Calling all nursing moms!

When I was prepping to bring Goldie home, I tried to reflect on the things I wanted to do differently from when Lincoln was a newborn.  Besides prepping WAY more freezer meals (including breakfasts and lunches), I also started remembering the struggles of breastfeeding.  Because nursing was so difficult with my first, I ended up exclusively pumping and bottle feeding for about the first 5 months.  The problem was this: at any given moment, all of my nursing/pumping STUFF would be scattered at random places throughout the house.  I’d pump in the living room during the day, in our bedroom at night, sometimes in the nursery.  I was constantly lugging equipment back and forth and never had anything in one place.  It was suuuuper annoying.

The solution: Breastfeeding and Pumping Cart

Then I visited a friend’s house who’d had a baby several months earlier than me.  And she had this marvelous cart with all the things on it that you would need for breastfeeding and pumping.  It was pretty much a newborn survival kit…on wheels!  You could roll that bad boy with you from room to room, with all your stuff still in one place.  I immediately tucked that in the back of my mind and vowed to do the same with our next child.  And 2 years later, that’s exactly what I did.

What goes on your cart?

That’s where the fun part comes in…whatever the heck you want!  This is all about making life a little more convenient for you.  So think about what you’re going to want at your fingertips the most.  For me, it was things I would need for nursing and pumping, snacks, and diaper changes.  I got my cart from Michael’s, and they had a few different colors to choose from.  Here’s a closer look at what went in each section of mine.

Top: Nursing and Pumping

Why don’t we just go ahead and call this the “boob” section…because that’s really all it is.  Some things I made sure to put here were:

• Breast pump: I LOVE my Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Pump.  Keyword being…hands-free!  Although I received a free breast pump through my insurance, it had to be plugged into the wall and really limited me.  Once I knew I was going to be 100% pumping and bottle feeding, I needed the freedom to pump without being chained to a wall.  This pump runs on a rechargeable battery and was a total game changer for me.  It cost more than my frugal little heart desired, but you can’t put a price on your sanity!
• Hands-free pumping bra: This is essential, in my opinion, no matter what breast pump you plan on using.  Unless you plan on not using your hands for the next 15-30 minutes, you need one of these.
• Nipple shields: My lactation consultant recommended these when I was having trouble nursing.
• Soothies cooling gel pads:  Let’s be honest: nursing can hurt….these gel pads give you some relief.
• Lansinoh nipple cream: A must have!
• Disposable nursing pads: These were mainly the free “samples” I received in various baby registry gift bags.  I used them until I ran out, but I MUCH prefer washable nursing pads (see below).
• Washable nursing pads: Y’all…these washable nursing pads are THE bomb!  I found that the disposable pads were really rough and scratchy, and these are soooo soft!  Plus, they’re washable…so they pay for themselves almost instantly.
• Baby bottles

Middle: Snacks

We all know how hungry and thirsty you get when nursing…so go ahead and fill this part up with your favorite snacks.  Try to mix in some snacks that will give you a little energy boost, or some coconut water that has lots of electrolytes.

It’s not pictured, but you can also stash a book or E-Reader here to pass the time while nursing.

• KIND bars
• Oatmega bars
• Coconut water
• Water
• Burp cloths
• Bibs

Bottom: Diaper Changes

After coming home from the hospital, often the best place to change a diaper is where ever you’re currently posted up.  Unless you’re just dying to get into that floral and flamingo nursery that you worked so hard to prepare, but have not yet used. *ahem*  Here’s some diaper supplies to have on hand:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Baby powder
• Diaper rash cream
• Changing pad or blanket
• Disposable changing pads: In Goldie’s short 8 days of life, she’s already managed to pee everywhere at least 10 times while changing her diaper.  Thank goodness for these disposable pads!  Side note: changing a girl is SO much harder than changing a boy.  Am I right??

What are some items that you found ESSENTIAL to have nearby when you brought your newborn home?  Let us know in the comments below!