MOMMY'S CLOSET: MUST-HAVES FOR THE BREASTFEEDING MAMA

It's no secret that breast milk is the absolute best for your baby. Some women know before their baby is born that they don't want to breastfeed. Those that do decide to breastfeed are not without challenges such as a delay in breast milk coming in and maintaining an abundant supply. For me one of the biggest challenges has been producing enough and in order to do so I've tried every trick in the book from herbal tea, to eating bars and even drinking beer. Ultimately however, sticking it out and getting the results you want depends on you and your lifestyle because there are so many factors that can play a role in the amount of milk that you produce such as stress levels and the amount of fluids you consume (you can't produce enough fluid if you're not taking in enough fluid). Check out some of my must-haves for breastfeeding mama below...

1. Traditional Medicinal's Organic Mother's Milk Tea, $10 (2pk) soap.com: Organic Mother's Milk promotes healthy lactation* and is traditionally used to increase breastmilk production.* This traditional combination of anise, fennel and coriander has been used for centuries by European women, often recommended by lactation counselors and medical herbalists. Organic Mother's Milk is a pleasantly aromatic balance of sweet, spicy and slightly bitter.

2. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags, $24 (3pk) diapers.com: These storage bags are compact and take up very little space in the freezer. Each has been pre-sterilized for preservation of milk quality and has an easy-to-carry design for comfortable portability. Place these bags under warm tap water to defrost the milk.

3. Divine Mama Bars, $30 (12 bars) divine-mama.com: Divine Mama Bars are a delicious, delightful way for breastfeeding moms to maintain an abundant milk supply. Divine Mama Bars are 100% all-natural and made with lactogenic (milk-producing) ingredients, with no artificial sweeteners, no processed starches, and no new food technology.

4. Simplisse Breast Pump Cleaning Wipes, $9 drugstore.com: For quick cleaning of Breastfeeding parts that's safe for mom and baby. Cleans effectively with a water-based formula that's safe and non-toxic. The easy pop-up case makes cleaning fast and easy.

5. Non-Alcoholic Beer, walmart.com: There is several research that links the ingredient 'barley'(found in beer) to an increase in prolactin levels and breastmilk production. Consuming alcoholic beverages while breastfeeding can actually cause babies to take in less milk so opt for non-alcoholic.


6. Medela Tender Care Lanolin, $10 target.com: Ease nipple pain while breastfeeding with the Tender Care lanolin cream by Medela. This cream glides on smoothly and gently for comfort, and is safe for both mom and baby. Available in a convenient travel size, you can easily keep it in your diaper bag.

7. Medela Calma Breastmilk Feeding Set, $18 amazon.com: The Medela Calma is the only scientific based feeding device that helps to support the similar sucking behavior of the baby that breast feeds. Calma requires a similar sucking behavior to breastfeeding using the tongue to create a vacuum making it easier for babies to switch between breast and Calma. Breastfeeding should be well established before introducing Calma, Calma is recommended for breastfed babies and not those who are currently bottle fed as they may find it difficult to feed.

8. Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump, $300 babiesrus.com: Designed for moms who pump several times a day, this daily-use breast pump features 2-Phase Expression technology that mimics the two distinct phases of how babies breast-feed and offers portable convenience for quiet, discreet pumping anywhere.

Stay Stylish Mamas,
@Vintagedee