How to Breastfeed: Set! (Part 2)

Continued from How to Breastfeed: Ready! (Part 1)...

Ready!Set!Go! is a system that once helped me prepare for breastfeeding and have everything handy at the right moment.

Previous section helped you to prepare for breastfeeding emotionally. It talked about how to get into the right mindset and make the right choices for you and your baby.

Now let's get to the Set! part...

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Set!

Here is a couple of things that - if done in advance - will save you tons of time and nerves when the baby comes:

• If you know that your nipples are flat or inverted, trying to correct them now will pay off later.

• Your body will do its part. You can help it by eating a well-balanced breastfeeding diet, resting and enjoying yourself.

• Nesting reflex is most likely driving you into re-organization of the house, cleaning, getting the room ready for the baby, etc. In fact, it is not a bad idea to make this extra effort today to not have to do any of these chores later, when the baby is here.

• It is also a good idea to shop for nursing must-haves in advance. Below is the checklist of things that tremendously helped me during the first months of breastfeeding:
  

□ 2-3 comfortable nursing bras

The following 3 types of Bravado bras are my favorite. They were all comfortable to wear during pregnancy and for breastfeeding.

I bought my bras from Right Start - the company I love for their products and great return policy. And when it comes to buying a bra, they offer handy instructions on how to measure bra size. To get to the Sizing Guide, click on any of the links below and scroll down.

Here is what I liked about each Bravado bra type:

Bravado Original A very comfortable bra with a drop cup, soft and flexible. Least expensive. Great for sleeping in with nursing pads inserted (pads sold separately). You will love the soft and light feel of this bra! *Larger cup bras (cup D and up) have a slightly different (improved) design to provide better support and coverage for larger breasts. Here is where I purchased my Bravado Original Nursing Bra.

Bravado Body Silk Seamless Also a very comfortable bra with a drop cup, soft and has no seams. Great for wearing under clothes. Worked great for me during pregnancy and when nursing. *Provides greater support than the Original. Find more details and reviews here - Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra.

Bravado Essential  The most comfortable bra with a drop cup. Provides great ventilation to keep breasts dry. Great support for all breast sizes. No wires, no seams. I loved the slim back panel - it made me feel pretty while wearing a nursing bra! Follow this link to watch a video about this bra's features and find more details - Bravado Essential Embrace Nursing Bra.

□ 2-3 tops

I used Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tanks. These tanks have build-in bras inside. They come in various colors and cup sizes. They are 92% cotton - you will love how they feel on you! They are very supportive, but soft and comfortable at the same time. I also liked that due to their length my tanks always stayed in place and covered my post-baby belly. The bra part is also cute on the outside. It is great for wearing underneath a cardigan and provides easy access for nursing in public. I bought two of these tanks (black and white) from Amazon when I was pregnant and I still wear them. Here is the page I ordered my tanks from - Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tanks.

I used Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tanks. These tanks have build-in bras inside. They come in various colors and cup sizes. They are 92% cotton - you will love how they feel on you!

They are very supportive, but soft and comfortable at the same time. I also liked that due to their length my tanks always stayed in place and covered my post-baby belly.

The bra part is also cute on the outside. It is great for wearing underneath a cardigan and provides easy access for nursing in public.

I bought two of these tanks (black and white) from Amazon when I was pregnant and I still wear them. Here is the page I ordered my tanks from - Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tanks.

They are super absorbent and thin at the same time. They are invisible underneath clothes and they have an adhesive tape that keeps them in place.

My son stopped waking up at night for feedings very early and my breasts were constantly full. Medela bra pads absorbed all the leaking milk and gave me an extra couple of hours of sleep.

It is very convenient that these pads are individually wrapped. You won't have to look for a clean and private place in your purse to carry them. I bought my pads from Right Start. Follow this link to order your Medela Disposable Bra Pads.

It is very convenient that these pads are individually wrapped. You won't have to look for a clean and private place in your purse to carry them.

I bought my pads from Right Start. Follow this link to order your Medela Disposable Bra Pads.

Purified hypoallergenic lanolin is the nipple creme that helps prevent and treat cracked nipples. If your nipples ever get sore or crack, apply it right away. You don't even have to wash it off before nursing. I loved this Medela Tender Care Lanolin for its size. 2oz-tube was perfect to carry with me and put into the carry-on when traveling by air.

Purified hypoallergenic lanolin is the nipple creme that helps prevent and treat cracked nipples.

If your nipples ever get sore or crack, apply it right away. You don't even have to wash it off before nursing.

I loved this Medela Tender Care Lanolin for its size. 2oz-tube was perfect to carry with me and put into the carry-on when traveling by air.

□ breast pump

If you know you will have to leave your baby with someone regularly or return to work, add breast pump to your list. 

Getting a good breast pump is well worth the money.

If you know you will use your pump daily, don't waste money and time on manual (like Philips Avent Isis), single electric or cheaper double electric (like The First Years miPump) pumps.

I ended up buying three pumps before I found my absolute favorite - Medela Pump In Style Advanced. Click here for my detailed review of this pump. 

I hope my advice will help save you the money I wasted (once purchased and opened, breast pumps are not returnable).

□ nursing pillow

Getting a nursing pillow is very well worth the investment, because it:

• helps position your baby correctly
  
• alleviates your back and arm tension
• helps you save time adjusting yourself and the baby for the feeding
• secures your baby's position on the pillow in case you get distracted
• is easy to wash
• is portable
  
• is often waterproof
• is great for nursing in public - privacy cover is included with some pillows
  

Instead of carrying around multiple pillows for you and the baby, it is just one pillow for both of you. Whether you are nursing a single baby or twins, there is a nursing pillow for that. Out of all the nursing pillows we tested, these are the ones we loved:

Nursing Single Baby:

Double Blessings San Diego Bebe Single Deluxe Pillow

Nursing Twins:

	Double Blessings San Diego Bebe Twin Pillow
	Twin Z Breastfeeding Pillow
	My Brest Friend Twins Plus Pillow

Some other items like a rocking chair, foot stool, scale, silicone and gel pads and other things are extras and may not be necessary. If needed, you can always buy them later. The list above is all we had, and we did great!

Now when you are all ready to go, check out the last Go! section to learn what to do when THE DAY comes.

Products Featured on this Page:

Bravado Original Nursing Bra	Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra	Bravado Essential Embrace Nursing Bra
Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tank	Medela Tender Care Lanolin	Medela Disposable Bra Pads

Bravado Original Nursing Bra

Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

Bravado Essential Embrace Nursing Bra

Bravado Essential Nursing Bra Tank

Medela Tender Care Lanolin

Medela Disposable Bra Pads

Continue to How to BF: Go! (Part 3)

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How to BF: Ready! (Part 1)	How to BF: Go! (Part 3)	What is Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding Benefits	Correcting Inverted Nipples	Breastfeeding Diet

How to BF: Ready! (Part 1)

How to BF: Go! (Part 3)

What is Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding Benefits

Correcting Inverted Nipples

Breastfeeding Diet