- https://lactationnetwork.com/
- In home lactation consultations – I don’t know how anyone sticks with breastfeeding without this. Life saver. Health insurance should cover up to six in-home visits.
- Pump – Just get a ‘hospital grade’ one that your other girlfriends can vouch for. Health insurance should cover most or all of one pump.
- Nipple ointment
- If you need something stronger because your nipples are so sore, cracked, bleeding, etc then ask for a prescription for All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO). You have to get a prescription for this filled at a ‘compound pharmacy’.
- Gel pads – Stick it in the fridge and then slip them in your bra between feeds. Gentler and smoother than an ice pack and you can leave the house with them in your bra more easily.
- Sunflower lecithin – Add it to your supplement list. Helps keep your milk from clogging.
- Small ice packs – You will want to ice your boobs for a few weeks.
- Breast pads – Depends on your boobs. Some people need them a lot, and others don’t. A trick I was taught was that if you don’t have super leaky boobs and you’re going out for awhile you can slip those silicon breast pasties into your bra.
- Hakaa collector – Depends on your boobs. If you need something to catch let down on your non-nursing boob this is pretty much what everyone uses.
- All of those nursing pillows – up to your personal preference, body shape, and tolerance for man handling your baby. I hate the boppy pillow though – it is useless.
- Pumping bra – There are so many, it was confusing. I ended up with this one and it was reasonably comfortable (though I think all of this stuff is really uncomfortable).
- Nursing top or bra – You don’t have to have this, it depends on where you plan on nursing. I like this kind. My boobs are not that huge so I don’t bother with nursing bras and just wear nothing in this top or a bralette that I can pull down.
After you get all this stuff and figure out what works, it will almost be time for you to stop breast feeding probably.