Newborn Care Week 2018: Top 10 Essential Breastfeeding Accessories For New Mothers

All new and to-be mothers get endless advice on breastfeeding, how it should be done, how many times, what should you eat during that period and of course the benefits of breastfeeding, but what people fail to warn you about are glares you get for breastfeeding in public or the smirks people give you when you stain your top during lactating.Breastfeeding is considered to be a mother’s most important duty, yet she is shamed for it constantly. Many new mothers during their lactating phase develop low self-confidence and tend to stay cocooned in their homes, but not any more.Listed below are accessories new mothers should know about so that their new journey is smooth and their confidence is restored.Nursing BrasUndoing the bra and then removing it to breastfeed your baby is not only time consuming but a little inconvenient in public places. Along with providing additional support to women who are lactating, nursing bras make breastfeeding comfortable as you can feed your baby without removing your bra.Nursing TanksNew mothers have a lot on their plate like managing the house or working from home along with breastfeeding at regular intervals. While being completely fashionable when paired with layered clothing, these nursing tanks make breastfeeding comfortable and hassle free.Nipple PadsSomething all lactating mothers worry about is staining their clothes and yes it can be a little embarrassing especially in public. Nipple pads or nursing pads save you from that, so all you new mothers, don’t think twice before investing in this accessory as it helps you save your clothing in the long run.Nipple FormerMany new mothers face the issue of flat, inverted or puckered nipples, which makes feeding your baby tedious and painful. Nipple former is a very useful, small, handy product, which basically helps in protracting and bring your nipple in shape which will help your baby feed successfully.Nursing PillowKeeping in mind that your baby needs to be fed every two hours, breastfeeding can really take a toll on your back. This is the reason why many nursing mothers swear by a nursing pillow. The pillow helps you prop your baby up while breastfeeding, making it a comfortable experience for both you and your baby.Nursing WrapA lot of mothers abstain from going out while breastfeeding because they feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. Nursing wraps are a blessing, as it makes breastfeeding discreet and comfortable in public.Breast PumpsPlanning to go out or going back to work but your worried about how will you give your baby breastmilk or just have to much milk stored up because your baby isn’t that hungry? Breast pumps help you express milk which can be bottled and later fed to your child even if you’re not around. For mothers who produce a low milk supply, breast pumps help stimulate lactation.Breast Milk StorageIt’s not possible for you to have countless milk bottles and enough space in your freezer or fridge to store pumped breastmilk. A more convenient item is breastmilk storage bags. Once you have expressed the breastmilk all you have to do is, put it in these bags, label them with an expiry date of 8 days later and store it in the fridge or freezer.Breast Pump BagFor all the lactating mothers who are on the go a breast pump bag is a must. The bag should be big enough so that you can carry everything from the pump to the bottles, even an ice pack kit to keep the expressed milk cold.Nipple CreamSore and cracked nipples are one of the most common breastfeeding challenges mothers face very early in the motherhood journey. Nipple cream, especially the ones that are made of pure lanolin are recommended for sore and cracked nipple.(Dr Sonali Shivlani is a certified lactation consultant with Medela India.)

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Breastfeeding Accessories: Here Are 10 Must-Haves For New Mothers

Here’re accessories new mothers should know about so that their new journey is smooth.

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Topics: Breastfeeding Women and Health World Breastfeeding Week 2018