastpumps, nipple creams, nursing covers, bottles and more. They also have NEXT day delivery on sooo many items and is FREE on orders $35 and up. So if your #mombrain ever gets the best of you ever and you forget anything or need anything last minute, Walmart has you covered. I love that they carry the essentials from all of my favorite brands and is a one-stop shop for everything baby!