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Breastfeeding “Must Haves” You Probably Won’t Use

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Among the perks of being pregnant was the shopping. I guess it’s every pregnant mom’s hope to have all the essentials ready before the big day. Husband and i had a lot fun buying baby clothes and toys.  I would often spend a lot time rearranging our purchases in the cabinet, happy that we’ve had some of his things prepared.

We also agreed to save to buy a double electric breast pump. My co-workers suggested that we invest on a high grade pump because it will be worth it.  It will save time, since both breasts are being pumped simultaneously. So we purchased a Medela Pump In Style Advance pump from an online seller. It was  about Php 13,000. Yes, it was the biggest single purchase we had, but i tell you, it’s worth it in deed! 9 months on, i’m still satisfied with how easy to use it is.

So breast pump? Check! Then came other “breastfeeding essentials”. As an unsuspecting preggy, i was hounded by salespersons at SM.  Well, i’ll just say we really did spend a bit during those early days as new parents.

After some months post partum, I realized that some products, i don’t really needed. In fact some products you won’t really use! Some products, if not used correctly, could even sabotage your breastfeeding plans.

SM Baby Company lists down a checklist for breastfeeding mommies. Take a look below.

The breastfeeding essentials according to SM
Source: http://www.babycompany.com.ph

Of the stuff listed above, i used  the breastpump, nursing pad, breastfeeding canopy (is that the nursing cover?), storage bottles and milk storage bags. They were in deed breastfeeding essentials! I did not use these products: nipple shield and nipple cream.

Below i’s the explanation why you probably won’t need such products.

Nipple shield

  • It’s a nipple-shaped rubber or silicone for women having nursing difficulty. It’s being marketed for women with flat or inverted nipples.  You’re supposed to wear it on your nipple when baby’s feeding to aide baby in achieving that perfect latch.

Some moms put on the nipple shield so babies can get s good “grip” when feeding.

  • Contact nipple shield costs P855 per pair at Medela Moms. Chicco also has nipples shields, which costs P700 per pair in major malls.
  • According to Dr. Sears, using  a shield can lead to a decrease in your milk production because the breasts may not receive the same stimulation a breastfeeding without it would.
  • My sister had a rough start in breastfeeding because of her flat nipples. Her baby would turn his head away from her nipple because it was so flat he can hardly put it in his mouth. I was kinda wary to let her use a nipple shield so I did more research. Moms with flat nipples should focus on learning the proper latch and make sure that baby’s mouth is open wide before bringing baby to the breast.
  • Consult a lactation expert if you really want to use a nipple shield.  Kellymomstresses that it should be a last option and that is should be considered as a short-term solution.

Nipple cream

  • It’s a cream, usually lanolin based, which you put on your nipple. It’s supposed to heal cracked or bruised nipples or to soften calloused ones.  Some cream products also aide in preparing the breasts for lactation, according to manufacturers.
  • Lansinoh creams cost P500 while Purelan costs P600.

There’s a wide variety of breast or nipple creams available.

  • Along with the Medela PISA was a sample of Purelan nipple cream. But i did not use it because i was afraid baby might ingest it. There’s a big chance that baby can swallow any foreign matter you put on your breast.
  • Although most literature in deed recommend using lanolin-cased nipple cream, you can get by not using one. On my first week of breast feeding my right nipple bled. It’s probably due to excessive and intensive pumping.  I did not use any nipple cream to heal, I just expressed some milk and left it on the wound. Wetness tends to prolong infection so i  just let it air dry. After a few days the wound was gone and I managed to breast feed from that side again.
  • Breast milk, because of its antibacterial properties can also heal wounds.  Just express some by hand and leave it on your nipple for a few minutes. Here are some more natural healing tips for your nipples.
  • As for the claims that some breast gels prepare for lactation, this probably is not true. I got by without putting anything on them before my birth. I just cleaned my nipples with cotton balls wet with hot water and that’s pretty much it.  To establish breastfeeding, you really to feed on demand and express milk when baby can’t nurse yet.  For more tips for newbie nursing moms, click here.
  • If you really think you need a nipple cream, read up of its pros and cons. Better yet, consult your doctor to be sure of its safety. Here’s a rundown of the type of nipple creams for lactating mommies.

Breast is best. This can be said in your manner of breastfeeding, too. It’s better to rid your breastfeeding style of any “performance enhancing” accessories. It’s best if you learn how to have a good latch  so baby can get the milk he so deserves. In nursing your baby, breast is all you need!

Also worth reading:

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