This post is sponsored by Walmart and RewardStyle.
34 Weeks down and only 6 or less to go! Can you believe it?! I sure can’t! As excited as we are to meet our little boy there’s still so much to prepare for, think about, and baby items to purchase before his arrival. One of the key and specific things I’ve been preparing for, these past couple of weeks, is breastfeeding him. I’m trying to wrap my head around it all again. You see, up until about a month ago I was set on not breastfeeding this time around, for personal reasons and experiences I had with Lia. However, after speaking with my nurse practitioner, dealing with some mom guilt, and taking into consideration the upcoming seasons, I’ve decided to commit to at least 6-8 weeks of breastfeeding to insure he receives the maximum benefits and thrives through his first fall and winter.
Luckily for me, Walmart’s online baby section has made ordering & receiving all of my nursing items, as well as other baby must haves, such a quick and effortless process. To be honest, up until now, I had no clue Walmart offered such an array of premium and exclusive brands and baby gear. For example, you can order items like the Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor, Hatch Baby products, The Dockatot Lounger, Nanobebe and many more! I haven’t had to look or shop anywhere else for my baby necessities and the best part of it all, has been the ease of having it delivered straight to my door with their 2 day shipping!
Let’s not forget about their ‘Every Day Low Prices’ which have saved us. Big time! If there’s anything I’ve learned in these past 8 months it’s that preparing for this baby has been expensive! And I’m starting from scratch in every aspect of it. Remember, it’s been a decade since we had Lia!
As complex and intimidating as breastfeeding may seem, it can also be pretty simple especially when it comes to the items you may or may not need. The key is to be prepared from the beginning, stay focused on why you’re doing this, and be open to plan B. With Lia, I had such a hard time getting her to latch, so rather than giving up, I decided pumping would be how I made sure she received all the benefits from my milk. Looking back, I would have loved to have bonded with her through latching, however I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m amazed and grateful my body was able to supply her with milk for as long as it did.
Here are my breastfeeding must haves and why I recommend them to you! These are recommendations are based on what I remember using for myself, reviews I’ve researched, and recommendations given to me.
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- Spectra S2 Hospital Strength Breast Pump – The key player. When I pumped with Lia, I used the Medela Pump In Style Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump with On-The-Go Tote, however my nurse recommended the Spectra S2 due to its more compact size, nightlight, the variety of speeds, as well as, it’s ability to adjust to help pull more milk in one sitting. RECOMMENDATION: In the beginning, even if you’re having success with latching, make sure to pump as much as possible to help establish milk supply.
- Comotomo Baby Bottle – Key player no.2! These bottles were recommended to me by my friend Ashley who has the sweetest little boys. After reading more on their design (naturally shaped, soft, silicone nipples are ideal for babies who have trouble transitioning from nursing to bottle-feeding) and all the amazing reviews, I was sold!
- Breast Milk Storage Bags – This one is pretty basic but important. You have to have a way to store and freeze your extra milk. When I breastfed Lia I probably had an entire months worth of breast milk stored in the freezer. Tucked away for anytime I was sick or decided to have a mommy’s night out!
- Disposable Nursing Pads – Because we don’t want to be out in public leaking like a clogged sprinkler! These are life savers and they don’t add bulkiness to your bra. This specific brand of pads had amazing reviews!
- Ilovesia 3Pack Nursing Bra Nude+Black+Light Pink – I definitely recommend investing in a comfortable set of nursing bras. Make sure to supply yourself with a nude one for your white tees and semi see through shirts and a black on for any black tank tops. Here’s another great style I found on Walmart that fits more like a traditional bra. For those who love to multitask here’s a handsfree bra option!
- Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter – One word – relief! Relief from all the sensitivity, itchiness and soreness that comes along with the first weeks of nursing.
- Lactation Cookie Bites – There are so many factors that can affect your milk supply – stress, lack of sleep, nutrients, not pumping enough, etc. I remember going through a period with Lia when my milk supply decreased tremendously. I thought I was going to have to throw in the towel. Thankfully, some friends recommended the herb thistle, which back in those days could only be found at an herbal store. I had to go to the only health, co-op store in town to get my hands on some and it worked! I was back in high production within days. Fast forward to today and I’m amazed at all the new tasty bars, teas, and powder supplements available for us!
- Boppy Original Nursing Pillow and Positioner– This was such a lifesaver for me both when I was trying to get Lia to lack and when I transitioned to bottle feeding. It offered extra support when holding her. I also used it to prop her up when I laid her on my bed or next to me on the sofa.
- Nursing Scarf/Cover – Because I transitioned to pumping so quickly, I never had the opportunity to use the cover in public. However, I did use one when I had to pump anywhere that wasn’t home in case someone accidentally walked in on me!
- Bibs – I love these bib bandanas. They are so darn cute. I don’t need to go into why on these! Drooling babies are the happiest babies!
- Burp Cloths – For those epic burps and for catching any spit up!
- Onesies Bodysuits – Blowouts! One of the main aspects I remember about breast feeding Lia! Man did she have the yuckiest blowouts. I threw out many a onesies in those days. So make sure to stock up on these and don’t get attached! lol. She’d probably be so embarrassed if she knew I shared this but I couldn’t leave this out!
- Baby Bottle Cooler Bag – incase your diaper bag doesn’t have an insulated compartment or you don’t have access to a refrigerator, this bottle cooler will come in handy!
- Bottle Brush – To keep those bottles fresh and clean!
- Baby Bottle Drying Rack – I love this all white one I found to fit the aesthetic of my kitchen!
Well there you have it loves! My breastfeeding must haves and all from Walmart.com! I hope you found my list and insight useful and please let me know if you have any questions about breast feeding or any of the items I listed above! As always, thank you so much for joining me here and a huge thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post!
