Modern Mom Life: breasfed

There are so many different products that are made to help breastfeeding moms. From nipple care to nursing clothing, there are a range of products and brands that can help enhance your breastfeeding journey and make the difficult beginning a lot easier. I will also add in my personal opinions with some of the products that I have used, but everyone is different, so it could be different for you.

Lanolin. Lanolin is a wax that locks in moisture to help prevent dryness and cracks on the nipple when breastfeeding. It is recommended by most lactation consultants and doctors. I used lanolin when I was pregnant to keep from being itchy, and used it after beginning breastfeeding to help to prevent dryness. It worked okay, but didn't help too much with pain or discomfort.

Tender Care Hydrogel Pads. These are made specifically by Medela. I have to give these a shout-out because I had never heard of them before getting them at the hospital from the lactation consultant. These pads stick to your nipple, can be reused, and helped me way more than lanolin. They sped up the healing process of my cracked nipple, kept me hydrated, and I hardly felt any discomfort when starting breastfeeding. You can find them here.

Nipple Shields. Nipple shields can be used to protect a hurt nipple during the healing process or to help a baby that cannot latch properly onto the nipple. I have heard good and bad things about nipple shields, but I have never personally used them. However, I know moms that have used them to help get their baby used to their nipple when they used a bottle previously and for a preemie baby that couldn't stay latched by himself. Nipple shields should be used temporarily and as more of a weaning process.
Nipple Shells. Nipple shells are slightly different from shields because they are not used for feedings. They go on the breast, around the nipple, inside clothing to protect from chafing and irritation. They are like domes that protect you while your nipples are still sensitive or hurt.
Hot/Cold Packs. Hot/cold packs are filled with gel and are shaped to go around the nipple. These can be used to help ease milk out, soothe the pain of engorgement, and breakup clogs. The most popular hot/cold pack is made by Lansinoh and can be found here.
Nursing Pads. Nursing pads are essential for breastfeeding mommies. They can even be necessary while still pregnant. Nursing pads absorb any milk leaks so that they don't absorb into your clothing and come through your shirt. During the beginning of breastfeeding, your milk will be fighting to come out, so these are very important.
Nursing Pillows. Nursing pillows are like big neck pillows that can help hold the baby for an easy position. This can allow the baby to have a better latch and allow you to rest your arm and shoulder. The most popular one is the Boppy.
Nursing Bras & Shirts. There are tons of kinds of nursing bras and shirts. It's a lot easier to nurse when you can simply move over the fabric to reveal your nipple rather than folding or unhooking anything that isn't made to. They're are lots of shirts, blouses, hoodies, tank-tops, and dresses made for nursing, making it easier at home and in public. I usually just do the two-shirt method: my shirt or blouse with a tank-top underneath that I can pull down with my nursing bra.
Nursing Covers. If you want to cover up in public or while someone is visiting, you can use a nursing cover. There are also several different kinds and styles of covers as well. It may be easier to get the hang of covering with one of these rather than a blanket. I personally use a recieving blanket to cover with.
Breast Pumps. Breast pumps are an obvious product for breastfeeding mommies. Pumps allow you to easily get the milk out of your breasts and can help to elliviate engorgement pain, suck out clogs, stock up for emergencies, or exclusively pump to feed your baby. There are tons of brands and models, whether it's a manual, single-electric, or double-electric. I use this one and absolutely love it!
Milk Storage Bags. It's basically impossible to store milk that's been collected and pumped without having bags. These are specially designed for preserving breast milk and make it easier to prepare the milk for your baby.
Milk Collectors. A lot of breastfeeding mommies don't know too much about collectors. These go onto the opposite breast that you are nursing on to collect the milk that potentially leaks and gets wasted during the letdown. I usually get around two or three ounces in mine! I use the Haakaa which is also considered a manual pump, but I find it better as a collector.

These are most of the products used to help with breastfeeding. Some of these are a must-have, such as nursing pads, breast pumps, and milk storage bags, but some of them can be replaced with regular things you already have, such as using a regular pillow to support your arm and your baby, or covering with a blanket. Hopefully some of these can help you with your breastfeeding journey and make it easier on you and your baby!

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You're probably thinking, "is there such a thing as too much milk?" Let me be the first to tell you that there is such a thing as having too much milk. My experience with producing a lot of milk has been a roller-coaster. I personally think my supply is still fluctuating at the moment, but I have been dealing with having full breasts for most of the day. I have to get up around 7 AM to nurse and pump, and by noon, my breasts are extremely full again. When I nurse my son, I only feed him on one side at each feeding, and that breast will still be slightly full when he's done. My freezer is full of milk, but I've been able to donate my milk to a family member with a preemie baby.
It's a blessing and a curse. Of course, you'll never have to worry about running out and not being able to feed your baby. However, there are several negatives as well.

Full Breasts. Your breasts will feel full most of the day. Even after feeding your baby, they will still be slightly full. Having very full breasts is very inconvenient and uncomfortable.
Constant Leaking. Of course, having full breasts leads to leaking. Even when you have on nursing pads, there's still a chance that those will fill up, and you'll still leak through to your clothing.
Engorgement. When your breasts get too full of milk, they become engorged. Engorgement is very painful and can lead to clogs and Mastitis.
Clogs. If your breasts stay full and engorged for too long, a milk duct can become clogged. Clogs are even more painful. A clog feels like a knot or lump on the breast that is usually as small as a pea. These clogs can cause Mastitis to set in.
Mastitis. Mastitis is an infection in the breast that is most likely caused by a clogged duct or bacteria in the breast. It is extremely painful and can cause inflammation and fever.
Pumping all the time. To keep from becoming uncomfortable and engorged, you're basically attached to your pump. You'll possibly have to pump between most feedings, during the night, and any time your breasts get very full.
No more freezer space. When it comes to pumping your milk out, you'll want to save it all because pumping and dumping is so hard to do. Your freezer will be full of milk. Even if you have a deep-freezer, you'll easily build a large supply and fill every corner.

Of course, this problem can be managed, especially if you're a stay-at-home mom. Having a schedule made for feedings and pumping can be very beneficial and will allow you to avoid engorgement, clogs, and Mastitis. The hardest part about this is if you're away from your pump for too long, leaking and being full is inevitable. If you have a manageable large supply, then this is definitely a reality.
Another plus for producing a lot of milk is having a large stockpile of milk. Although your freezer will be full, donating your milk is always an option. There are many ways to donate milk; many hospitals will accept donations as well as health departments. There are some screenings to go through before donating, but if you have a large supply, your milk can benefit preemies or other babies in the NICU or be sent to mothers who need it for their children. Here is a website for donating milk if you're interested.

In my case, my supply fluctuates from week to week, but I think it will probably settle out soon. I'll have full breasts and produce tons of milk for several days, then for a few days after that I won't produce as much and won't really feel full. Sometimes I'll be full in the morning, but won't be full at all throughout the afternoon and at night. The positive thing for me is that I still have enough milk to feed my son like I usually do, but it's so scary to think that my supply may be going away.
This is another problem with producing a lot of milk; if your supply ever dips for a few days, it'll worry you to death. Losing your supply is something that scares most breastfeeding moms, especially if your supply has never been an issue throughout the whole breastfeeding journey.
Important: A tip on leveling out your supply if it becomes too much is to make sure you're not completely draining your breasts when pumping. If your breasts are empty, it tells your body that next time, it needs to keep producing that amount plus extra because you ran out before. If you don't completely pump your milk out, it will tell your body that you don't need that much milk over time. So if you are producing too much and want to lessen your milk production, pump enough for comfort, but not all of your milk.
At the end of the day, having a large production of breast milk is manageable and can allow you to build a supply and donate. It can be very stressful and worrisome at times, but if you're careful and take care of yourself, you can manage it and benefit from it.

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