my breastfeeding journey (+ top resources and products)

When it comes to feeding my babies I’ve done it all – exclusive pumping, formula feeding, and breastfeeding. My experience with breastfeeding hasn’t always gone as planned, particularly with my first two kids, but in the end I’m happy that all my kids are healthy. Since I’ve learned a few things over the years, I’ve decided to share a bit my experience with you. Plus a few resources and supplies I wish I would’ve known about from the beginning.

With Mae, my plan was to primarily breastfeed her since I was going to be home with her. Beyond reading a bit about breastfeeding in my pregnancy book, I didn’t think too much about it beforehand. It’s supposed to be natural, right? After she was born things went OK for a couple of days, but soon there was so much pain when I nursed her that it was all I thought about. I made an appointment to meet with a lactation consultant, who I ended up meeting with regularly over the course of a few months. During this time we discovered Mae had a dairy & soy intolerance, so I briefly stopped nursing her and temporarily switched her over to a special formula since my breastmilk was upsetting her stomach. I attempted to go back to nursing, but she was never able to get a good latch, even with the help of multiple lactation consultants. Apparently she had a teeny tiny mouth, even by newborn standards! I eventually made the decision to exclusively pump for her first year and supplement with formula when needed.

When Winnie was born, I was a little more apprehensive because of my experience with Mae. I spent the first days of her life trying to work on her latch with a lactation consultant. Things seemed to be going a little bit better than the first time around and I was hopeful it’d all work out. On day ten I went to the lactation consultant with her and had a super successful nursing session. I was feeling on cloud nine after that appointment so we decided to head to the outdoor mall to pick up a few baby things and enjoy the sunshine. While we were at the mall I came down with mastitis. In just the course of a few minutes I was so sick I could barely stand up. I somehow got myself to the clinic and immediately started a round of antibiotics. A couple of days later when I was on the mend, I got hit with another breast infection. It was the worst! Within a week I’d finally fully recovered, but I was never able to produce close to enough milk for Winnie. My supply never increased beyond the second week, but Winnie was constantly needing more milk. After a few months & lots of tears, I made the switch to formula. It was pretty hard on me, but after a few weeks I just let it go.

Because of those two experiences, I had so much anxiety about breastfeeding when I was pregnant with Ander. I talked about it a lot with my husband and decided that I’d arm myself with as much knowledge as I could before he was born, give it my best shot, and be kind to myself if it didn’t work out.

So here we are four months out & I’m happy to say that Ander is successfully breastfeeding! Third time’s the charm! It wasn’t easy, and there were a few days when I contemplated going back to exclusively pumping (those early weeks are hard!), but we pushed through and now he’s a nursing champ.

I think the biggest difference this time around is I trusted my gut more than before and was way more relaxed about the whole thing (maybe because I had two other children to worry about, so I had less time to overthink everything). I also focused on making it through six weeks, and didn’t think beyond that. I had talked to a friend before Ander was born who told me that nursing became much easier for her once her babies hit six weeks, and thinking about that was really reassuring in my hardest moments.

Below are some of my favorite resources and products for nursing & pumping. But before I end this (ridiculously long) post, I wanna say a few things to the mamas having a hard time breastfeeding. With some babies, nursing just comes more naturally. I’ve always questioned if I didn’t do enough to be able to successfully nurse Mae, but now that I’ve been on the other side I know that it’s just easier with some babies. Also, there’s a lot to be said for having a happy mama! So don’t be too hard on yourself no matter what happens.

Lactation Link: During my pregnancy, I’d heard a lot about the online breastfeeding classes from Lactation Link in various Facebook groups. Lactation Link was started by an RN and IBLCL-certified lactation coach named Lindsey Shipley. Lindsey offers three online videos about breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Basics, Breastfeeding Hurdles & How-To’s, and Pumping & Storing Breastmilk) that you can purchase individually or as a bundle. Even though I’ve been through this before, they were a great refresher for me, and gave me a much needed dose of confidence going into Ander’s arrival.

Oat Mama Lactation Bars: These bars are full of superfoods and nutrients nursing mamas need. I especially love these because they’re easy to grab when life is chaotic. Which for me with a baby and a toddler (and a little girl) is pretty much all day every day. They also have bars that are dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. They also just released a Lactation Tea, which I’m so excited about!

Covered Goods Four-in-One Nursing Cover: These four-in-one nursing covers provide privacy when nursing your baby in public, but you can also use them as a carseat cover, infinity scarf, or a shopping cart cover. They also work to provide coverage when pumping. They are one of my favorite baby items!

Lalabu Soothe Shirt: This soothe shirt has a cozy pouch where you can carry your newborn. I preferred this over my baby wrap in the very early days because you can quickly place a fussy newborn inside and they feel super secure. It also works as a nursing bra and provides stomach coverage when nursing. I paired this with my Zella High-Waist leggings and an open-front cardigan during those first few months.

Dwell + Slumber House Dress: This modern house dress has a loose silhouette with the perfect amount of stretch, plus it’s 100% nursing friendly & bump friendly. This was a splurge before I had baby #3 and I am still obsessed with it.

Scroll through to see more…

Covered Goods 4-in-1 Nursing Cover ($34.99).

A four-in-one nursing cover that provides privacy when nursing your baby in public, but you can also use them as a carseat cover, infinity scarf, or a shopping cart cover. They also work to provide coverage when pumping.
Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump ($18.99).

This thing is amazing! Simply suction to your breast and the pump will draw your milk out. You can use it on one side while you nurse on the other. I also loved this for collecting colostrum in the hospital.
Medela SoftShells for Sore Nipples ($8.99).

Have these on hand and ready to go for the first few weeks of nursing. They can provide you with some daily relief when you have sore nipples, and provide protection while they heal. I wore them at the girls' bedtime so I could give them snuggles without wincing in pain.
Lalabu Soothe Shirt ($75).

I love this shirt for the newborn days! You can quickly place your baby inside and it keeps them super secure & close. Plus it's nursing friendly.
Comotomo Baby Bottle ($10.98).

These bottles were designed to most closely mimic breastfeeding to reduce bottle rejection and nipple confusion. Plus the wide-neck design allows them to be easily cleaned without a bottle brush.
Zella Live In High Waist Legging ($54).

I love Zella High Waist Leggings for the postpartum days (and beyond)! They are great for breastfeeding because they provide coverage and hold you in.
Simple Wishes Hands Free Breastpump Bra ($34.99).

A hands-free bra is a necessity if you plan on regularly pumping! This is the top selling one and holds up really well. I've had mine since exclusively pumping with Mae.
Oat Mama Lactation Bars ($30).

Oat Mama bars are packed with nutritious superfoods to improve your energy, mood, & milk. I love to have something nutritious I can grab and quickly eat on the go!
Motherlove Nipple Cream ($10.95).

There's a lot of nipple creams out there, but this one is probably my favorite! The ingredients are safe for baby, so you don't have to worry about washing it off.
Bamboobies Washable Nursing Pads ($29.99).

You'll definitely want some nursing pads for the weeks after your milk comes in. These ones are super absorbent and soft.
Milkies Milk-Saver Breast Milk Collector ($29.95).

This fits right into your bra and will collect the extra leaking milk while you nurse or pump on the other side.
Medela Swing Breast Pump ($169.99).

This is a single-electric breast pump for moms who pump occasionally or need a pump for on the go. AC adapter or battery power options for charging and pumping on the go. (I was always so worried about the power going out when I was exclusively pumping!)
Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack ($14.99).

It's just the cutest drying rack and it's easy to clean! Comes in multiple sizes.
Medela Women's Slimming Nursing Cami ($25.99).

I prefer nursing tanks that are smooth, long, and slimming underneath clothing. This one is just that!
Spectra Baby S2 Double Breast Pump ($169).

The Spectra S2 is very powerful but quiet! It can be used as either a single or double pump, and it has a closed system to keep milk from getting into the pump. I love that you can control the suction and the speed, plus there is a timer and a nightlight for added convenience. (The Spectra S1 is similar with a rechargeable battery.)
aden + anais Burpy Bib ($22.00).

You'll need some good burp cloths whether bottle feeding or breast feeding. The aden + anais ones are my long time favorites because you can also use them as baby bibs while bottle feeding, plus they last for years!
Boppy Luxe Nursing Pillow and Positioner ($49.99).

There's a lot of nursing pillows out there, but I had loved the good 'ol Boppy. Can also be used for bottle feeding, propping, tummy time, & sitting.
Kiinde Breast Milk Storage Twist Starter Kit ($32.99).

The set allows you to collect, store, prepare, and feed your baby using a single pouch. No need to transfer milk from bottle to bag to bottle. Comes with adapters that work with pumps from all major brands.
The First Years Breastflow Milk Storage Organizer ($19.99).

A spring-loaded drawer freezes milk flat and keeps all the bags upright.
Loulou Lollipop Teething Necklaces ($20+).

Teething necklaces give older babies something to play with while nursing. Loulou Lollipop makes some of my favorites!
Bravado! Designs Seamless Nursing Bra ($49).

This is one of the most popular nursing bras, and for good reason! It's so soft & comfortable.
Bravado! Designs Clip and Pump Hands-free Nursing Bra Accessory ($30).

This attaches to the Bravado Designs nursing bra to convert it to a hands-free pumping bra. The figure 8 opening makes for easy breast shield insertion and removal.
The Honest Company Lactation Plus ($19.99).

Includes 610 mg of Organic Fenugreek plus a blend of botanicals to help boost your supply.
Lasinoh Smoothies Gel Pads ($10.99).

These help soothe and heal sore nipples. Can be stored in the refrigerator for additional cooling relief. They're discreet and come with a reusable tray for storing between uses.