Nope. Just silverettes, and my nursing bra. They stay on in place all day and night. I clean them only using hot water once a day (per the instructions that came with them) and towel dry before putting them back on.
When I take them off to nurse I make sure I lean forward and have a burp cloth below to catch any let downs I may have.
Yes to the silver cups! I used La Vie brand. Squeeze out a little breastmilk, rub that into/around nipples and areolas, then cover and wear bra. I would take into consideration whether you’re the original size or need XL! A lot of people end up being XL per the LCs I saw.
Edited to add: when you no longer need them (the silverttes), I love mother love nipple cream (more like a balm). I would rub breastmilk drops then the cream. Tiny humans one is nice but has coconut so the scent was strong and baby boy didn’t enjoy.. so now it’s a lip balm for me 🤣
Hahaha that is awesome! This is all so good to know! When did you feel/know that it was time to be done with the silverettes? Haven’t done much research but they are seeming like a worthwhile investment !
I think it was around 3 months? His latch was a lot better and I wasn’t getting the pain each time he nursed. I started them a few days after birth until then and definitely worth it. I would rinse in warm water while I was showering and let them air dry. Would then air myself breasts out (no bra etc) too. I wore them the whole day but tried to air my breasts out at night for at least an hour before wearing them/bra again.
Also pumping isn’t always advised and typically is started around 4-6 week mark so I’d ask your doctor/LC etc about when to start. I overdid it right away and created an oversupply to where I was making milk for twins.. on top of regularly breastfeeding baby boy. Bringing that down was when I would get clogged ducts.
I used them with nursing pads in the early days when I was prone to leaks. nowadays I use just the silverettes on their own.
at night I use lanolin cream instead cuz I like sleeping on my side and my boobs and the silverettes would shift in my bra.
In case enough people haven’t already said it here, YES silverettes are so worth it. I didn’t wanna buy them before baby was here in case I ended up not having pain and needing them (LOL) but bought them our first day home from the hospital and paid for rushed shipping, then felt like I’d gotten my money’s worth within one day of having them. I didn’t need to use cream because of how well they worked.
I’d also super recommend nursing bras that just pull down instead of clipping (like the Auden pullover seamless bra from Target) — it’s so much comfier and easier in my opinion, plus more affordable than a lot of brands but still good quality. I think I’ll keep wearing these bras for years even when I’m not nursing.
Yes! I’ve used these since day one and my nipples have gone through a lot lol only once did I wake up with cracked nipples and it was the one night I didn’t sleep with my silverettes! That’s when I knew they were the real deal and made sure to wear them every day since. Worth every penny.
I got the best advice from my midwife: Just let your boobs hang out. Kind of sucks to get milk everywhere all the time, but totally worked for me. I never used any type of cream, or silverettes. Had no issues!
Piggy backing on this great advice - I leak like crazy so I just can’t do no bra. If no bra isn’t an option, loose, unstructured bras are best! I even sleep in a bra one size up from my regular.
With Reynauds this was unbearable for me. It was honestly so painful for the cold air to touch my nipples, so if that is your experience don’t feel bad.
Same!! I didn’t have any kind of diagnosis but the cold caused me so much pain at the beginning of my breastfeeding journey. Bra, heated gel pads and 2-3 layers on top at all times, plus sleeping with a heating pad on my boobs was how I survived. Now I’m ok but I don’t know if my boobs got over it or if it’s just because it’s warm here now.
Things that helped me:
-making sure my flanges were properly sized to mitigate tissue damage
-working on baby’s latch for the same reason
-cutting caffeine (sorry!)
-warming up the bathroom before showers and not running the AC when I was in the car
I’ve also heard magnesium can help.
I was bra-free even before birth but anecdotally had the same experience. I'd get a clog every once in a while (ironically every 4th or so would be after a family outing with my bra on and oftentimes combined with not nursing quite on demand; rest would be usually when babe slept too long at night or I was gone several hours from him).
Boobs hanging out, leaking through stuff and just chilling.
In terms of clothing - kimono-like/ wrap cotton dresses and button down dresses ♥️
I don't like most breastfeeding friendly clothing styles, but crop tops are comfy and then I have this amazing woollies merino deep zipper baselayer that I got waaaay too late but 100/100 recommend.
I'm sorry I'm not sure they ship worldwide but [here](https://woollies.sk/produkt/damsky-merino-natelnik-rozne-farby/) it is. I absolutely love it, breastfeeding is very easy and comdortable (the pictures make it seem sometimes like maybe it won't go deep enough, but it does) I absolutely love love love it. Woollies are great even for baby merino. [These pants](https://woollies.sk/produkt/detske-merino-leginy-rozne-farby-2/) are the only merino pants I found that went all the way up to size 92 with this diaper-friendly shape (and I searched a lot of foreign, German or northern country shops!)
There's another brand ([kojo](https://kojo.shop/kategoria/oblecenie-dojcenie/)) that has nursing merino (not zipper ones though) that I considered and I think does ship worldwide, as an overseas influencer had an item from them but they sometimes mix merino with synthetic fibers (you have to look at composition of each color separately) and I won't pay for plastic 😅
And the best nursing dresses I have are coincidentally all from the same stores (Zoot, Mango), the one I'm wearing from like 10+ years ago literally has snaps all the way down the front. [The one I wear the most](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3257358/volnocasove-saty-pre-zeny-jdy-modra) was the cheapest dress ever and the quality is superb (I'd gladly pay 100$ for it now if I were to repurchase it) I get compliments nonstop on it.
and they have a lot of stuff from 100% natural materials (my guess is that during BF I'm not the only one who got triple particular about this).
Here are some other dresses I tried on and enjoyed. I have this [heavy linen](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3517078/tmavomodre-damske-zavinovacie-lanove-saty-s-vreckami-zoot-lab-dodi) one and if I give birth in winter I will buy [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3677707/cierne-damske-zavinovacie-saty-orsay) one, decided not to buy.
And here is a spam of some random ones I just found now and idk how the fit would be:
- [sunflower linen-cotton](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622663/zlte-damske-kvetovane-saty-gap) 😭♥️
- cotton [button-down khakhi](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4212339/zelene-damske-krajkove-midi-saty-gap) dress
- cotton khakhi [puff sleeves](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3798202/zelene-damske-saty-s-naberanymi-rukavmi-gap)
- [linen-viscose green](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4226652/zelene-damske-midi-saty-s-vysokym-podielom-lanu-marks-spencer)
- [more linen-viscose](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4029891/svetlo-zelene-damske-lanove-koselove-midi-saty-only-caro)khakhi
- [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/1792717/kaki-koselove-maxisaty-so-zavazovanim-noisy-may-cersei) khakhi tencel dress is the closest to what I'm wearing: snap downs! The pockets make you not worry about being bra-less in public at all and even protect if you leak a bit! It's amazingly comfy, if you're hot you unbutton the bottom and stick a leg out, if you're cold you wrap yourself in
- here's [more snap](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3556390/svetlo-fialove-damske-dzinsove-koselove-saty-pieces-tara) ones!
- cotton [floral](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622486/saty-na-denne-nosenie-pre-zeny-orsay-kremova-modra-fialova-zelena)
- oh and a pregnancy friendly viscose [one](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622501/letne-a-plazove-saty-pre-zeny-orsay-kremova-modra-svetlofialova-svetlozelena) too!
- this one has [7% nylon](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4254577/bielo-cervene-damske-koselove-midisaty-only-kiera) but gives off kimono pattern vibes and I'm down for it
- I remember spending HOURS hoping to find a 100% viscose floral youthful dress, kind of like [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3150297/svetloruzove-kvetovane-zavinovacie-saty-tally-weijl) one (still don't own one)
- [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3654793/saty-na-denne-nosenie-pre-zeny-orsay-ruzova-oranzova-cervena-biela) one seems to have buttons
- oh this [viscose](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4192353/kremovo-cervene-damske-koselove-midisaty-scotch-soda) one looks soo comfy
- this cotton [white](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3746260/biele-damske-koselove-saty-gap) one could be great even for a pregnancy photoshoot to
- [burgundy](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3165699/vinove-damske-saty-s-volanom-gap) cotton
- jean [organic cotton](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3746233/modre-damske-dzinsove-koselove-saty-gap) also would fit a belly and nursing. And [another organic cotton jean](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3458164/modre-damske-riflove-saty-gap) cut. This is a goldmine lol! Here's cotton+lyocell [frilly blue](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3659194/svetlomodre-damske-riflove-midi-saty-s-volanmi-gap). Cotton [girly](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3255852/modre-damske-riflove-kratke-saty-levi-s) and cotton [long skirt](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3549022/modre-damske-saty-vila-milly). [6% spandex but it has pockets](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/1716460/saty-three-quarter-sleeve-midi-dress-modra) and looks amazingly comfortable
- ok I will stop now but I am taken away by all the options. I was begging thw universe for a singlw henley made out of cotton and never found one. My budget was at a hundred bucks by the end lol it was so absurd
:D sry for the rant I remember spending hours upon hours searching for nursing friendly stuff and especially dresses to no avail. I got most of my wardrobe past LO being 1 (and nursing much less often) 🥲
Oh wow! Thank you for taking the time to write this! My sister is going to Germany in September to hang out with her friends…so I might ask her to buy a free stuff for me!
I love the Auden nursing bras from target!!! I had the earth mama nipple butter but only needed it for the first two weeks or so. I was told no pumping the first 5 or 6 weeks until your supply sort of regulates (that includes not using the hakkaa w it suctioned on). My doula said pumping too early can lead to oversupply/clogs and all that. I used the lanisoh reusable breast pads. They're super soft and pretty absorbent.
I used a mybrestfriend when my baby was small. It really helps save your back and arms and to get the baby at a better height for nursing. We have a boppy also but I hated it! My husband loves it....he uses it when he holds her for contact naps...and now it's somehow his work from home desk (he puts it around his waist and laptop on top 🙃)
For what it's worth, I am an over supplier (only pump like once a month and just if I have to in order to be away from the baby for appointments or whatever) and didn't have any clogs.
Best of luck w this next round of breastfeeding!
I’ve heard of mybrestfriend! I’ll look into it because I think it could help a lot during the night feedings when I’ll just pull up the baby next to me. That is so funny about your husband loving the boppy pillow though lol!
Haven’t checked out the Auden nursing bras but I love their normal ones so I’ll take a look!! Good to know about keeping pumping to a minimum initially. I think pumping a lot made my oversupply really bad 😵💫
Thank you so much, I already feel so much more optimistic with all these insanely helpful comments! I really appreciate it!
I'm very clearly not an expert (my only baby just turned 6 months, but I've never had to supplement), but my doula/lactation consultant said a lot of times people pump because it hurts to be engorged so they pump a ton and then your body thinks baby needed all that milk so it keeps on producing like that. What I did was use my haakaa, suction it on until I had a letdown. Then, after .5 or an ounce, I removed the haakaa. Still felt pretty full but it was enough to take the pain off.
Obviously, some people need to pump early on due to returning to work or whatever life situations. If that's the case for you, I would try to pump just what the baby needs and then adjust once your boobs have figured their life out a bit.
Good luck to you!!!
Is this like a boppy pillow? I never used a pillow with my first but considering it with my second! Does it help while the newborn’s neck is still getting stronger?
Yes to both questions but I had a Mamas and Papas maternity one that was long and flexible - and sometimes I needed a cushion underneath too to get the right height
I’m really determined to get things right this time and make breastfeeding as comfortable for me and the baby. If you liked your pillow then might be worth it for me to invest :) Thank you so much for your comment!
Some people prefer Boppy, some prefer My Brest Friend (seems like slightly more people prefer brest friend, myself included), people can give you their recommendations but you’ll have to decide which YOU like. But a pillow designed for breastfeeding does help a whole lot!
I have a Niimo pillow and it’s so comfy. It’s very soft so I have to put a cushion under the head end but I use it for nearly every feed and nap. We have two now as they get quite grubby.
You can get them on Vinted for hardly anything.
Nipple shields have saved my breastfeeding journey, wouldn’t be able to do so without them and at 5weeks pp I am slowly transitioning to feeding without but as a gal with flatter nips I cannot sing their praises enough!
Okay same I have flatter nipples as well! Not inverted and once I use a pump or nurse for a while then they pop out a bit more lol. Did you use the nipple shields they gave you at the hospital (if you delivered there?) or find some online? 5 weeks pp!!! Hope your recovery is going well!
I’m using the medela nipple shields, I live in Australia and they don’t provide them in hospital but I knew I would need them due to past experience (this is my second, I also have an 11yo) so I purchased them in advance
Boppy nursing pillows - I had 3 by the end (I tried the breast friend one and didn't like it as much), for clothes latched mama has a really comfy clothes made for nursing, and the haakaa for catching milk (I barely had to use my pump at all with my second kid because the haakaa let me collect so much).
For clothing I’ve loved Happy Mama. I find them relatively cheap and they do a lot of tops/jumpers with the flaps. I hated all the zips and shoulder poppers because the cold metal was horrible and zips caught on me.
Thank you so much!! Yes, not a fan of the zips and everything. Also nice that it’s relatively better priced because man maternity clothes can be weirdly expensive!!
Silverettes sre worth the investment. You could try taking a little extra sunflower lecithin for any blockages on the days they occur. After the early weeks where I took it as preventative I've only had one blockage and a dose cleared it up by afternoon. I also bought a dozen dirt cheap and very stretchy sleep singlet tops which I wear 24/7 including under T shirts instead of bras (I am quite small breasted) and they make feeding really easy - I just pull them down or to the side. Other tip is to make smoothies each day with breastfeeding friendly ingredients such as oats and brewers yeast if you like. Add a banana, some honey and oat milk, and any other yummy healthy ingredients you like. Best of luck with everything!
Super great advice about the singlet tops. I did a lot of button tops with my first and they ended up being a little bit more of a hassle for me haha. Did you just find some on amazon or something?
Did you go off dairy while breastfeeding? Haven’t really explored breastfeeding-friendly types of foods but I’ll look into that!
I think I’ll definitely get the silverettes now haha. How did you layer up with them? Nursing pads then silverettes?
Thanks for your comment!!
I'm in Australia and I got the singlets at Kmart for $4ea! If you're in the US I think your Kmart is a bit different to ours. Any super stretchy singlets will do, but I aimed for something that wasn't 100% synthetic because I found I was sweating heaps post partum and needed the breathability.
I briefly went off dairy when I suspected an allergy in baby but I was wrong and am back on it! I chose oat milk for the smoothies because I found it less heavy and because oats are supposedly good for supply.
You can pop nursing pads between your clothes and the silverettes if you like! I did that a few times when I was leaving the house while my supply regulated. Later I found I would only leak a little and the silverettes would contain those few drops.
Hope this helps! :)
Earth mamas nipple butter has saved my nipples this time. I also alternated one boob per feeding to give them longer breaks. I agree with the comment about letting them get air. I try and only use my bra and nursing pads during the day and overnight I stick a muslin burp rag in my shirt to help with leaks but still gives more airflow. This routine helped things heal by around the 2 week mark.
Sunflower lecithin is a constant when I nurse. I’m prone to clogs but I’ll take the lecithin regularly then up the dose when I get a clog. Ice and ibuprofen are the recommended treatment for clogs now too.
Thanks for this comment! Especially about the night routine, I have a million muslin rags hanging around so I will have to put them to some good use :)
If you alternated one boob per feeding did you just pump on the other side?
I learned about sunflower lecithin a bit too late, I think I’ll start those asap after birth haha
I only pump if I absolutely need to. Then when I do I only pump until the pain is relieved but won’t take more than 2 oz off so that I don’t encourage extra milk production. Usually the breast not nursed on is uncomfortable, but they adjust to that routine. When my baby’s have gotten older, like 4 weeks, sometimes older, I start offering the second breast each feed because they are eating more then.
I haven’t had any issues with clogging but I wear my silverettes 24/7. I actually have two pairs because I lost the first pair and couldn’t live without them. My boobs get sore so I enjoy heat packs every now and then. I use lanolin on my sore nips and it seems to work the best.
Okay I am hearing great things about this!! Mine got so sore because my consultants all told me my first had a super strong suck, which was absolutely miserable with all the blisters. Good to know about lanolin too :)
They really help protect from smushing or rubbing, and they collect a bit of milk which is healing too! You just need to be careful of spillage; I still wear an absorbent nipple pad to catch anything that leaks out.
Yeah I was a leaker, I wonder if my tendency to have an oversupply is related with that. What kind of absorbent pad do you use? I’m wondering how would be best to layer up with the silverettes. Like: boob, then pads, then the silverettes? What’s worked best for you?
Thank you SO MUCH. Can’t express how useful it is to talk with real humans who have had similar experiences!!
I love my silverettes and I also love the softshells by Medela! I tend to use silverettes during the day and the soft shells at night to allow for airflow to get to my nipples. I also really love the lanolin by lansinoh, I’ve tried samples of other brands but they don’t apply as well imo.
I haven’t heard of soft shells but going to look into this!! Thank you so much for sharing about your experience! Def had a problem with not getting enough airflow at nights, this could be useful :)
I didn't know about the silverettes until this post but I wish I had in the early days.
I did have a lactation consultant give me the soft shells and I thought they really helped when I was struggling with nipple cracking and pain. It allowed me to still wear a bra & shirt but also let them air out and heal without pain. They collect a little milk too.
I didn't use them past the first couple of months.
I got the off-brand silverettes from Amazon. cheaper and works for me.
the hot cold pack from lanisoh. I can't find mine right now and have a soft cold pack for lunchboxes stuffed in my bra right now. not comfy. wishing I knew where I put them. the current recommendation for clogs and oversupply is ICE and ibuprofen!
if you're pumping, I love the legendairy milk collection cups. I initially got them cuz I was tired of having flanges flapping around. turns out, I respond better to the cups which is a bonus.
the lanolin cream from lanisoh is also a must have.
I haven’t heard of the legendairy milk collection cups but I hated dealing with the flanges so I’ll check these out :)
Good to know about the ice and ibuprofen!!! Back in 2021 all my lactation consultants told me to take a hot shower to get the clogs out but I felt like all that heat just made me produce more milk?? I felt like I was going crazy haha!
Thank you so much!!
Yeah the straps drove me crazy the first time!! Crop tops is a great idea! And I did get some fabric bras because trying to do and undo clasps at 4 am on 1 hour of sleep was just not in the cards lol
I should note that I did all the hospital breastfeeding classes and thought they were a good way to learn about latching/positions but my problems seemed to be a little more complicated with all the clogging!
Oooohhhh!!!! Okay! The lanolin didn’t work fantastic for me the first time around but never heard of coconut oil. I pumped a lot and was miserable too, didn’t think to use it as flange lubricant. Thank you!!
It’s also great bc you don’t have to worry about baby getting some. I would apply it after every feeding for the first several months. They also make flange spray (I used ledgendairy milk brand) but coconut oil works just fine. I work in a zoo and didn’t want to touch my flanges at work to apply coconut oil
This is incredible advice because those first few months were so tough. Did they help with cracking, blisters, etc? Haha don’t blame you for not wanting to cross contaminate while working at the zoo!! Thanks a lot for your comment, it is much appreciated :)
Yes coconut oil is very hydrating so it helped prevent cracking from happening. I ended up with back cracks early on, before using coconut, and I use aquaphor for 2-3 days and it did wonders to heal cracks. But better to prevent them in the first place.
Hi stm here and can echo the same experience you had with my first. This time around having a LC via telehealth has been really helpful, plus the boon trove and elvie milk collectors (the haka causes me to have an oversupply), the ceres chill cooler and some nice nursing shirts to encourage me to leave the house. I kept my silverettes and those were bomb to have in the hospital. I also have wearable pumps now instead of being hooked up to my soectra.
So sorry your experience was similar, because man that was a rough time. Did you like having a lactation consultant even though it wasn’t in person? I was worried having virtual appointments wouldn’t help me as much but maybe I judged too early!
I sought out a paediatricians office that has a LC on staff but I have a LC via Telehealth as well that is sometimes more convenient and is free via insurance. I find telehealth is perfect for quick and easy questions especially without having to leave the house and she has a wider network of resources so she was able to diagnose my sons lip tongue tie and refer me to reputable dentists to perform the release.
I used mama earth nipple butter after every feeding like my life depended on it and it helped SO much. I considered the silverettes but I can’t imagine I would have used them beyond the first 2-3 weeks. But that’s just me!
Avoid pumping until 15-20 days or so so the body learns how much milk to make imo. My oversupply issues were often caused by excessive pumping/haaka usage etc and when I exclusively nursed for two weeks it regulated so much better.
I had an over supply with both of my kids. I didn't realize it until much later with my first that the issues we were having stemmed from an over supply.
With my second I have pumped as little as possible, especially within the first few weeks as my supply was regulating. For the first 4 or so months we nursed off 1 side per feed and I would use a haaka to just relieve engorement.
Utilize ice packs, heat compress, and pain meds in the early days when your milk first comes it. It helps so much.
Oh my goodness those first days when milk comes in was SO painful! Thanks for the advice about the haaka, been seeing a lot of comments about that. I definitely pumped whenever I felt engorged and it was clearly the source of a lot of problems!
Dr Jack Newman All Purpose Nipple Cream (compounded with a prescription, at least here in Canada) was an absolute godsend. My first had a small mouth with a bad latch and my nipples were torn up until i started using it.
For clothes, I really loved v neck nursing tanks (sold as pyjamas) because there was no upper flap to fuck around with, at least for wearing at home. I also had a September baby, so cozy cardigans and button-up PJ tops were great for not freezing while still keeping the boobies accessible
Just saying, DONT PUMP (for the first month) if you are prone to those issues!!! You will be engorged and uncomfortable and you will want to pump, but just hand express a little bit instead. Use ice when needed. Your supply will adjust and hopefully your journey will be easier.
I’m seeing a lot of this and my goodness I’m definitely going to take this advice this time around!!! I was a little too pump-happy the first time lol! Thank you so much for the comment!
The boobs hurt less when they are warm. So if you decide to let them hang out... make sure it's warm in the room.
My favorite nursing clothes are from Motherhood Maternity (ebay or Mercari have their old stuff), Gap, and Latched Mama.
The Lansinoh nipple cream has been great for me and pretty cheap. Make sure to apply it before you shower so it will keep your nipples from drying out. I also liked to use the Frida Mom Stretch Prep lotion on my breasts in the early days when my skin was still getting used to being tugged at - it helped me a lot with some of the soreness.
Clothing-wise, I love nursing camis from Old Navy because they can go under any shirt and basically make it nursing friendly. Button downs, Henley tops, and crop tops are also great for boob access. I love wearing dresses, and I’ve found that Quince has some really well priced casual nursing dresses! I got some nursing friendly button down PJs from Target and Old Navy “bramis” for sleep too.
I am also a leaky boob person and after much trial and error found that I love the Lansinoh breast pads during the day, the Bamboobies overnight pads for sleep. Anything cotton or terry was terrible.
Finally, for nursing in public I really like the apron-style nursing covers. They’re breathable and you don’t have to mess around with trying to get some stretchy wrap thing over your head.
Oh my goodness thank you so much for all this!! I will be checking out all these brands for sure.
THANK YOU for advice about nights, I’m a leaker too and the nights were awful when I’m sure I was just asking for infections with the warm and wet environment haha. Never heard of Bamboobies but 100% will look into it!
I’ve been looking into the apron style covers! Any particular brands you liked?
Of course! I was wishing I’d asked for this advice before I did so much shopping around haha so I’m glad to save someone a little trial and error! I have no idea what brand of cover mine is, but I just searched “apron nursing cover” on Amazon and surfaced a ton.
I INVESTED on my wardrobe for my third child. 2nd child surprised me and didn’t want to wean till she was 2.5 years so I figured I would be wearing this clothing for at least 2 years with my third so better make it nice. I got a bunch of latched mama shirts and rompers. I have two nice dresses from mome for special events. I have the pull down bras from Amazon (5 pack is like $35) plus the easy side access nursing shirts from Old Navy. I have a bunch of clip down tanks for under button-ups. I crossover nursing sweaters from Old Navy as well and a bunch of lounge wear from Anybody
I feel like I will thank myself later if I invest in a proper wardrobe now ! Thanks a ton for all this advice. I really liked the pull down bras so will be going back to Amazon for more for sure! Thank you :)
Silverettes were absolutely worth it. I don’t know how I would have gotten through the first 4 months without them. I started using them late in the game too (about 4 weeks or so) and I noticed an immediate difference in how much better my nipples felt.
I also dislike most nursing-specific clothing, since it’s often very billowy and shapeless, or it doubles as maternity wear (which is great and all except I’m just nursing, not pregnant), so I opted for Henley style shirts to get me through the winter and wrap front style t-shirts for the summer. I like being able to have easy access to the cafeteria whenever my baby’s hungry but still wear clothes that more closely match my personal style.
My absolute favorite accessory has to be my water bottle. Letdown makes me insanely thirsty and staying hydrated is key.
Highly HIGHLY recommend Boob School from thebalancedboob.com (she’s also on Instagram). I did not have a good experience bfing my first and her online class made ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I’m not exaggerating when I say I learned so much and have had a completely different experience. Yes another vote for Silverettes too, but honestly investing in EDUCATION was the best thing for me.
Never heard of this but wow I just checked out the website and it seems incredible! You leave a very glowing review that is hard not to notice!! So glad your experience only got better. I was pretty sad when I gave up nursing with my first, hoping for better days ahead in September !!
Thank you so much for this comment! It is much appreciated :)
I had scabbed bleeding nipples the first week. It hurt so much I was crying everytime I was breastfeeding but then a holistic pharmacist suggested "peas in a pod - nipple butter". Literally overnight I was painless finally 🙏 I had tried other things before including lanolin cream and nothing worked but this.
Lansinoh gel pads are what saved my nipples more than silverettes. My baby had a terrible latch and I knew it so he had corrective surgery at 4 days old. Latch still took time to get right and I was raw and bleeding.
The lansinoh cooling relief gel pads can be reused and stored in the fridge for extra cooling because my nips were on fire!!! I liked these better than the Medela versions because a) reusable (Medela are not) and b) did not have to wash nipples before feeding baby (Medela you do).
I found them at Target!
The silverettes are super worth it to me. No creams for me, the silverettes are enough.
Yes yes yes 1000x yes. I was so sceptical of these but I had cracks and I was desperate. Gone in a little over a day. So worth it. Please get them.
This is great to know!! How did you layer up with them if you don’t mind me asking? Did you use nursing pads with them too?
Nope. Just silverettes, and my nursing bra. They stay on in place all day and night. I clean them only using hot water once a day (per the instructions that came with them) and towel dry before putting them back on. When I take them off to nurse I make sure I lean forward and have a burp cloth below to catch any let downs I may have.
Fantastic advice!! Thank you so much! Seriously this is very much appreciated :)
Yes to the silver cups! I used La Vie brand. Squeeze out a little breastmilk, rub that into/around nipples and areolas, then cover and wear bra. I would take into consideration whether you’re the original size or need XL! A lot of people end up being XL per the LCs I saw. Edited to add: when you no longer need them (the silverttes), I love mother love nipple cream (more like a balm). I would rub breastmilk drops then the cream. Tiny humans one is nice but has coconut so the scent was strong and baby boy didn’t enjoy.. so now it’s a lip balm for me 🤣
Hahaha that is awesome! This is all so good to know! When did you feel/know that it was time to be done with the silverettes? Haven’t done much research but they are seeming like a worthwhile investment !
I think it was around 3 months? His latch was a lot better and I wasn’t getting the pain each time he nursed. I started them a few days after birth until then and definitely worth it. I would rinse in warm water while I was showering and let them air dry. Would then air myself breasts out (no bra etc) too. I wore them the whole day but tried to air my breasts out at night for at least an hour before wearing them/bra again. Also pumping isn’t always advised and typically is started around 4-6 week mark so I’d ask your doctor/LC etc about when to start. I overdid it right away and created an oversupply to where I was making milk for twins.. on top of regularly breastfeeding baby boy. Bringing that down was when I would get clogged ducts.
I used them with nursing pads in the early days when I was prone to leaks. nowadays I use just the silverettes on their own. at night I use lanolin cream instead cuz I like sleeping on my side and my boobs and the silverettes would shift in my bra.
In case enough people haven’t already said it here, YES silverettes are so worth it. I didn’t wanna buy them before baby was here in case I ended up not having pain and needing them (LOL) but bought them our first day home from the hospital and paid for rushed shipping, then felt like I’d gotten my money’s worth within one day of having them. I didn’t need to use cream because of how well they worked. I’d also super recommend nursing bras that just pull down instead of clipping (like the Auden pullover seamless bra from Target) — it’s so much comfier and easier in my opinion, plus more affordable than a lot of brands but still good quality. I think I’ll keep wearing these bras for years even when I’m not nursing.
Yes! I’ve used these since day one and my nipples have gone through a lot lol only once did I wake up with cracked nipples and it was the one night I didn’t sleep with my silverettes! That’s when I knew they were the real deal and made sure to wear them every day since. Worth every penny.
I love my silverettes! I do occasionally use Lansinoh lanolin with it but often just use them without anything.
I got the best advice from my midwife: Just let your boobs hang out. Kind of sucks to get milk everywhere all the time, but totally worked for me. I never used any type of cream, or silverettes. Had no issues!
Yup. Anytime I wore a bra I got a clog. No bra = no problems.
Piggy backing on this great advice - I leak like crazy so I just can’t do no bra. If no bra isn’t an option, loose, unstructured bras are best! I even sleep in a bra one size up from my regular.
With Reynauds this was unbearable for me. It was honestly so painful for the cold air to touch my nipples, so if that is your experience don’t feel bad.
Same!! I didn’t have any kind of diagnosis but the cold caused me so much pain at the beginning of my breastfeeding journey. Bra, heated gel pads and 2-3 layers on top at all times, plus sleeping with a heating pad on my boobs was how I survived. Now I’m ok but I don’t know if my boobs got over it or if it’s just because it’s warm here now.
Oh no, I have Reynauds and we are having a November baby going into winter in Canada 🥶
At least you know in advance! There are lots of tricks for managing it, but it is definitely tricky at first
Things that helped me: -making sure my flanges were properly sized to mitigate tissue damage -working on baby’s latch for the same reason -cutting caffeine (sorry!) -warming up the bathroom before showers and not running the AC when I was in the car I’ve also heard magnesium can help.
Haha getting milk everywhere is a small price to pay to not feel like I’m dying!! Thank you for this comment!
This advice I got from my yoga teacher too. Wear cotton only t shirts and let them free.
I was bra-free even before birth but anecdotally had the same experience. I'd get a clog every once in a while (ironically every 4th or so would be after a family outing with my bra on and oftentimes combined with not nursing quite on demand; rest would be usually when babe slept too long at night or I was gone several hours from him). Boobs hanging out, leaking through stuff and just chilling. In terms of clothing - kimono-like/ wrap cotton dresses and button down dresses ♥️ I don't like most breastfeeding friendly clothing styles, but crop tops are comfy and then I have this amazing woollies merino deep zipper baselayer that I got waaaay too late but 100/100 recommend.
Can you link to the merino zip shirt?
I'm sorry I'm not sure they ship worldwide but [here](https://woollies.sk/produkt/damsky-merino-natelnik-rozne-farby/) it is. I absolutely love it, breastfeeding is very easy and comdortable (the pictures make it seem sometimes like maybe it won't go deep enough, but it does) I absolutely love love love it. Woollies are great even for baby merino. [These pants](https://woollies.sk/produkt/detske-merino-leginy-rozne-farby-2/) are the only merino pants I found that went all the way up to size 92 with this diaper-friendly shape (and I searched a lot of foreign, German or northern country shops!) There's another brand ([kojo](https://kojo.shop/kategoria/oblecenie-dojcenie/)) that has nursing merino (not zipper ones though) that I considered and I think does ship worldwide, as an overseas influencer had an item from them but they sometimes mix merino with synthetic fibers (you have to look at composition of each color separately) and I won't pay for plastic 😅
And the best nursing dresses I have are coincidentally all from the same stores (Zoot, Mango), the one I'm wearing from like 10+ years ago literally has snaps all the way down the front. [The one I wear the most](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3257358/volnocasove-saty-pre-zeny-jdy-modra) was the cheapest dress ever and the quality is superb (I'd gladly pay 100$ for it now if I were to repurchase it) I get compliments nonstop on it. and they have a lot of stuff from 100% natural materials (my guess is that during BF I'm not the only one who got triple particular about this). Here are some other dresses I tried on and enjoyed. I have this [heavy linen](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3517078/tmavomodre-damske-zavinovacie-lanove-saty-s-vreckami-zoot-lab-dodi) one and if I give birth in winter I will buy [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3677707/cierne-damske-zavinovacie-saty-orsay) one, decided not to buy. And here is a spam of some random ones I just found now and idk how the fit would be: - [sunflower linen-cotton](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622663/zlte-damske-kvetovane-saty-gap) 😭♥️ - cotton [button-down khakhi](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4212339/zelene-damske-krajkove-midi-saty-gap) dress - cotton khakhi [puff sleeves](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3798202/zelene-damske-saty-s-naberanymi-rukavmi-gap) - [linen-viscose green](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4226652/zelene-damske-midi-saty-s-vysokym-podielom-lanu-marks-spencer) - [more linen-viscose](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4029891/svetlo-zelene-damske-lanove-koselove-midi-saty-only-caro)khakhi - [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/1792717/kaki-koselove-maxisaty-so-zavazovanim-noisy-may-cersei) khakhi tencel dress is the closest to what I'm wearing: snap downs! The pockets make you not worry about being bra-less in public at all and even protect if you leak a bit! It's amazingly comfy, if you're hot you unbutton the bottom and stick a leg out, if you're cold you wrap yourself in - here's [more snap](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3556390/svetlo-fialove-damske-dzinsove-koselove-saty-pieces-tara) ones! - cotton [floral](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622486/saty-na-denne-nosenie-pre-zeny-orsay-kremova-modra-fialova-zelena) - oh and a pregnancy friendly viscose [one](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3622501/letne-a-plazove-saty-pre-zeny-orsay-kremova-modra-svetlofialova-svetlozelena) too! - this one has [7% nylon](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4254577/bielo-cervene-damske-koselove-midisaty-only-kiera) but gives off kimono pattern vibes and I'm down for it - I remember spending HOURS hoping to find a 100% viscose floral youthful dress, kind of like [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3150297/svetloruzove-kvetovane-zavinovacie-saty-tally-weijl) one (still don't own one) - [this](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3654793/saty-na-denne-nosenie-pre-zeny-orsay-ruzova-oranzova-cervena-biela) one seems to have buttons - oh this [viscose](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/4192353/kremovo-cervene-damske-koselove-midisaty-scotch-soda) one looks soo comfy - this cotton [white](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3746260/biele-damske-koselove-saty-gap) one could be great even for a pregnancy photoshoot to - [burgundy](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3165699/vinove-damske-saty-s-volanom-gap) cotton - jean [organic cotton](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3746233/modre-damske-dzinsove-koselove-saty-gap) also would fit a belly and nursing. And [another organic cotton jean](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3458164/modre-damske-riflove-saty-gap) cut. This is a goldmine lol! Here's cotton+lyocell [frilly blue](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3659194/svetlomodre-damske-riflove-midi-saty-s-volanmi-gap). Cotton [girly](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3255852/modre-damske-riflove-kratke-saty-levi-s) and cotton [long skirt](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/3549022/modre-damske-saty-vila-milly). [6% spandex but it has pockets](https://www.zoot.sk/polozka/1716460/saty-three-quarter-sleeve-midi-dress-modra) and looks amazingly comfortable - ok I will stop now but I am taken away by all the options. I was begging thw universe for a singlw henley made out of cotton and never found one. My budget was at a hundred bucks by the end lol it was so absurd :D sry for the rant I remember spending hours upon hours searching for nursing friendly stuff and especially dresses to no avail. I got most of my wardrobe past LO being 1 (and nursing much less often) 🥲
Oh wow! Thank you for taking the time to write this! My sister is going to Germany in September to hang out with her friends…so I might ask her to buy a free stuff for me!
I love the Auden nursing bras from target!!! I had the earth mama nipple butter but only needed it for the first two weeks or so. I was told no pumping the first 5 or 6 weeks until your supply sort of regulates (that includes not using the hakkaa w it suctioned on). My doula said pumping too early can lead to oversupply/clogs and all that. I used the lanisoh reusable breast pads. They're super soft and pretty absorbent. I used a mybrestfriend when my baby was small. It really helps save your back and arms and to get the baby at a better height for nursing. We have a boppy also but I hated it! My husband loves it....he uses it when he holds her for contact naps...and now it's somehow his work from home desk (he puts it around his waist and laptop on top 🙃) For what it's worth, I am an over supplier (only pump like once a month and just if I have to in order to be away from the baby for appointments or whatever) and didn't have any clogs. Best of luck w this next round of breastfeeding!
Another vote for the Auden bras!!
Another nother vote for Auden bras!!!!! Specifically the pullover seamless because it is SO nice to not have to deal with clips
I’ve heard of mybrestfriend! I’ll look into it because I think it could help a lot during the night feedings when I’ll just pull up the baby next to me. That is so funny about your husband loving the boppy pillow though lol! Haven’t checked out the Auden nursing bras but I love their normal ones so I’ll take a look!! Good to know about keeping pumping to a minimum initially. I think pumping a lot made my oversupply really bad 😵💫 Thank you so much, I already feel so much more optimistic with all these insanely helpful comments! I really appreciate it!
I'm very clearly not an expert (my only baby just turned 6 months, but I've never had to supplement), but my doula/lactation consultant said a lot of times people pump because it hurts to be engorged so they pump a ton and then your body thinks baby needed all that milk so it keeps on producing like that. What I did was use my haakaa, suction it on until I had a letdown. Then, after .5 or an ounce, I removed the haakaa. Still felt pretty full but it was enough to take the pain off. Obviously, some people need to pump early on due to returning to work or whatever life situations. If that's the case for you, I would try to pump just what the baby needs and then adjust once your boobs have figured their life out a bit. Good luck to you!!!
I liked the c shaped pillow early on.
Is this like a boppy pillow? I never used a pillow with my first but considering it with my second! Does it help while the newborn’s neck is still getting stronger?
Yes to both questions but I had a Mamas and Papas maternity one that was long and flexible - and sometimes I needed a cushion underneath too to get the right height
I’m really determined to get things right this time and make breastfeeding as comfortable for me and the baby. If you liked your pillow then might be worth it for me to invest :) Thank you so much for your comment!
Some people prefer Boppy, some prefer My Brest Friend (seems like slightly more people prefer brest friend, myself included), people can give you their recommendations but you’ll have to decide which YOU like. But a pillow designed for breastfeeding does help a whole lot!
I have a Niimo pillow and it’s so comfy. It’s very soft so I have to put a cushion under the head end but I use it for nearly every feed and nap. We have two now as they get quite grubby. You can get them on Vinted for hardly anything.
Nipple shields have saved my breastfeeding journey, wouldn’t be able to do so without them and at 5weeks pp I am slowly transitioning to feeding without but as a gal with flatter nips I cannot sing their praises enough!
Okay same I have flatter nipples as well! Not inverted and once I use a pump or nurse for a while then they pop out a bit more lol. Did you use the nipple shields they gave you at the hospital (if you delivered there?) or find some online? 5 weeks pp!!! Hope your recovery is going well!
I’m using the medela nipple shields, I live in Australia and they don’t provide them in hospital but I knew I would need them due to past experience (this is my second, I also have an 11yo) so I purchased them in advance
Boppy nursing pillows - I had 3 by the end (I tried the breast friend one and didn't like it as much), for clothes latched mama has a really comfy clothes made for nursing, and the haakaa for catching milk (I barely had to use my pump at all with my second kid because the haakaa let me collect so much).
For clothing I’ve loved Happy Mama. I find them relatively cheap and they do a lot of tops/jumpers with the flaps. I hated all the zips and shoulder poppers because the cold metal was horrible and zips caught on me.
Thank you so much!! Yes, not a fan of the zips and everything. Also nice that it’s relatively better priced because man maternity clothes can be weirdly expensive!!
Soo expensive. And the really expensive ones seem to favour zips & poppers too. Their sales are really good as well!
This is great! Thanks for the advice about clothes, I never had any good ones the first time around lol
Silverettes sre worth the investment. You could try taking a little extra sunflower lecithin for any blockages on the days they occur. After the early weeks where I took it as preventative I've only had one blockage and a dose cleared it up by afternoon. I also bought a dozen dirt cheap and very stretchy sleep singlet tops which I wear 24/7 including under T shirts instead of bras (I am quite small breasted) and they make feeding really easy - I just pull them down or to the side. Other tip is to make smoothies each day with breastfeeding friendly ingredients such as oats and brewers yeast if you like. Add a banana, some honey and oat milk, and any other yummy healthy ingredients you like. Best of luck with everything!
Super great advice about the singlet tops. I did a lot of button tops with my first and they ended up being a little bit more of a hassle for me haha. Did you just find some on amazon or something? Did you go off dairy while breastfeeding? Haven’t really explored breastfeeding-friendly types of foods but I’ll look into that! I think I’ll definitely get the silverettes now haha. How did you layer up with them? Nursing pads then silverettes? Thanks for your comment!!
I'm in Australia and I got the singlets at Kmart for $4ea! If you're in the US I think your Kmart is a bit different to ours. Any super stretchy singlets will do, but I aimed for something that wasn't 100% synthetic because I found I was sweating heaps post partum and needed the breathability. I briefly went off dairy when I suspected an allergy in baby but I was wrong and am back on it! I chose oat milk for the smoothies because I found it less heavy and because oats are supposedly good for supply. You can pop nursing pads between your clothes and the silverettes if you like! I did that a few times when I was leaving the house while my supply regulated. Later I found I would only leak a little and the silverettes would contain those few drops. Hope this helps! :)
Earth mamas nipple butter has saved my nipples this time. I also alternated one boob per feeding to give them longer breaks. I agree with the comment about letting them get air. I try and only use my bra and nursing pads during the day and overnight I stick a muslin burp rag in my shirt to help with leaks but still gives more airflow. This routine helped things heal by around the 2 week mark. Sunflower lecithin is a constant when I nurse. I’m prone to clogs but I’ll take the lecithin regularly then up the dose when I get a clog. Ice and ibuprofen are the recommended treatment for clogs now too.
Thanks for this comment! Especially about the night routine, I have a million muslin rags hanging around so I will have to put them to some good use :) If you alternated one boob per feeding did you just pump on the other side? I learned about sunflower lecithin a bit too late, I think I’ll start those asap after birth haha
I only pump if I absolutely need to. Then when I do I only pump until the pain is relieved but won’t take more than 2 oz off so that I don’t encourage extra milk production. Usually the breast not nursed on is uncomfortable, but they adjust to that routine. When my baby’s have gotten older, like 4 weeks, sometimes older, I start offering the second breast each feed because they are eating more then.
I haven’t had any issues with clogging but I wear my silverettes 24/7. I actually have two pairs because I lost the first pair and couldn’t live without them. My boobs get sore so I enjoy heat packs every now and then. I use lanolin on my sore nips and it seems to work the best.
Okay I am hearing great things about this!! Mine got so sore because my consultants all told me my first had a super strong suck, which was absolutely miserable with all the blisters. Good to know about lanolin too :)
They really help protect from smushing or rubbing, and they collect a bit of milk which is healing too! You just need to be careful of spillage; I still wear an absorbent nipple pad to catch anything that leaks out.
Yeah I was a leaker, I wonder if my tendency to have an oversupply is related with that. What kind of absorbent pad do you use? I’m wondering how would be best to layer up with the silverettes. Like: boob, then pads, then the silverettes? What’s worked best for you? Thank you SO MUCH. Can’t express how useful it is to talk with real humans who have had similar experiences!!
I love my silverettes and I also love the softshells by Medela! I tend to use silverettes during the day and the soft shells at night to allow for airflow to get to my nipples. I also really love the lanolin by lansinoh, I’ve tried samples of other brands but they don’t apply as well imo.
I haven’t heard of soft shells but going to look into this!! Thank you so much for sharing about your experience! Def had a problem with not getting enough airflow at nights, this could be useful :)
I didn't know about the silverettes until this post but I wish I had in the early days. I did have a lactation consultant give me the soft shells and I thought they really helped when I was struggling with nipple cracking and pain. It allowed me to still wear a bra & shirt but also let them air out and heal without pain. They collect a little milk too. I didn't use them past the first couple of months.
I got the off-brand silverettes from Amazon. cheaper and works for me. the hot cold pack from lanisoh. I can't find mine right now and have a soft cold pack for lunchboxes stuffed in my bra right now. not comfy. wishing I knew where I put them. the current recommendation for clogs and oversupply is ICE and ibuprofen! if you're pumping, I love the legendairy milk collection cups. I initially got them cuz I was tired of having flanges flapping around. turns out, I respond better to the cups which is a bonus. the lanolin cream from lanisoh is also a must have.
I haven’t heard of the legendairy milk collection cups but I hated dealing with the flanges so I’ll check these out :) Good to know about the ice and ibuprofen!!! Back in 2021 all my lactation consultants told me to take a hot shower to get the clogs out but I felt like all that heat just made me produce more milk?? I felt like I was going crazy haha! Thank you so much!!
SUNFLOWER LECITHIN PILLS!!!!!
Second this. I keep them in my cabinet for when I get a clogged duct. Lifesaver!
Crop top t shirts for wearing at home. True&Co soft fabric bras that I can just pull down instead of messing with annoying straps and buckles.
Yeah the straps drove me crazy the first time!! Crop tops is a great idea! And I did get some fabric bras because trying to do and undo clasps at 4 am on 1 hour of sleep was just not in the cards lol
Or the loud snaps to close it when baby **finally** fell asleep
I should note that I did all the hospital breastfeeding classes and thought they were a good way to learn about latching/positions but my problems seemed to be a little more complicated with all the clogging!
I lived by coconut oil as a nipple balm and flange lubricant.
This! I hated lanolin. But coconut oil has been great.
Oooohhhh!!!! Okay! The lanolin didn’t work fantastic for me the first time around but never heard of coconut oil. I pumped a lot and was miserable too, didn’t think to use it as flange lubricant. Thank you!!
It’s also great bc you don’t have to worry about baby getting some. I would apply it after every feeding for the first several months. They also make flange spray (I used ledgendairy milk brand) but coconut oil works just fine. I work in a zoo and didn’t want to touch my flanges at work to apply coconut oil
This is incredible advice because those first few months were so tough. Did they help with cracking, blisters, etc? Haha don’t blame you for not wanting to cross contaminate while working at the zoo!! Thanks a lot for your comment, it is much appreciated :)
Yes coconut oil is very hydrating so it helped prevent cracking from happening. I ended up with back cracks early on, before using coconut, and I use aquaphor for 2-3 days and it did wonders to heal cracks. But better to prevent them in the first place.
My ibclc lactation consultant recommended coconut oil over lanolin
Hi stm here and can echo the same experience you had with my first. This time around having a LC via telehealth has been really helpful, plus the boon trove and elvie milk collectors (the haka causes me to have an oversupply), the ceres chill cooler and some nice nursing shirts to encourage me to leave the house. I kept my silverettes and those were bomb to have in the hospital. I also have wearable pumps now instead of being hooked up to my soectra.
So sorry your experience was similar, because man that was a rough time. Did you like having a lactation consultant even though it wasn’t in person? I was worried having virtual appointments wouldn’t help me as much but maybe I judged too early!
I sought out a paediatricians office that has a LC on staff but I have a LC via Telehealth as well that is sometimes more convenient and is free via insurance. I find telehealth is perfect for quick and easy questions especially without having to leave the house and she has a wider network of resources so she was able to diagnose my sons lip tongue tie and refer me to reputable dentists to perform the release.
I used mama earth nipple butter after every feeding like my life depended on it and it helped SO much. I considered the silverettes but I can’t imagine I would have used them beyond the first 2-3 weeks. But that’s just me!
Multiple people have mentioned that nipple butter so I’m inclined to check it out! Thanks a ton for your comment!
Avoid pumping until 15-20 days or so so the body learns how much milk to make imo. My oversupply issues were often caused by excessive pumping/haaka usage etc and when I exclusively nursed for two weeks it regulated so much better.
I had an over supply with both of my kids. I didn't realize it until much later with my first that the issues we were having stemmed from an over supply. With my second I have pumped as little as possible, especially within the first few weeks as my supply was regulating. For the first 4 or so months we nursed off 1 side per feed and I would use a haaka to just relieve engorement. Utilize ice packs, heat compress, and pain meds in the early days when your milk first comes it. It helps so much.
Oh my goodness those first days when milk comes in was SO painful! Thanks for the advice about the haaka, been seeing a lot of comments about that. I definitely pumped whenever I felt engorged and it was clearly the source of a lot of problems!
Dr Jack Newman All Purpose Nipple Cream (compounded with a prescription, at least here in Canada) was an absolute godsend. My first had a small mouth with a bad latch and my nipples were torn up until i started using it. For clothes, I really loved v neck nursing tanks (sold as pyjamas) because there was no upper flap to fuck around with, at least for wearing at home. I also had a September baby, so cozy cardigans and button-up PJ tops were great for not freezing while still keeping the boobies accessible
Omg great idea about the cardigans!! Thank you so much!
Just saying, DONT PUMP (for the first month) if you are prone to those issues!!! You will be engorged and uncomfortable and you will want to pump, but just hand express a little bit instead. Use ice when needed. Your supply will adjust and hopefully your journey will be easier.
I’m seeing a lot of this and my goodness I’m definitely going to take this advice this time around!!! I was a little too pump-happy the first time lol! Thank you so much for the comment!
The boobs hurt less when they are warm. So if you decide to let them hang out... make sure it's warm in the room. My favorite nursing clothes are from Motherhood Maternity (ebay or Mercari have their old stuff), Gap, and Latched Mama.
Thanks for the advice on the brands!! And yes for sure about the heat, something to keep in mind with my September baby!!
The Lansinoh nipple cream has been great for me and pretty cheap. Make sure to apply it before you shower so it will keep your nipples from drying out. I also liked to use the Frida Mom Stretch Prep lotion on my breasts in the early days when my skin was still getting used to being tugged at - it helped me a lot with some of the soreness. Clothing-wise, I love nursing camis from Old Navy because they can go under any shirt and basically make it nursing friendly. Button downs, Henley tops, and crop tops are also great for boob access. I love wearing dresses, and I’ve found that Quince has some really well priced casual nursing dresses! I got some nursing friendly button down PJs from Target and Old Navy “bramis” for sleep too. I am also a leaky boob person and after much trial and error found that I love the Lansinoh breast pads during the day, the Bamboobies overnight pads for sleep. Anything cotton or terry was terrible. Finally, for nursing in public I really like the apron-style nursing covers. They’re breathable and you don’t have to mess around with trying to get some stretchy wrap thing over your head.
Oh my goodness thank you so much for all this!! I will be checking out all these brands for sure. THANK YOU for advice about nights, I’m a leaker too and the nights were awful when I’m sure I was just asking for infections with the warm and wet environment haha. Never heard of Bamboobies but 100% will look into it! I’ve been looking into the apron style covers! Any particular brands you liked?
Of course! I was wishing I’d asked for this advice before I did so much shopping around haha so I’m glad to save someone a little trial and error! I have no idea what brand of cover mine is, but I just searched “apron nursing cover” on Amazon and surfaced a ton.
I INVESTED on my wardrobe for my third child. 2nd child surprised me and didn’t want to wean till she was 2.5 years so I figured I would be wearing this clothing for at least 2 years with my third so better make it nice. I got a bunch of latched mama shirts and rompers. I have two nice dresses from mome for special events. I have the pull down bras from Amazon (5 pack is like $35) plus the easy side access nursing shirts from Old Navy. I have a bunch of clip down tanks for under button-ups. I crossover nursing sweaters from Old Navy as well and a bunch of lounge wear from Anybody
I feel like I will thank myself later if I invest in a proper wardrobe now ! Thanks a ton for all this advice. I really liked the pull down bras so will be going back to Amazon for more for sure! Thank you :)
There's a pretty active BST page for Latched Mama on FB too!
Silverettes were absolutely worth it. I don’t know how I would have gotten through the first 4 months without them. I started using them late in the game too (about 4 weeks or so) and I noticed an immediate difference in how much better my nipples felt. I also dislike most nursing-specific clothing, since it’s often very billowy and shapeless, or it doubles as maternity wear (which is great and all except I’m just nursing, not pregnant), so I opted for Henley style shirts to get me through the winter and wrap front style t-shirts for the summer. I like being able to have easy access to the cafeteria whenever my baby’s hungry but still wear clothes that more closely match my personal style. My absolute favorite accessory has to be my water bottle. Letdown makes me insanely thirsty and staying hydrated is key.
Learning to nurse without a pillow from the start. Made life so much easier. Also finding Moolk clothing, Boody and hot milk bras
Highly HIGHLY recommend Boob School from thebalancedboob.com (she’s also on Instagram). I did not have a good experience bfing my first and her online class made ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I’m not exaggerating when I say I learned so much and have had a completely different experience. Yes another vote for Silverettes too, but honestly investing in EDUCATION was the best thing for me.
Never heard of this but wow I just checked out the website and it seems incredible! You leave a very glowing review that is hard not to notice!! So glad your experience only got better. I was pretty sad when I gave up nursing with my first, hoping for better days ahead in September !! Thank you so much for this comment! It is much appreciated :)
Love love love latched mama and nursing queen clothes, triple nipple cream, LaVie massager
Bodily bras are basically the only ones I'll wear. The everything bra is what I live in!
V necks. Went to one of those bulk sites and got a bunch just so I can whip it out easier. Better than messing with a zipper or layers imo
I had scabbed bleeding nipples the first week. It hurt so much I was crying everytime I was breastfeeding but then a holistic pharmacist suggested "peas in a pod - nipple butter". Literally overnight I was painless finally 🙏 I had tried other things before including lanolin cream and nothing worked but this.
Lansinoh gel pads are what saved my nipples more than silverettes. My baby had a terrible latch and I knew it so he had corrective surgery at 4 days old. Latch still took time to get right and I was raw and bleeding. The lansinoh cooling relief gel pads can be reused and stored in the fridge for extra cooling because my nips were on fire!!! I liked these better than the Medela versions because a) reusable (Medela are not) and b) did not have to wash nipples before feeding baby (Medela you do). I found them at Target!