After successfully nursing my singleton until 1.5 years old I was determined to do the same with my twins. I ended up tandem nursing my twins until 20 months old, and we were ready to wean. With the proper preparation whether you are nursing 1 or 2, I believe you will have a successful nursing journey too! Here is where to start.
A Reliable Pump. Is a great starting point. I truly enjoyed my Medela Sonata. I used the Pump In-Style my first go around and was so excited to upgrade my second time around. The hands free feature of the Sonata makes life so much easier. I was able to get a pump session in every morning walking around making breakfast for myself and my toddler and all my data was downloaded for me. I was even able to retire the car charger for “on the go pumping” to the glove box for back ups as long as my Sonata was fully charged before I left. As a soon to be or already busy momma make choose a pump that takes the stress out.
The Pillow. And when I say the pillow I mean THE Pillow. This will be your ultimate arm and back saver, and will help you and your littles get comfortable and acquainted. The Boppy was my top choice for my singleton nursing journey and the Twin Z pillow for nursing twins. You will never want to imagine your nursing sessions without them and will find yourself carting them wherever you go. Yes, even the Twin Z!
Coconut Oil. Another mother keyd me in on this while I was nursing my singleton. After I returned to work and began to near my pre-pregnancy weight I noticed a drop in my milk supply. My body was craving healthy fats to fill my babes up and keep that supply going. Within a week of introducing this into my diet through oatmeal and bulletproof coffee I went from producing 2 oz in a 20 minute session to 8 oz! I religiously put 1 tbs of coconut oil into my coffee every morning and used 2 tbs for the first 4 months of nursing twins. This is my Must Make Breastmilk Maximizing Bulletproof Coffee Recipe and here you will find a pin with some great information on the benefits of nursing and coconut oil. It is important to choose a coconut oil with a trusted source so you aren’t introducing unwanted fats and oils into your body. My go to brand has been Nutiva, and currently Nutiva organic MCT oil.
A Performing Supplement and an Enjoyable Nursing Tea! Motherlove More Milk Special Blend Organic Herbal Breastfeeding Supplement with Goat’s Rue for Lactation Support, 2 oz Liquid Tincture
The does it all Nursing Tank. Having a nursing tank with built in support that also helps smooth the postpartum mom tum is a game changer. No longer will you be fussing to find the right nursing bra to fit all your different size fluctuations. Or trying to find additional shapewear to conceal your postpartum body. I simply found a comfortable nursing tank with convertible straps and wore it under my sweaters and shirts and tucked into my shorts, jeans or smoothly over leggings. Get it in Black, Nude, and Rose you won’t regret it!
A Nursing Caddy. We are so prepared as moms with our diaper caddy but a nursing caddy is what every momma needs. A basket you can easily keep and carry with you around the house to your nursing destinations. You would be amazed at how starving/ thirsty you get while nursing and those loooong nights of cluster feeding in the beginning will have you feeling oh so drained! Contents should include a large water bottle like this one with a handle and straw trust me on that! Next, try to choose snacks for your basket that will fill you up and give you a good amount of energy. Some of my favorite caddy snacks included Nutiva O’Coconut Hemp and Chia Coconut Treat, and Justin’s Honey Almond Butter Squeeze Packs. And lastly, things for your comfort and enjoyment. A pair of headphones for your phone so you can listen to music, podcasts, or audible books during those long sessions. Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream to prevent cracking, and your favorite lip balm for the same purpose. I’m a germaphobe so I always had a small spray bottle of hand sanitizer in mine as well.
Remember to try to enjoy this. This will be one of the hardest, yet rewarding things you do and I promise it gets easier.
Happy Nursing Momma!
This post contains affiliate links to products I and my family love and use!