5 Nursing Essentials I Actually Used: What Really Helped During My Pumping Journey
I thought that nursing would just work out as long as I had breast milk.
But in reality, I was helped by more items than I expected, including pumping, baby bottles, sterilization, and nursing practice.
In this post, I will introduce the nursing essentials I actually used frequently during my first three months of pumping.
Note: This is just my personal experience. What works or doesn't work depends on the baby and the nursing method.
1. Pigeon Breast Milk Research Baby Bottles (4 bottles)
This was the item I relied on the most.
I would put the pumped breast milk into these bottles, store them in the refrigerator, and warm them in a water bath when it was time to feed.
Since my life centered around pumping, having four bottles was reassuring, considering the need for spares while others were being washed.
2. Medela Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump
I bought this after it was recommended at the maternity clinic.
The price is a bit high, but it is an item I am glad I bought.
Because it is hands-free, it was truly convenient to be able to use both hands while pumping to:
look at my smartphone
do light housework
I used it almost every day during the period when I had to pump frequently.
3. Pigeon Pochitto
I used this for sterilizing and drying baby bottles and breast pump parts.
It finishes from sterilization to drying in about an hour, which significantly reduced my daily burden.
It was very convenient because it could hold not only baby bottles but also breast pump parts.
The only thing was that I tended to put off cleaning it, so I made sure not to forget regular maintenance.
4. Baby Bottle Sponge
I used a long-handled sponge for washing the bottles and a small sponge for the nipples.
Since I washed them many times every day, having dedicated sponges made it easier and more hygienic.
5. Medela Contact Nipple Shield
I used this when my nipples were sore or when the baby's sucking strength was weak.
I was recommended this at the maternity clinic and used it. It comes in multiple sizes, so it is important to choose the one that fits you.
I also dealt with nipple confusion, and this nipple shield helped me a lot during direct nursing practice.
It was also great that it came with a case, making it easy to carry around.
Summary
Looking back, the three items I used most frequently were:
the Medela hands-free breast pump
the Pigeon Breast Milk Research baby bottles
the Pigeon Pochitto
Life with pumping was harder than I imagined, but thanks to these convenient goods, I was able to reduce the burden a little.
I hope this will be helpful for those who are about to start nursing or those who are working hard at pumping right now.