As soon as I learned we were expecting Ollie, I hoped breastfeeding would be part of our journey. Friends of mine who have breastfed shared with me what a unique and special bonding experience breastfeeding can be — so I hoped I’d be able to breastfeed Ollie. Prior to welcoming Ollie, I enrolled in Milkology to learn all I could about breastfeeding. Now, with four months behind us, I know nothing can truly prepare you for breastfeeding… in a good way!

Following my emergency c-section, breastfeeding was anything but easy; not only can c-sections and postpartum hemorrhages cause breastmilk to be delayed, but we also received a great deal of conflicting guidance from several postpartum nurses. Needless to say, our breastfeeding journey was off to an extremely bumpy start.

In my early days of breastfeeding, not only was I not producing enough milk, but I also became overwhelmed by breastfeeding side effects like uterine pain, hot flashes, dizziness, and nausea. It was also a challenging experience to hold Ollie while breastfeeding, due to my c-section pain. After a few weeks and a few meetings with a wonderful lactation consultant, breastfeeding became much easier. From our lactation consultant, we received tips for increasing my milk supply — primarily, pumping after every feeding — and product recommendations, too!

Nowadays, I nurse Ollie every 2.5 hours during the day and every 3 hours in the evening hours. Although it’s been very hard work (Like another full-time job!) breastfeeding has been the wonderful bonding experience I hoped it would be. I feel so proud of what Ollie and I have been able to do together and grateful for how Ben has supported us along the way.

Here, I’m excited to share my breastfeeding essentials — a comprehensive collection of all of the breastfeeding products I truly couldn’t survive without, from beginning to end!

Breastfeeding Essentials

Earth Mama Nipple Butter

Earth Mama Nipple Butter specifically helped me through the first month of breastfeeding. Everything was tender in the early days of breastfeeding, and I loved using this lanolin-free butter. I haven’t needed to use anything in its place since my first month of breastfeeding, but I wholeheartedly believe it made a difference in my overall comfort.

The Everything Bra by Bodily

The Everything Bra by Bodily is an extremely soft nursing bra. It’s comfortable enough to sleep in and has made evening nursing really comfortable and easy.

The Do Anything Bra by Bodily

The Do Anything Bra by Bodily is a nursing and pumping bra. It fits more snugly to keep pumps secure — so it’s not quite comfortable enough to sleep in. I have worn my Do Anything Bra with both my Elvie pump and my Spectra pump, and it keeps everything secure. With my Do Anything Bra, I’m able to pump while I’m working, which makes a big difference!

Larken All-In-One Nursing and Pumping Bra

I purchased the Larken All-In-One Nursing and Pumping Bra, because it looked so easy and comfortable — and it is! Rather than using clips, you simply pull the fabric up or down to secure your pumps. It’s comfortable enough to sleep in, too!

My Brest Friend Pillow

Ben and I learned about My Brest Friend in our lactation consultant’s office, and it made an amazing difference. During pregnancy, I had purchased some really cute-looking, aeshetically-beautiful nursing pillows, and none of them worked. Ollie always slid down between the pillow and my body, and it made breastfeeding really challenging to do! Once our lactation consultant set me up with My Brest Friend, I felt like I could breastfeed comfortably for the very first time. It was definitely a breakthrough moment! I love how the cover is removable and washable. Ollie is also much more comfortable and at ease while nursing, too.

Elvie Pump

Above, I shared how Ben and I received conflicting guidance from several postpartum nurses. Specifically, I was told not to use a pump until I had breastfed successfully for 6 full weeks and told to use a medical-grade pump over a hands-free pump. During Week 2, though, Ben and I met with our lactation consultant, who advised me to begin pumping right away to boost my milk production. Further, when I compared my output from my medical-grade pump with the output from my hands-free pump, my hands-free pump, Elvie, helped me produce more. So, my Elvie is one of my breastfeeding essentials. To me, the Elvie’s rhythm feels more lifelike — and its rhythm can also respond to letdown. Overall, I truly love the ease and simplicity of Elvie. It’s hands-free, easy-to-use, has a helpful, customizable app, and reduces so much stress from pumping.

Madela Storage Bottles

Every day, I nurse Ollie for every feeding except her bedtime feeding. I pump in the evening, which serves as her bottle for the next day’s bedtime. This ensures I’m able to go to sleep empty, and it also allows Ben and Ollie to share a special bedtime routine. I love Madela’s storage bottles and storage system. The system could be extremely helpful for someone who pumps more frequently and needs to stay organized on a daily basis.

Nanobébé Bottles

Nanobébé bottles have always been our chosen baby bottles. Their silicone base and anti-colic nipple are just a couple of reasons why we love — and Ollie has loved — these bottles. (Use my Nanobébé discount code KELLY15 for 15% off any full-price product at Nanobébé!)

Conclusion

With four months of breastfeeding behind us, I can confidently say breastfeeding is equal parts challenging and wonderful. I’m grateful to have found all of the essentials described above, because they’ve helped my breastfeeding journey to go smoother and become easier week by week. I truly hope this collection of products serves as a helpful resource for anyone beginning their breastfeeding journey!