If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know that I exclusively gave my little girl breastmilk for the first year of her life. This didn’t come easy, as I was working full time as a teacher and taking two grad classes, but I was driven. I knew that the best possible nutrition came from breastmilk and it was a great way to bond with her while I had to work. When you have a new baby, you quickly learn about all the things you need, and all the things you could do without. Some of my much needed nursing supplies came from Lansinoh. A friend told me about their breastpads, and I had read that they have the best Lanolin nipple cream, so I was well prepared when I came home from the hospital.
Nipple Cream is something that is totally underrated when you are breastfeeding. I picked up a tube because it was in front of me in the store. I specifically went for the Lansinoh because I had heard the name on various message boards. I didn’t realize how much I would NEED this stuff! Within two days of nursing my baby in the hospital, my nipples started to crack and became chapped. I even developed sores that started to bleed. This was probably caused by an improper latch by my baby, but either way, it was extremely painful and enough to discourage anyone from breastfeeding. Although I knew breast was best for my baby, I didn’t know if I could continue with the extreme pain. I had my lanolin cream with me in the hospital, but didn’t use it as much as I should have. Once I came home and read through a few message boards, I learned that the best time to put Lanolin cream on was right before the shower and right after baby nurses. I followed this regimen and within a day my sore nipples were much better. After a few weeks of breastfeeding, my little girl was latching on like a pro and I hardly had any nipple problems after that. I still remained a faithful user of Lansinoh Lanolin cream right before each shower to keep my nipples well prepped for breastfeeding.
Breastpads are another must have when you are nursing. I learned the hard way when my milk finally came in. I was able to avoid using breastpads the first few days in the hospital because my milk was scarce, but by the time I got home I was in for a rude awakening – LITERALLY! I woke up soaked in the middle of the night and thought my newborn had peed in bed. It turns out, my boobs leaked all over me, the bed, AND my baby (she didn’t seem to mind.) As I got out of bed to start cleaning up, I left a trail of breastmilk behind me. This wasn’t a good feeling – but by morning, I realized all I needed was some trusty breastpads. I never had a leak again after using Lansinoh breast pads. I had a very strong let down that would happen at the most random times, so when I returned to work after only 8 weeks of having my baby, I couldn’t leave the house without breastpads – they always prevented embarrassing leaks! I’ve tried other breastpads but my favorite is definitely Lansinoh because they are super thin, highly absorbent, and contoured to perfectly fit the shape of your breasts.
If you are mainly pumping for your baby, then breast milk storage is something you actively use. I have tried a variety of milk storage devices and while they all worked well, my favorite FREEZER option is Lansinoh Storage Bags. They are thick and protect milk from freezer burn, plus they have a double zipper to make sure your milk is really sealed tightly. I did have a little problem with these bags leaking at first, but I think that is because when I sealed them, I would take out all the air. Once the milk froze and expended, the bag would also expand causing tears in the thick plastic. I tried letting in some air when I would close the milk bags, and never experienced a leak again! Problem solved!
When it comes to breastfeeding, you want to choose quality products that have been tried and tested. Lansinoh is one of those brands where you know you are getting quality products that won’t fail you! You can find Lansinoh products at your local baby store. I would always buy them in bulk at Amazon – believe me, whether you are nursing for the first six months or the first year, you will NEED these items in bulk! You can connect with Lanisoh on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on their latest news and products!
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for this post. All opinions are my own.