Hellobee

After I had Charlie, I was introduced to a world of boob supplies at the hospital that I had no idea existed.  These may help you with your breastfeeding journey, so I thought it might be worthwhile to blog about them!

Medela Contact Nipple Shield – The hospital gave these to women who had flat nipples that made it difficult for babies to latch onto, and to women with sore nipples from poor latches.  If your baby can’t latch otherwise, nipple shields can make breastfeeding much easier. Some lactation consultants don’t like shields because they think they can cause nipple confusion, and they don’t teach your baby to latch on properly because the baby only gets the nipple and not part of the breast in his mouth.  But I’ve talked to moms who were able to successfully make the transition even after months of using the shield.  It’s recommended that you start the nursing session with the shield on to get the baby to latch, and then try to take it off.  A lot of moms used these in the recovery ward to breastfeed when poor latches left their nipples extremely sore.  These Medela shields are available in two different styles and several different sizes.

Medela Supplemental Nursing System – Because we supplemented with formula while I was in the recovery ward with Charlie, the hospital gave us these supplemental nursing systems (SNS) to use rather than giving the baby a bottle.  How it works is you clip on a 2 oz bottle of formula onto your shirt.  It has a tube leading out of it that you tape onto your skin near your nipple.  Then your baby will get formula when he breastfeeds, your baby will learn to associate your breast with feeding, and the stimulation from sucking will encourage your milk to come in.  It’s a little messy and a lot of work, but pretty nifty!  I’ve even heard that adoptive moms have been able to create a milk supply using this.

Philips Avent Breast Shells – Breast shells help with flat nipples, and they help sore/cracked nipples heal by allowing them to be exposed to air.  They’re kind of a pain because they can collect a fair amount of milk, but these Philips Avent Shells allow you to save the milk!

Ameda Gel Pads – The hospital gave us these gel pads that can be refrigerated and are supposed to help with nipple soreness.  I never really used mine, but I know a lot of moms who swear by them.

Gerber Breast Therapy, Warm or Cool Packs – You can use these packs cold to provide relief from engorgement or soreness after feedings, or you can put them in the microwave and apply warm for clogged ducts or to increase milk flow before feedings. They have a hole in the middle so you can apply them while you’re pumping, which was indispensable for me in helping to get rid of clogged ducts.

Are there any boob supplies that helped your breastfeeding or pumping journey?