Favorite Breastfeeding and Pumping Items.

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Breastfeeding is such a spectacular thing. There are so many benefits for everyone involved including nutrition and immunity for baby, bonding of baby and mama and convenience of feeding baby whenever mom is around without lots of supplies or hassle. In as many ways that it is great, it can also be really challenging. If mom is frequently outside the home, pumping will be necessary which is a process all of its own. It is a journey that is different for all but everyone can be successful in their own way. Here is my list of favorite products that aided in my success (and significantly with my sanity):

And don’t forget water and delicious nourishment for yourself (Shout out to a local ice cream sandwich shop Leona’s for the perfect addition to my pump bag)!

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump/Silicone Milk Collector. This is hands down my favorite breastfeeding product. I have 2 of this style Haakaa (4 oz) and one Haakaa lid. There are several sizes and styles (the larger the size the stronger the vacuum created). This one was small and worked well for us. It is just one piece and so simple to clean and/or sterilize. I typically used one Haakaa a day in the morning and sometimes an additional time throughout the day if I felt that there was extra milk that could be collected after Poppy was finished feeding. The lid is nice for storage in the refrigerator while cooling but I would not say it is leak proof nor would I place it into a bag. (I also have a Haakaa Ladybug Collector that I believed I purchased a little too late in my journey (after my supply was well regulated with minimal leaking) to obtain much benefit.)
Note:: I personally was unable to use either of these devices as a substitute for an electric breast pump as they would not stimulate let down. The traditional Haakaas were superb for me on the opposite breast while feeding. See my post on my breastfeeding journey for more details.
Pro Tip:: Place 1 tablespoon for epson salt and warm water to fill the Haakaa the whole way. Place it onto the breast and create suction to relieve clogged ducts. Repeat until improved. This really works and is so soothing.

Lanolin. I went traditional and used Lanolin. I liked the Lansinoh brand over the samples I was given at the hospital (it was smoother). Lanolin is an animal product and can be sourced cruelty-free. Lansinoh states that there is ethically sourced. There are other products out there that are not animal based but I have not used them personally.
Pro Tip:: For those mothers that decide to/like to pump in the car, lanolin gets very firm in the cold and will be too firm to push out of the tube. (Yes, I am speaking from personal experience). Place some lanolin in a small jar or a container which a finger can be placed in to scoop some out.

Kindred Bravely Sublime Nursing Sports Bra. I love these sports bras. I wore these primarily throughout my breast feeding journey (during the day and at night when I wanted more compression). They are comfortable yet supportive (I have B/C cup breasts so keep that in mind as far as my bra recommendations go since everyone is different). They quality is great and the clips are small, easy to use and comfortable. One comment on all their bras is that the sizing seems to vary with different colors (the customer service is spectacular though and was also very helpful in correcting any issues).
Pro tip:: If using Lanolin, it does tend to stain over time so consider darker colored bras and items to minimize this.
**I am a Kindred Bravely Ambassador – use this link to get to navigate to their website for 20% off your purchase!! kindredbravely.com/apopofmother. This will be applied automatically to the cart and you do not need a code. Heads up – the discount does not apply to bundles, clearance items, or gift cards**

Nursing Tanks. These did nothing for me and I rarely wore them (I truly preferred a bra and a t-shirt or normal tank top (just pulled my shirt up or down), but a lot of people do like them so I wanted to include the option here.

Calvin Klein Bralettes. These are not specifically nursing bras but I love these. They are thin, easy to move aside or down to get your breast out and offer more support than no bra. I loved these for sleeping/lounging later in my journey once my supply was very established and I didn’t have as many worries about clogged ducts, etc.

Breast Pumps. There are many options here. Step one, call your health insurance company. Questions to ask include how to get your pump (delivered to home, pick up at the hospital)?, is the cost of the breast pump covered (full coverage, partial coverage, certain pump brands only?) and is there a particular process to ordering the pump?
The most popular pumps that I have seen include Spectra S1/S2 and Medela Pump-In-Style. It seems like in this region they are the most commonly covered by insurance as well. Other options include cordless in-bra pumps such as the Willow or Elvie which are typically not covered but you many be able to use your HSA or FSA funds. I have heard good things about these and their convenience are you are not tied down. There are more cost effect options available on amazon that I did not personally have the chance to use but I’ve heard good things about. One critique I have heard is that the suction strength tends to be less than other pumps. There are also in bra cups that can be used with compatible pumps such as Freemie brand.
I have a Spectra S1 pump and I really liked it. It is a closed system pump which means that there is a backflow protector that prevents milk from entering the tubing or the pump. This prevents bacteria from collecting or contaminating the milk and eliminates parts to clean. I had to pay slightly out of pocket for the S1 (used my FSA) as it is slightly more expensive than the S2 model as it has a rechargeable battery. Totally worth it. I recommend purchasing at minimum 1 extra set of pump parts to keep on hand or in the pump bag incase there is an issue. I used the traditional flanges but Spectra now has an in bra flange option as well which I certainly would have tried if they had been available earlier.

Microwave Sterilize Bags. These are a great and easy way to sterilize items in just a few minutes. Be cautious to ensure items are safe for microwave sterilization prior to using this method (unfortunately Spectra states that their breast pump parts are not).

Washable Bed Pads. Multiple uses for these. I slept with one of these on my bed towards the end of my pregnancy as I was afraid of my water breaking while I was sleeping (Paranoid, yes. BUT it did! There was not enough fluid to need it, but I was sure glad it was there. I used them in the car driving to the hospital but most relevant to this post, when my milk first came in and during the first several weeks of breast feeding as it tends to be messy. There is lots of milk and it is less coordinated and clean while mama and baby and baby are still figuring out the process.

Soft Ice/Heat Packs. These are great to have – Ice to soothe breasts and help to temper supply when needed as well as heat to aid with the release of clogged ducts. These are great for other injuries and for the kiddos too!

Pump and Supplies Backpack. There are a lot of pump related things so, for me, a backpack made sense. I really liked this backpack – it has an insulated pocket for milk (you can put a small cooler bag in here as an option but I put the bags of milk directly in here with ice packs and they stayed cool all day. An insulated pocket was important to me as the stability of refrigerator access was not always known and I wanted to minimize what I had to put in the refrigerator even when it was available.

Hard Ice Packs. These stay cold for a long time, are thin and fit perfectly in the insulated compartment of the above backpack.

Wet Bag. Some sort of wet bag or container for your pump parts is a necessary element of the pump bag. I had a love/hate relationship with this wet bag. It’s waterproof, thick and very durable – great quality. I mostly hated it because of how much I had to wash and dry it (I did wash it in hot water everyday due to fear of it being contaminated from being in the hospital and hung it to dry. I did forget to hang it up a few times and threw it in the dryer and it seemed to be okay.)

Stasher bags. These are great for the extra set of pump parts or other items in the bag.

Kiinde Bag System. This product is a milk storage bag system. The concept is that they have adapters that are connected directly to the breast pump and the milk is pumped directly into the bags. No pouring or transferring of milk. It felt much easier and cleaner! There is also a bottle (holder which the bags clip into) and nipples that attach directly to the bags to feed baby. There are multiple nipple flow options and the nipples have great carrying cases to keep them clean. No additional bottles required. The bags can also be directly written onto with a sharpie for easy labeling. (I did sometimes pump into Avent bottle if I was at home and feed Poppy with those as they are directly compatible with the Spectra pump). I really liked the Kiinde system. Poppy liked the nipples (they are an odd shape at first but she actually preferred them to the Avent nipples) and the easy of not having to transfer milk all around was so easy for us and the whole care team. We have the Kiinde bottle warmer as well which worked to heat and/or thaw the bags (it’s fine, nothing special).
They have many new customer specials and package options. They even have options to help with filling the bags with purees too. Check them out – it’s pretty cool. They even have a Free Breastfeeding Starter Pack to see if the products are for you. The bags are a bit pricey but overall considering the money that is saved from not buying many bottles, it’s not too much more. Like most things, they are cheaper when purchased in bulk.
I admittedly felt (and still feel guilty) about these being single use and the environmental impact. I felt better about it based on the decreased energy and water usage not having to wash and sterilize bottles. Additionally, I froze a lot of milk which I would have had to be placed into single use bags anyway given our storage situation.

Bravado Pumping Bra. I really liked this bra and used it most often. I only have 1, but having 2 wouldn’t be the worst idea. It’s small and easy to use. The clips attached well to the Kindred Bravely Sports Bra and it held up so well with frequent washing.

Kindred Bravely Sublime Hands-Free Pumping and Nursing Bra. I have this bra and I’d say it is a solid choice. I much prefer the comfort of the sports bra (personal preference here as well) but it is effective in holding the flanges in place. I found the pads in the bra a bit annoying as they would fold when you unhooked to pump and you have to readjust them a lot. They can be removed.
Newer Product: Since I completed my journey, Kindred Bravely has come out with a Sports Bra version of the Nursing and Pumping Bra, the Sublime Hands-Free Nursing and Pumping Sports Bra. It is probably worth checking out as well.
**I am a Kindred Bravely Ambassador – use this link to get to navigate to their website for 20% off your purchase!! kindredbravely.com/apopofmother. This will be applied automatically to the cart and you do not need a code. Heads up – the discount does not apply to bundles, clearance items, or gift cards**

French Terry Racerback Nursing and Sleep Bra. One that bra type that I really enjoyed is this front crossover style bra which is much less bulky but still more supportive than nothing or something like the Calvin Klein bralettes above. Again, I’d strongly recommend a dark color in these to prevent visible staining.
**I am a Kindred Bravely Ambassador – use this link to get to navigate to their website for 20% off your purchase!! kindredbravely.com/apopofmother. This will be applied automatically to the cart and you do not need a code. Heads up – the discount does not apply to bundles, clearance items, or gift cards**

Pro tip:: In regards to all the bras, be careful not too purchase too many too early. It is nice to be prepared and have some options but the size of the breasts may change post pregnancy and once nursing, so be aware that sizing may change.

I hope this helps! This journey can feel so unknown and very overwhelming, you’ve got this mama! Remember to ask for help when you need it and definitely utilize a lactation consultant, that’s what they are there for.

What are your favorite products? Comment below.

Let’s talk soon,
Al