Reddit mentions: The best breast shells & nipple therapy products

Sorry for any formatting issues, on my phone.
I was the same way. In fact, when I first found out I was pregnant I was certain I was going to just formula feed from the start. But the more reading I did about breastfeeding, breastmilk and the benefits for both my baby and myself I decided I was going to give it a go. I still stocked some bottles and formula in case things didn't work out for whatever reason. I think having that stuff actually helped me push through the hardest parts of early breastfeeding, because I knew I had backup and was determined to not have to use it unless it was due to a supply issue. I was determined to push through the discomfort! A lot of the stuff you'll read will say if it hurts, you're doing it wrong. That's not always the case! First of all, your nipples aren't used to this kind of work load! Babies nurse A LOT in the early days. It can feel like you don't do much except nurse! So it can take a little bit for them to get used to this. Also, your lo can be born with a pretty small mouth, making it hard to get a deep latch. Mine had a tiny mouth! Our latch and technique were perfect, but she had a shallow latch. By week 3 we were totally on track, it became second nature to nurse her. She had grown, my boobs were used to things and it became a really enjoyable experience. I was obsessed with whether her latch was right those first 3 wks and watched about a million videos on latching, had an appt with the LC I saw during recovery and the hospital and read more stuff. I was assured our latch was great and to try to stop being so worried about everything. It's really hard not to worry! Is this right? Is she getting enough milk? Is this cluster feeding? Whyyyy do my boobs hurt?! But seriously, at 3wks something magical just clicked into place. Cluster feeding is going to suck! But it is necessary to build up your supply! Comfort nursing is real too, and your baby will need lots of comfort in the early days. Things that got me through those first few weeks:
-my husband set up a snack station on my nightstand. He had fiber one bars (trust me, you'll need them lol), fiber one+protein bars, granola bars, nutrigrain bars, pb crackers etc and every time we woke to nurse he got me fresh water. You need to stay hydrated!! And it's easy to get weak, nursing can be really draining! Having a snack nearby that you can eat with one hand is super helpful
-Water. Lots and lots of water.
-When we'd wake up in the night for feedings I'd nurse on one side, then my husband would change her diaper and hand her back to me to finish the other side. The break up would help wake her up and helped make sure I was never TOO engorged. I never had to get out of bed unless absolutely necessary, which was also a huge help.
-Philips Avent thermal gel pads I kept these in the freezer, they are big and bulky but omg they felt wonderful!! You can also warm them.
-Lansinoh Gel Soothies i kept these in the fridge for adding cooling. They were great.
-Lansinoh! Lots of it! I used it at the start and end of every session in the beginning. Let your boobs air dry a little too from time to time. My boobs were constantly out those first few weeks. My husband called this phase "sun's out, guns out!"
It's really hard not to worry or be worried about it. It's hard work! It's a lot more than I ever thought it would be. But here we are at 1yr and almost 2wks still going strong! I wouldn't change a thing. I feel blessed to have had a pretty easy time with this, and to have had a great supply all this time. I am absolutely in awe at how all of this works, and so happy that I stuck with it. You'll need support, but with a good system this can be an amazing experience. I keep saying weaning is going to be harder on me than it will be on my daughter! And always remember, if breastfeeding doesn't work out - you aren't a failure. Formula is there for a reason, it feeds babies and helps them thrive! At the end of the day, a fed baby is the way to go. If breastfeeding is not working, then switch and don't let anyone try to make you feel guilty about it. It's none of their business anyways how you feed your baby. All that matters is your health and happiness and your baby's health and happiness. Best of luck!!!

Warning - lots of text below! My baby is about 6 weeks now and I'm exclusively breastfeeding. My Medela Harmony manual pump has been fine for building a stash - I pump 1-2 times a day for the freezer and occasional bottle feedings from Dad. I think it's pretty convenient, but I'll be using a double electric pump when I go back to work (waiting to see what Tricare will cover in 2015!).

Whatever you decide to use for diapering, I'd strongly recommend getting some prefolds (I got Osocozy unbleached). They're great for burp cloths, catching milk from your other boob during letdown, etc and they're also way cheaper and more absorbent than fancy burp cloths. Personally I love prefolds and covers for diapering, but don't buy too much into any one system or brand until you know what works for you. My husband hates prefolds so now I'm having to add pockets and AIOs to appease him.

I'd get some swaddlers (at least 2; my favorite is from Nuroo but that was a gift and they're pricey, the summer infant SwaddleMe wraps are good now that she's bigger but didn't fit well until about 10 lbs). My girl lives in footed pajamas and I love the Gerber zipped ones, we found tons at goodwill for $1.50 each but if you can't find them used, they're on Amazon for $10 for a 2 pack. You're right that other people will buy clothes, but they'll pick cutesy stuff and you need some practical choices too.

Nursing pillow - I had an unexpected C section and this has been so necessary. I love the Luna Lullaby since it's big and I had a big baby.

Some kind of baby carrier, I got a Moby wrap while she's small and it's amazing for running errands (I put it on before getting in the car and pop her in before going in the store, WAY easier than a carseat and stroller).

We were gifted a used swing and it is a freaking godsend. It's the only way I get chores done since I can pop her in there and cook, do laundry, clean, etc without her crying. YMMV, some babies hate them, but buy used and you won't be out too much cash.

Wubbanub pacifier is easy to keep track of and super cute.

Pack n Play with a mattress for cosleeping (recommended to reduce SIDS risk for the first 6 months). At least 2 mini crib sheets.

Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter is amazing for the first couple weeks.

QuickZip crib sheets will be amazing once you use the crib.

Simba baby safety nail cutter - no bleeding!

Finally, the Itzbeen pocket nanny timer is so helpful for keeping track of feedings and diaper changes, especially in the first few weeks.

Hope this wasn't too overwhelming. Good luck!

*Edited to add links to products.

Here's a list of items I found so useful for myself that I use as my go-to gift options for anyone I know having a baby.

1. Rectal thermometer Not only is this the fastest and most accurate way to check an infant's temperature, but it really helps with constipation. Around 8 weeks, breastfed babies may start to poop only once a week. My kid would get so uncomfortable, but he was too young to have juice or pureed fruit. My doctor recommended a rectal thermometer with Vaseline to stimulate a BM. Works like a charm!
   
   
2. Lots Of Links These are great for attaching toys to the carseat, stroller, and highchair. They're also thin and light, so they're great for really small infants to practice grasping and passing objects from hand to hand.
   
   
3. Coat Hangers - Since everyone insists on loading up your baby with clothes, you need somewhere to put them all. I used all 80 hangers I had - and that's with a boy!
   
   
4. Breastfeeding supplies - No one likes to buy this stuff, but if it's for a close friend or you know they're going to breastfeed, definitely get her some nursing pads (helpful even if she doesn't breastfeed and sometimes even before the baby is born) and lanolin If she is going to use a Medela pump, these membranes will come in handy. I also liked these wipes for cleaning any breastpump where there may not be a sink and these bags for sanitizing pump parts, bottles, paci's, etc.
   
   
5. While this probably won't be used for a while, this play yard is one of my favorite baby purchases ever. It came in handy especially during those 7-12 months where my kid was crawling and learning to walk. It kept him contained and also gave him a safe place to practice walking. My son is 16 months old and we still use this all the time.
   
   
6. No one did this for me, but I wish people had bought me a small package of their favorite generic/store brand diapers. No one wants to look cheap by buying off brand diapers, but in reality, you'll probably end up using them. Huggies or Pampers can run about $0.35 per diaper. It's great when you're getting gifts, but I'd like a chance to experiment with something lower cost without having to buy 15 brands. Target's Up & Up brand work great for me, and they're only around $0.15 a diaper. But babies are all shaped different, so what works for one kid might not work so great for another. You just have to try them out. It'd be nice to get some different brands as gifts.

I had similar concerns before my son was born 3.5 months ago. It seemed like everyone had trouble, so I was fully prepared for a miserable experience and was mentally steeling myself to power through for the sake of my baby. And then... it was super easy. No real latch issues. Minimal pain. No supply issues. Used a bottle day 2 and pacifier at week 2 without any nipple confusion. When needed, we used formula here and there without any problems. It's pleasant and sweet for me to nurse him and it's been a wonderful bonding experience! I was lucky, but I also think people with good experiences don't tend to comment online about them as much, so maybe they're underrepresented.

I will say that if it's in the budget, stocking up on some supplies, including just-in-case supplies, was helpful. It's great to have them on hand the second you need them - I'm not sure I would have thought to go out and buy them in the moment otherwise - and also provides some peace of mind before the baby comes knowing that you're prepared.

For me these included:
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter - use early and often!
Hydrogel pads - Ameda, Lanisoh and Medela all make them; they are reusable over a 72 hour period or so and they feel AMAZING, especially when refrigerated first (I used and liked the Lanisoh; I snagged a bunch when the price dipped to ~$3). Don't wait till it gets bad to use these!
Lanisoh heating/cooling pads - cooling is soothing and especially nice when you're milk comes in; heat is good for encouraging let down and helping with any clogged ducts
Medella SoftShells - The least essential of the bunch, but a nice-to-have if you want to slather on nipple butter but not stain your nursing bras/tanks or just want to allow some more airflow. Worked great for me but possibly not for everyone's anatomy?

As I'm writing this I remembered many of these recommendations came from this excellent (and now recently updated) Lucie's List article on breastfeeding prep.

You can't predict how this stuff will go but for as much as there is to worry about, there's also a lot to look forward to with nursing. Good luck!

I wanted to reply to your comment last week about breastfeeding stuff, but was too bogged down in our own stuff here. :-)

Tongue-tie, injured nipples, delayed + low supply, pumping 7-8x a day to increase/maintain supply...that was me for the first 8-ish weeks. Tongue-tie was revised at 4 weeks, and we finally got to (mostly) EBF at 8 weeks. (Which was great--so much easier, until reflux set in!)

A few thoughts:

• our LC told me that if your nipples are so injured you can't rub them with a towel and be okay, then you should EP for a couple days until they've healed.
  
• a "burning" sensation in the nipples is sometimes due to a yeast infection. Especially if it's persistent and not just during nursing. Sometimes the baby has symptoms too (thrush, diaper rash), sometimes not. You can contact your OB, or your LC about getting checked. They might tell you to try something OTC, or prescribe an antifungal.
  
• Soothies help some women get through the nipple pain of the early weeks. They're a little pricey for something that's essentially disposable. But I treated myself to a couple packs and saved them for when I really needed them. (There's also reusable versions you can put in the fridge, but those are harder to find.)
  
• after 3 weeks, I ended up renting a hospital grade pump for those 7-8x/day pumping sessions. More comfortable on the nipples and more efficient. Less expensive than formula (~$25/week + flange kit). But also not strictly necessary if money is tight.
  
• babies get better at latching as they get older--combination of bigger mouths and better coordination
  
• your area might have free breastfeeding support groups and/or group lactation consultations that might be helpful. In my area, they're affiliated with the hospitals with maternity wards, or with centers that do e.g. childbirth classes and related stuff.
  
  There were a lot of tears at the beginning of our breastfeeding journey, too. I had to set a lot of microgoals. Breastfeeding once a day without injury. Then twice a day. Making it to two weeks, then one month, then another month. If I thought about trying to go six months or a year, it felt impossible, so I just kept my goals short-term and told myself that at each step, I was free to re-evaluate.
  
  Now we're at 6 months! And honestly, because my daughter developed reflux after all the other stuff, most of those months have been hard won. My goal now is to keep going until her reflux improves. (Formula can make reflux worse.) If improvements in breastfeeding follow, we might continue longer. If not, then that might be the time to transition to formula, 'cause I can't imagine triple-feeding for another 6 months!
  
  Congratulations on the new job! Hope your (soon to be former) boss isn't an ass to your husband when he finds out you're leaving. On the subject of glassblowing, I saw this post about a memorial marble for someone who died and it reminded me of you--the glassblower among us, and all the conversations at /r/ttcafterloss about how we remember our little ones. <3

I love this list, I kept thinking "ditto!" with almost everything you wrote! Because I can't help myself, here is some of my feedback on some of those products:

For boob cream- I loooove the Motherlove Nipple Cream. The Earth Mama Angel Baby one was really grainy to me, and I'm not a big fan of the cocoa butter smell (to each their own!). The Motherlove cream saved my nipples those first few weeks and I still use it after a long pumping session.

Leak management- gurl I feel you on being leaky! I am SO leaky. I love the nighttime Bamboobies, they're the only ones that work for me (and I have to switch them out three times a day). The downside is they're pretty obvious through clothing, so when I have to go out of the house I'll pop a disposable lansinoh one in there instead. But Bamboobies all the way!

Leak Collection!- Yes! The Milkies Milksaver I have has been great at catching the ~1oz I leak from the non-nursing side. Now that Miss V and I have more of a breastfeeding pattern that involves her only eating from one side per session I'm going to try out a Haakaa Silicone Pump to see if the suction will draw out even more ounces from the neglected boob.

Extra Pump Parts- NeneSupply on Amazon is a Spectra pumping girl's best friend, especially for hard-ish to find and expensive spare Spectra parts.

Nursing Bras- They're expensive but I'm a total Bravado fanatic. I'm a big girl and they carry a wide variety of sizes, even for the much bigger bust sizes. And they recently released this hands free pumping attachment that, the few times I've experimented with it, was freaking awesome. I hope it continues to be awesome when I go back to work!

Edit:
Oh! I forgot one of my favorite pumping accessories! The Pumpin' Pals Super Shields have made a difference in my output but are also a thousand times more comfortable that regular flanges. Plus you can recline while pumping without spilling breastmilk everywhere! I was gifted these by a friend at my shower and I was skeptical about them living up to the Amazon reviews hype but I am definitely happy to have them.

Cute picture, but so sorry about the mastitis! My sister had it with one of her kids, and it sounds sooo painful!

A few thoughts, speaking as someone who has oversupply problems and overcame it....

1. Your LC sounds pretty good, I'd do another session with her now that this has come up and see what she says.
   
2. For the uneven boobs, I have the same problem. I always feed first with the "bad" (in your case, left) boob then switch to the one with more supply.
   
3. If you're getting a significant amount of letdown while you're feeding with your left, you can try wearing a letdown shell (there are several kinds, available through Medella, Milkies, etc.) on your right when you're feeding. I have been able to store/freeze between 2-4 oz daily this way, by accumulating it throughout the day instead of just letting it leak onto a nursing pad. Your LC may be able to give you a freebie in this category too.
   
4. You're going to hate this one at first, but I'd avoid pumping as much as possible, especially if you're using an electric pump. That's probably what is giving you oversupply is that the electric pump is ramping up your boobs on top of breastfeeding. The breasts will adjust if you're exclusively breastfeeding, especially if your milk is still coming in (it takes 3-4 months to reach your full milk supply). If you're uncomfortable, I'd recommend hand expressing. When I had an oversupply I'd take showers and hand express it out until it no longer hurt, this worked really well for me. Try expressing before the baby feeds, so that you can get a deeper latch. Once they've ramped down, try to avoid hand expressing as much as you are comfortable.
   
5. A few people on this thread are recommending the haaka pump. I LOVE this pump. But, I didn't realize this fully at first, it serves a different function for people with oversupply. It stays on with suction so it is a lot stronger than a letdown shell....and as a person with oversupply, it was giving me oversupply issues since it was acting like a pump. But if you just use it at an overnight feeding or are at a point when you feel full when you're not feeding, it's useful in that way so that you never have to use an electric pump unless you're at work. Your LC may have opinions about this as well....the haaka gets mixed reviews on reddit sometimes, I think.
   
6. If you feel feel a clogged duct coming on, feed the baby on just that side for awhile, and try dangle feeding and a warm compress. For the warm compress, take a cup of dried rice and some water and microwave it, then put it in a plastic bag. Hand express where it feels "hard" on the boob for awhile, it should work its way out if you're diligent.
   
7. For hand expressing, I like to take a flange from an electric pump and just put it in the bottle, with the wide part facing out. That way I get a little "funnel" so I don't spill milk all over. ;)
   
   Good luck!!!

8 months pp here! FTM.

Our journey was not easy. Wasn't as hard as some others but not as easy either.

We had blisters, cracked nipples and serious pain in the beginning. LO took about 2 weeks to figure out how to latch properly and in the meantime, we had to supplement with formula because my milk took over 5 days to come in. I ran out of colostrum very quickly because I had a big ass baby who apparently decided he was quite hungry.

We didn't use a bottle to supplement, we used the supplemental nursing system. I am convinced it's why we're EBF (no bottles) now. But it's a pain in the ass to use and clean but worth it.

He never took to a pacifier. He will drink from a bottle if he had to (comotomo) or even a sippy cup. We got lucky though. He doesn't reject anything that breastmilk comes out of lol. Loves him a breastmilk popsicle.

I would say, if you can get an electric pump for free, get it. Don't bank on things working out from the get go. I had to pump after every feed for weeks because baby wasn't an efficient nurser. If I didn't have my pump, I probably wouldn't have a supply now. Having to pump after every feed really sucks. It's demoralizing as fuck watching nothing but air come out but that's okay. You need that to tell your body to ramp shit up.

If you do pump, make sure you get the right size flanges.

Your nipples will toughen up, but don't listen to anyone telling you to "pre" toughen them. I got that advice from family...I'm really glad I didn't listen. Instead, have plenty of nipple butter ready and slather that shit on like your nips are thanksgiving turkey. gel pads are a must buy as well.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Breastfeeding-Soothing-Cracked/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539231011&sr=8-3&keywords=lansinoh+gel+pads

Try several nipple butters out. Not all work the same for everyone. Earth Mama nipple butter is my jam. But a lot of moms like Lanolin. Lanolin was meh for us.

Also keep high quality raw, unrefined extra virgin coconut oil handy. It's a natural antifungal/antibacterial and in the beginning weeks, thrush is a real concern. Make sure you have probiotics in your system as well.

You could definitely try! Breastmilk is good topically too for eczema. And no, I don't think it's too late necessarily though the causes for eczema are still not 100% clear

My guy has it too and he's breastfed....though it's far less now that I have cut eggs/dairy from my diet. We see a pediatric allergist for it and he's one of the best in his fields and he says that eczema is one of those funny things that we're not 100% clear on what truly causes it. And that one thing can be the cause today....and not be the cause tomorrow.

Don't be nervous!!! See if you have any nursing mama cafe groups, or a La Leche League meeting and go to those. Also see if your hospital has lactation workshops! I went to one every week for the first 3 months. They're a sanity saver bc there's a board certified lactation consultant on hand AND they do weighted feeds.

Clusterfeeding is normal. You can never bring your baby to breast too often. You can bring too little.

Don't ever ever listen to anyone telling you to space baby's feedings out. That comes from formula feeding and NOT breastfeeding. If baby just ate and seems hungry again 30 minutes later? Let em eat.

Don't let baby go more than 2 hrs during the day between feeds. 3 hrs MAX until he's back up to birth weight. Once he's back up to birth weight, you can let baby do the 1 long stretch but you'll want to stack day feeds in your favor then (aim for every 2-3 hrs) Again. You can never offer too much. A baby will stop drinking if they're not thirsty/hungry. The more you bring baby to breast, the better your supply will be. Breastmilk digests in under an hour so keep that in mind when people are trying to tell you baby isn't hungry. Chances are, he probably very much is!

Don't go crazy with nursing bras/tanks just yet. Wait until you've given birth as our bodies will fluctuate like crazy. Then buy ONE you might like and trial it first.

If you have the choice between boppy or my brest friend...the my brest friend is the better pillow for JUST breastfeeding. It's not as versatile as the boppy which I still use now for other things but oh boy is it great for helping you latch a baby.

Use a nipple shield with caution. Weaning off it can be a bitch. If you can power through without it, try. Because then what happens is, you don't get your nipples acclimated and you have to start all over again. Obviously, if the pain is so bad you're going to stop breastfeeding altogether, then yes, of course, do what's necessary but just some things to keep in mind.

If you have the money....I'd think about getting a LaVie massager...that thing has saved me from 3 clogged ducts. Clogs are no joke. The moment you feel one, you work that bad boy out asap. Listen to your body.

Have plenty of drinks/snacks lying around. Look into no bake lactation bites

https://thebakermama.com/recipes/no-bake-lactation-bites/

Be prepared to spend a lot of time with a baby stuck to you. Baby jail is real.

Hi! I’m back!!
Although I thoroughly intend to write my birth story when I’m ready, I just finished my first piece since the baby arrived so in celebration, I’ll pair it with something useful.

I really appreciated posts like this while I was pregnant so here goes:

Things I didn’t know I needed:
(AKA things I have frantically ordered on amazon at or around 2am)

•Bottle Drying Rack This probably seems obvious, but when we didn’t get this from our showers we were like... idk why we can’t just use a towel??

•Safe way to cosleep My husband built a BEAUTIFUL Sidecar Crib, but it was attached on my side of the bed and it took 2.5 weeks for me to have healed enough to climb in bed around it safely with the baby. This way, I didn’t have to bend over to pick up baby or even spit up to check on/soothe him.

•Lactation Suppliment My lactation consultant approved. This one worked well in my breakfast tea.

•Better flanges My poor nipples were so sore and the flames that come with the Medela... well I’m not sure who they’re supposed to fit but not me. My doula practically ordered these for me. GAME CHANGER.

•Pumping bra I was cutting holes in sports bras. This is better.

•Nipple Shells Another kind reddittor sent me in the direction of this AMAZING INVENTION after I posted a photo of ice packs tied to my nipples with a burp cloth because I refused to wear a shirt my nipples hurt so bad. I will be purchasing these for EVERY PREGNANT WOMAN FOREVER. They keep your nipples dry, collect drips, apply counter pressure to keep your nipples shaped correctly for latching, and most importantly omg nothing touches the precious nips and you can wear a shirt!!

•Car mirror

Me: that seems extra, he’s in a car seat and safe why would I need a mirror??

Hormones; HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH YOU FOOL

•Car adapter for my breast pump Cheaper than batteries

•Shade for his side of the car because anything that wakes up my sleeping baby is the devil. This one has a bonus that allowed me to roll the window down and it was HOT in the south

•Better suction for the breast pump Again- just better than whatever they send you

•My Breast Friend we got the boppy but this one saved my back

•Heating pad Turns out I’ll do ANYTHING to keep the baby asleep when I transfer him to his crib including preheat the darn thing (on low!) before I lay home down

•Stroller Caddy You’ll want somewhere to put your keys, phone, and coffee

•Baby K’tan An easier way for my husband to wear the baby.

•Leggings I had a pair of these before, and they are SO COMFORTABLE on my postpartum body that I bought 5 more in different colors!

•Extra pump parts for whichever pump you have

•A hands-up swaddle I found at Target

•Wine.

Anyway, hope this helps! Best of luck to all of you!

> I was never actually fit for the mask. The tech just gave me a large.

This sucks and it happens far too often. Mask fit is critical but these DMEs just toss you whatever they happen to stock and expect it to be perfect. Ideally, the tech would have let you try on a bunch of different masks to see which one actually fits your face. Most likely, you can still contact the DME and have them do an actual fitting.

>the bridge of my nose hurts

This could be the wrong mask for you or possibly over tightening the straps. It seems illogical, but most masks fit better with looser straps. All of us overtighten the straps when first starting out on CPAP.

>Everything seems to be ok when I go to sleep but during the night it seems like the mask fit changes.

Rolling over could cause this and a CPAP pillow might help. With a normal pillow, when we roll over, the mask hits the pillow and can be jarred loose. A CPAP pillow has a cutout to prevent this. Here's the one I like:

https://www.amazon.com/Contour-Products-CPAPMax-Pillow-CPAP/dp/B01LYNBWXG

Also, some machines have a leak alarm (usually in the hidden "clinician's menu").

>I get leaks, mask 'farts'

Getting the mask to fit better should be the first priority, but there's also a way to make the mask more sticky and help prevent leaks. Just a tiny dab of this will do, not even a pea size.
It's found with diapers or:

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Moisturizer-Preservative-Hypoallergenic/dp/B005MI648C?th=1

>Is it just a matter of getting used to the mask?

This is part of it, but if the mask isn't comfortable enough, then you're not going to stick with it for the long haul.

>I have a lot of congestion and I am afraid that won't work.

Yeah, this probably means that a full face mask is going to be more useful. The one I like is the ResMed AirFit F20. It fits a wide range of faces because it's a lot more springy and flexible. Also, most masks also have a "sizing guide" available online that you can print out to get a better idea.

i never used one of those baby baths, i always brought her in with me and sat her in my lap.

if youre breastfeeding and want to stick with it, i recommend finding a bottle and nipple you like, (this one is "slow flow" and is the one she liked back when she would take one. slow flow is where its at for breastfeeding, as its closest to the amount of sucking shed do when breastfeeding) and giving her one few days at least til shes closer to a year old. i hardly ever gave mine a bottle and she flat out refused to take one or take a binky til she was 18 ish months old and weaned herself. almost two years and she could never go to a sitter or grandmas house for more than a couple hours max. i liked bottles that took these since you dont have to worry about washing / sterilizing everything.

i never used a crib, she co slept til right around when she weaned herself. one day she just... dragged her blankets to her toddler bed (where she always took naps) and decided she was done co sleeping. was awesome. co sleeping is the best when youre breastfeeding, no getting up and down in the middle of the night, can just roll over, pop a boob in her mouth and doze.

get nipple cream! NIPPLE CREAM! and those handy little nipple shields to go in your bra for when you leak. at about 2 weeks - one month your nipples will be on FIRE. it will suck, but only lasts for about a week after that. its WORTH IT when you dont have to lug around formula and bottles everywhere you go.

get or make a baby wrap / carrier. youll look like a new age hippie, but its more comfortable than any traditional baby carrier, and feels more secure than any of the slings. i made two out of about 10 yards of gauzy cotton fabric, cut longways its about the right width. you can wrap her in front when shes little and breastfeed her without anyone being the wiser, later, you can carry her on your back like a champ without her little legs getting sore from hanging out of one of those "typical" carrier types.

heres a wonderful site that lists all the different wraps by age, this one is my fave. http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/frontwrapcrosscarry.htm

instead of a mobile, get one of those rotating star projectors. theyre move expensive, but will last well into preschool, and double as a nightlight.

I had a badass skincare routine going before pregnancy that is totally not pregnancy friendly; I’m talking BHA/AHAs, special face washes, and rags, everything...

I got some pretty bad acne when I had to stop my routine, probably just because my skin was oily and I hadn’t looked into how to handle it while gestating just yet. But I’m getting MUCH better in the 2nd trimester, and now it’s just healing the scars left from the hell trimester. Here we go:

Face:
• Garnier Clean+ Clarifying Cleansing Gel Sensitive Skin - Takes off my makeup easily. Mostly used in the shower because washing faces in sinks is brutal in the bad way.
• Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for Oily Skin - Takes off eye makeup easily if your having trouble with your thick black eyeliner smearing down your face because you “insist on doing your makeup like a ‘vam-per’” according to your parents.
• MISSHA Time Revolution Clear Toner - Expensive as shit toner that I paid over $18 for and is now listed at $15, WTF Amazon. But it’s good stuff, pregnancy safe, toner is good stuff anyway, and it’s helping with evening my skin tone back out from the acne scars.
• Triple Vitamin C Serum L-Ascorbic Acid - Vit C oil to help you fake that “pregnant glow” that we were all promised...
• Bio-Oil Liquid Purcellin Oil - I use an off brand that I got on clearance but omg...like...I know this stuff is expensive but it’s a miracle. You just dab some on your scarred places, like the acne marks, or where your stupid fucking cat decided your hand was a snack and ripped a hole on your hand, or dark spots on your legs because you’re still bad at shaving leg hair and not leg skin, and I swear it fades SO FAST. Also rub it all over your boobs and belly. Like pretty much I would bathe in this from the neck down if it wouldn’t bankrupt my family.
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry/Sensitive Skin - Old faithful, the moisturizer. A tiny bit goes a long way. Also tends to make its way to my boobs when I’m tired and dont feel like using other lotions.

Body:
• NIVEA Q10 Skin Firming Hydration Body Lotion - Bought pre-pregnancy. I used to use it every single morning and night on my thighs and it totally does reduce the appearance of cellulite. Now I use it lazily but it’s there and smells ok so it’s my go-to body lotion.
• Lansinoh Hpa Lanolin Nipple Soothing Cream - my nipples are pierced and those things get dry in the winter. Baby may not be here yet but I went ahead and decided to try this stuff out. Seems legit. It’s super thick, moreso than Vaseline but I dig it.

I also use special toothpaste (not because pregnant, because shit teeth), a special washcloth (because I developed keratosis pilaris (sp?) and I wasn’t having it. The special rag put a stop to it FAST), lady-bits wash (because I get self conscious about sweating and smelling funky), special “sensitive skin” lube, and well I guess that’s about it. I sound like an amazon ad for many products. I’m not. Just a researcher/lover of my husband describing me as “so soft” when he touches me. 🤗

This list is awesome! I was not nearly that organized for my registry! Just a few comments from the other side (my baby is 3 months currently).


Baby nails are sharp and scary, some friends bought us this Electric Nail File and it is absolutely amazing, not painful for baby at all and much more efficient than the little files.

This butt spatula thing has been great for when we apply diaper cream! Saves us from getting it on our hands.

For me personally, I found the Boppy rather ineffective for nursing at first while we were trying to figure out nursing. Baby would kind of slide down between the Boppy and my stomach. Now at 3 months old, the Boppy is super useful for propping baby and sometimes as a nursing pillow if I decide to use one. My first few weeks of nursing I'd use the Brest Friend Nursing Pillow it was great when Baby really needed a little extra support for getting into the best position for nursing.

Breastfeeding was very painful for me the first few weeks. Our LO ended up having a bad latch due to tongue and lip ties we had to get lasered (anterior tongue tie had been clipped by Pediatrician in the hospital, she still had a posterior tie that was diagnosed later by a lactation consultant - just something to keep in mind), by the time we had the procedure done the damage was done to my nipples. These nipple shields are one of the things that really helped my nipples heal in between feedings to keep my bra/clothes off of them. I hope you don't have to use them, but something you may want to make a note of in case you have a similar experience. If you do end up having nipple pain, ask your OB (or Google how to make it yourself) for a script for "Newman's Nipple Cream", that stuff helped save our breastfeeding relationship!


Good luck, looks like you're off to a great start!

I'm only 21 and not breastfeeding or even pregnant, and I was going to suggest a daily dose or two of straight vitamin E oil massage for your breasts, because this is what I do and my boobs are very soft. However, something made me double check before I blurted my uneducated answer onto the internet, and I found out that while pure vitamin E oil is good for nipples, it's not good for baby consumption! So load up on the vitamin E oil titty massages before the baby comes!

That being said, I was curious and did some more research and I found a bunch of natural alternatives to lanolin creams, but most contain beeswax. I found one brand, Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter which has some great reviews on Amazon! The main ingredients are mango butter and avocado oil, which are both incredibly nourishing to the skin.

I hope this helps and congratulations on brining a beautiful baby into this world!

Things I forgot:

• waterproof crib sheets (put em all on so you can just take one off in the middle of the night
  
  
• wet bags if you’re trying cloth diapers
  
  
• more pacifiers
  
  
• white noise machine (someone gave me an old one but it broke fast)
  
  
• Velcro swaddles (it’s easier)
  
  
• fabric carrier, like the big scarf kind (way easier than the straps kind)
  
  
• baby monitor
  
  
• for breastfeeding: I liked silicon caps (think like pasties) but not at first! (I got mastitis while I was learning the schedule because the silicon caps don’t let anything out). I also tried these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H75C9Y3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_COqSDbHEVP2QQ which were obvious on my large breasts but I wore them around the house and they were super convenient.
  
  
• Milk storage cups
  
  
• hand pump (easier and less time consuming than electric pump)
  
  
• pumping bra for electric pumping (you do not want to hold the flanges to your chest for a half hour or more, it’s depressing and you can’t scratch your nose)
  
  
• stroller that works for babies under a year: I got a stroller that a baby would sit in, totally didn’t realize it wouldn’t work until he’s good holding up his head. Ended up getting a good deal on a jogging stroller/car seat combo that worked out way better.
  
  
• postpartum underwear (I didn’t forget these but they were soooo handy and comfortable)
  
  Oh and we were totally blindsided by the fact that some hospitals try to jerk you around on the car seat, we were told (right before we were supposed to leave) that we had to take baby out in a car seat, and the one we had wasn’t a carrier type so my in laws ran out and bought one. I liked it better anyway, so luckily when I got the jogging stroller deal it came with a carrier type car seat that clicks into the stroller too.

Totally normal. Some things that could help are nipple gel pads like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WCirDbMXEKJMF

Just slather on a healthy layer of lanolin and pop them inside your bra. It feels great and some people like to refrigerate these for extra soothing right after a feed. I didn't love that, but they're amazing regardless.

And I haven't tried nipple shells yet, but you could pick up something like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8DTGCX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MEirDbTFGVS39

Again, just slip inside your bra and they keep your nipples from touching anything. As a bonus, they'll catch your let-down (which your can save) and also allow for breastmilk to dry on your nipples, which is naturally soothing and hydrating.

With both of these options, your nipples should be able to heal quicker and feel better overall!

I’m no lactation consultant but it looks like he just has a little mouth. My son had a great latch, no tongue or lip ties and my nipples cracked just because he was little. Keep doing what you’re doing; although coconut oil may not be enough of a barrier to help your nipple heal. Lanolin is really great or if you’re opposed get some lansinoh soothies or Medela soothing gel pads. The soothing pads after the saline soaks were really effective for me. I also used a nipple shield to give the nipple a break- just make sure to use the right size.

My first recommendation is to check to see if she has a baby registry. New parents need/want LOTS of stuff, and while all gifts are appreciated, having someone help cover the essentials always made us really happy! Some of my favorite gifts were for things we needed like extra bottles, bassinet sheets, and giftcards to Amazon.

Now, to your question - here are some top items we've used with our new baby:

• If she's breastfeeding then nipple balm, nursing pads (I like the Lansinoh disposable ones), cooling pads for your bra for when you're engorged, a Haaka breastmilk pump/saver, and nursing tank tops.
  
• An activity mat
  
• High contrast books and toys to look at
  
• Extra changing pad liners
  
• Dreft stain remover (GREAT for poop stains!)
  
• Burp cloths (you can literally never have too many. We love these from aden + anais.)
  
  
  With the exception of the activity mat, you can really never have too many of the above items!

That mom is a pro! Our IBCLC told us to feed our little guy upright so not to confuse him when we try breastfeeding so I was trying to make him a little more upright but maybe I'll try at a little less incline. Having him in my laptop would be great too. The only thing I can't manage yet is holding him and wearing the flanges at the same time. My frame is a little narrow so it's hard to fit him between my breasts without him kicking them off. :(

Thank you so much for the link to lacteck! I had no idea these types of accessories existed. I only knew about the bra and pumpin pals. The pump2baby bottle is cool, but the BabyMotion Flange ( https://www.lacteck.com/babymotion-flange) looks awesome too! For $20, it's worth trying out. I also picked up the BeauGen Cushion (another $20, https://www.amazon.com/New-Breast-Pump-Cushion-Stretchy/dp/B07L6PGDKX/?th=1) in case that helps as well. Anything to ease my pain and to help me last even another month or two pumping.

So far, looking good. My tips or advice:

• Use Sleepyhead, as others mentioned here. Much better data.
  
• Your pressure will likely be adjusted upwards. For reference, my AHI (apnea/hypopnea incidents per hour) is less than 1.0 99% of the time. The goal is generally less than 5.
  
• The mask may occasionally cause skin irritation and/or redness at contact points—perhaps due to friction or skin dryness. With a nasal mask (the Wisp), it was bridge of my nose. With the Airfit P10, it tends to be the inside edges of my nares, and with the Phillips Dreamwear (my favorite mask yet) it is occasionally the outside corners of the nose. When this happens, I have found great success using a small amount of Lanolin ointment before going to bed. You can usually find it in the nursing section of a supermarket, packaged like this. Vaseline may work as well.
  
• Clean your mask, hose, and tank weekly. I use vinegar (to dissolve any hard water deposits), then use a gentle all-natural dish detergent that smells okay.
  
• Use distilled water for your humidifier, and it will substantially extend the life of your tank, hose, and mask.
  
• Don't be afraid to try other masks. I tried several before ending up with the Dreamwear, which has worked wonderfully for me.

Engorgement is rough! It’s amazing what you’re doing.

1. do you have a good (hospital-grade) pump? That’ll extract your milk much better at this early stage. Help you to get more empty between being full.
   
   
2. Switch between hot & cold. My OB recommended putting wet diapers in the freezer and using them as ice packs. I use these for a similar purpose—one set lives in the freezer and the other next to my microwave. Hot before pumping, cold after. Hot showers are also a lifesaver—I would literally hand express while in the shower to relieve some of the pressure.
   
   
3. also—if you feel like you have lumps that aren’t getting better—try dangle pumping. It’s super awkward—I set up on my bed with two large pillows stacked to hold up my arms and have my breasts hanging downwards in front of them while attached to the pump parts. But it helps extract better.
   
   Your milk will regulate soon and then engorgement won’t happen unless you miss a pumping session.

Lanolin! It's an occlusive like petrolatum, but it also absorbs through the skin. It's chemically very similar to the moisturizing layer our skin naturally produces. It's AMAZING. It gets me through my crazy-dry winter lips every year and got me through a course of accutane this summer.

One caution!: Lanolin comes from sheep (it's a waxy layer on sheep wool that's removed as a part of the woolmaking process) and if you buy unrefined lanolin, it'll kinda smell like farm animals. I think it's subtle enough, but if you're sensitive to smells you can buy refined lanolin, which is marketed to breastfeeding mothers, so you're going to have to deal with a tube that says "chapped nipples" on it.

Amazon links: Unrefined lanolin, refined lanolin


edit-- I just use lanolin at night. It keeps my lips nice and moisturized that they can take a long day of lipstick. When I was on Accutane, or occasionally in the depths of winter, I do lanolin all day and it has a nice gloss.

I was just researching this last night on Reddit (here and SCA) to see if I could find other options before buying the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask that I'd been eyeing a while. The thing is, my lips aren't really chapped or super dry, but I find that they tighten up pretty quickly and I needed something that wasn't just an occlusive moisturizer (which is what my Aquaphor basically amounts to, with SPF 30).

One thing I realized is I've been exfoliating the lips too much. I tend to scrape off the top layer (it comes off easily, it's not dry either but moist) every morning and I think that's caused a vicious cycle of it peeling easily. So this morning I used my thumb to go over my lips and remove leftover balm without scraping the lip itself. This may not be helpful to you in particular but I figured I'd mention it in case anyone with an issue similar to mine checks out this thread too.

More to the point: I decided on trying Lansinoh, which is lanolin (it's actually marketed to breastfeeding mothers for their chapped nipples, but who cares). I got it this morning and it's definitely unlike anything else I've put on my lips and they haven't felt dried out all day. I went for this option because people said lanolin can penetrate deeper for more lasting moisture, rather than just sitting on top like petroleum jelly. It's $7 on Amazon for 3 little tubes (https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Minis-Breastfeeding-Mothers/dp/B00FNZQHJA/) so I think that's worth a shot for anyone who'd want to avoid spending more right away. The Laneige pack is so much more pretty-looking though that I might want to try it anyway…

This stuff is amazing - expensive as HELL but really amazing: CV Labs Skin Balm I've also had great luck with the Bite Agave Lip mask, although that is just as expensive and is less versatile in terms of using it on other dry patches. I'm also ordering some of the Lansinoh balm, which I've heard good things about and which is much much cheaper.

My LC diagnosed a tongue and lip tie which we got taken care of on day 3 of her little life - there was an immediate difference. Up to about 10 seconds of pain while initially latching is considered normal (I would usually cry), but it should not persist beyond the initial latch on. (That eventually stopped though!)


If you don't have them, these were everything in the first two weeks - get two sets and keep them in the fridge!

Gel Pads


I had the LC teach my husband how to help me get baby latched properly because I didn't seem to have enough hands until baby got a hang of nursing and that was super useful. I would usually hold baby in one hand and my boob in the other while husband maneuvered baby's head jnto position and jammed it into my boob as soon as she opened her mouth wide enough. If you can, have LC come to you!

This sounds weird, but the cheapest easiest way to get this stuff is nipple cream for women who are breastfeeding. They use it because it’s awesome for moisturizing but it’s safe if baby accidentally gets some. Lip moisturizer with lanolin will be like three times the cost of nipple cream and it’s the exact same stuff. I recommend this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Soothing-Essentials/dp/B005MI648C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=nipple+cream&qid=1564173135&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Swaddle Blankets

Burp Cloths


Bottles. I've had a lot of friends that love the playtex drop-ins

If you're going to breastfeed pick some pads for yourself along with some nipple cream. I liked motherlove.

Swing, rock n play or bouncer so that you have a place to set baby down to accomplish dishes/shower.

activity gym/play mat


That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Lanolish. It's actually marketed as a nipple cream for breastfeeding moms, but it makes a fabulous lip balm. Head over to /r/skincareaddiction to see many raves about it. It's the only thing that can help my lips in dry winter months. They'd be cracking and damn near bleeding before I found this stuff. After a day or so, they were back to soft and feeling great. Make sure you aren't allergic to wool/sheep products, but otherwise try it out.

It’s just a plastic cover that is shaped similar to nipples on bottles. You wet it and it suctions around boob with holes in the nipple. I got mine from NICU but you can pick one up at either amazon or target . I have this one and it works great for me. If your LO prefers the bottle nipple this might help with the transition to the boob. Also, I usually hand express a little milk into the shield to jumpstart his sucking. Hope this helps!

You can find it in the baby section at most pharmacies, though I personally just order it off amazon. It’s marketed as nipple cream (not sexy but it works like a charm).

I also use it on my lips and it’s wonderful! I layer it over Aquaphor or use it by itself under lipstick.

I ALSO use it on dry spots when needed! Lanolin is my favorite multi purpose product. As with anything, do patch test it since some people do have a Lanolin allergy.

Unless you're very dehydrated (and hardly anybody is), just drinking water probably won't do much. Try using a gentle lip scrub in the shower, and then a really thick layer of some kind of balm. I flip between Cerave's healing ointment in a big tube, and plain [lanolin nipple cream] (https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Salve-Lanolin-1-41/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485505327&sr=8-3&keywords=nipple+cream), which has a cult following as a lip balm for a reason - it's cheap and very good for chronic chapped lips. And changing your toothpaste to a super gentle one might help too - the sodium lauryl sulfate in some toothpastes could be irritating your lips.

One thing though: no matter what you do, the problem isn't going to go away immediately. When my lips would get like this, it takes at least a week or two of constantly applying lanolin (and a thick layer at night) and a gentle scrub to make them feeling good again. The skin needs time to heal. And if you're ever outside, I'd recommend Aquaphor's lip treatment with SPF - even minor sun damage can make it harder for the skin to heal itself.

I assembled this cart for our living room, and I thought y'all would appreciate it. We also considered naming it the T&A cart, but "boob & butt" won out.

• Cart: 3-tier rolling cart from Target. I went with this instead of the ever-popular Raskog from IKEA because our local IKEA didn't have the colors we wanted in stock.
  
• Butt: diapers, wipes, IKEA hedgehog toy for diaper time entertainment, Pueen pump dispenser (yasss, Pueen) and CVS premium cotton squares for water-only cleanups, dog poop bags and dispenser for poopy diapers, tube of Vaseline as meconium shield and Boudreaux's butt paste
  
• Boobs: rolled receiving blankets to use as burp cloths, Bebe Au Lait nursing cover for when we got company, Lanisoh lanolin for da nips, Lanisoh disposable nursing pads, Bamboobies washable nursing pads, Lanisoh soothies gel pads, Avent comfort breast shells, bottled water, and Graze snacks in the back. When baby arrives I'll store my Kindle here, too.
  
  The bottom shelf just has extra diapers, wipes, and nursing pads.

I've heard BITE's Agave lip mask is amazing. If you have money to drop for it (they also have a mini gift set with their lip exfoliator), then I would try it out. I don't have money to shell out for it, so keep this in mind:

Lanolin is the mask's active ingredient (it's listed first). It's the same thing used in nipple creams for breastfeeding mothers. I'd suggest purchasing Lansinoh and see where it goes from there. Plus, you can use it on cracked knees and elbows!

If you want to splurge on a yummy lip mask that you can't resist licking off your lips, then buy the BITE product. :)

If you're looking for a cheaper Lanolin alternative someone mentioned to me Nipple cream. Its super cheap and you can get A LOT of it. I personally love any products that have lanolin in it. Bite's lip balm and lip mask are my favs.

I ended up buying these for when I want something simple and effective. Would highly recommend.

Hooray, congrats!

It can be super painful at first! 4-6 weeks was about when I finally experienced that breakthrough moment with my oldest, and I'm so not looking forward to doing it all over again!

A nurse in my Mother's Group suggested hyrdogel pads to help your nips feel better in between feedings- they really, really helped me:

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=pd_lpo_75_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=859ZFQ7CNM1V4WRRYJR8

Everything I'm recommending can be bought on Amazon fairly cheaply:

1st Cleanser (PM only to get rid of sunscreen or makeup): The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Rich Oil Dry Skin

2nd Cleanser: Cerave hydrating Cleanser

Hydrating Toner: [Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner] (https://www.amazon.com/Preparation-Alcohol-Paraben-Cruelty-Eco-friendly/dp/B00PGOFYG0) or
Hada Labo Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist

Medium Moisturizer: Cerve PM Moisturizing Lotion

Heavy Moisturizer: Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

Sleeping Pack: Cosrx Ultimate Rice Overnight Mask

Sheet Mask: Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Mask, illi masks, MBD masks (these might be out of your price range as they are between $1-3 per use).

Sunscreen: [Biore Kids Sunscreen] (https://www.amazon.com/Japan-Health-Personal-Care-carefree/dp/B019IDQ57G)

Lips: Lanolin

Makeup
BB: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #13 (RP), Mizon Snail Repair Blemish Balm
Cushion: Innisfree
Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

It is so hard at the beginning! My first never latched well and we ended up exclusively pumping and eventually switching to formula at 10 weeks. We had to do what we could to save our sanity.

My second ended up having a tongue and lip tie. It was so painful that first week before they were discovered! As soon as we got them both revised, things got easier. She was still constantly eating the first month, but I was able to keep my soreness to a minimum with lanolin and Medela soft shells for sore nipples. I highly recommend those soft shells! Also Ameda hydrogels provided great relief the first week when we were battling the tongue and lip tie. They last for several days.

Here's links to both but they also sell them at like Babies R Us type stores if you want to run out and get some immediately:

Ameda ComfortGel Hydrogel Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Am1LybZ3NTJGR

Medela SoftShells for Sore Nipples https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSP1PE6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Gn1Lyb42HY72B

This stuff is the shit. It doesn't smell and isn't sticky like regular lanolin, and it's definitely safe for lips. I use this when nothing else is working or to help heal up the end of a cold sore. It's the best.

I recommend [Dr. Dan's Cortibalm] (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Dans-Cortibalm-Balm-Count/dp/B00DME6W76/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520993027&sr=8-4&keywords=dr+dans+cortibalm), it should help with the swelling. On top of that put lanolin - I use this [one]
(https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Moisturizer-Preservative-Hypoallergenic/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520992749&sr=8-6&keywords=lanolin). The [Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask] (https://www.amazon.com/LANEIGE-SLEEPING-Berry-Sleeping-Treatment/dp/B018AYHZX2/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6CE1FFJBSM6B0QN5JPNK) is also great. I've been using all of those products and my lips are looking better than they did before accutane. Also, I get buying three things isn't realistic for some folks, so I would suggest getting the Dr. Dan's and putting vaseline over it.

not trying to steal your thunder but i used aquaphor for 5 years until recently i discovered lanolin oil...it will blow you fking mind. it's definitely more shiny but I can confidently say it that your lips will thank you. give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.

edit: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Minis-Breastfeeding-Mothers/dp/B01J61VNZE/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1491671071&sr=8-9&keywords=lanolin

This one is the one people should try!

Is it really that good? I've heard good things about it, but have been hesitant to actually trying it :s My lips are definitely dry, but they aren't red and inflamed like some of the extreme cases I've seen people on Accutane go through. I'm a mess without Aquaphor on me all the time, but it always feels good when I re-apply it about every hour and a half. However, I feel like it's just sitting on my lips, as oppose to actually doing something. Also, is this the lanolin you're talking about?

Try to keep your nipples clean and dry, and use a really good lotion like Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. That stuff is awesome.

Don't worry about the pooing. Her system is just getting revved up. Having foremilk/hindmilk imbalance is relatively unusual. Just keep offering each breast for as long as she wants it; she's communicating to your body what she needs, and your body will likely respond.

Those early days of breastfeeding, I was convinced I had every problem ever, all usually within the same feeding - she's overeating, she's not getting enough, it's a foremilk imbalance, etc.

If your wife is planning to nurse, she needs lanolin cream for her nipples, and also either nipple shells like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-Breast-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B001XDKTXQ/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2ASXZDZYVCW83&coliid=IQ61JE9TGHYQY) to help protect her chapped nipples from her clothing, or gel pads like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Soothies-Gel-Pads-2-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1371531566&sr=1-2&keywords=nipple+soothers) or, preferably, both. Those poor boobies get really, really sore in the first few days.

Plus, as someone else said, either nursing tank tops or simple nursing bras. Don't get specific size nursing bras (like 36C) yet because you have no idea what size they will be once her milk comes in, just just find one or two that are "medium" or "large." She'll have to go out and get the right size in a week or two when everything is established.

A nursing pillow, like a boppy, is also handy, but definitely not required. It helps with positioning and arm support during marathon nursing sessions.

Not nursing related, but one of those inflatable butt donuts can feel pretty good on tattered and torn lady bits. So can pain relief spray and witch hazel. And a squirt bottle to use instead of wiping - my hospital provided that. And colace (stool softener).

Second lansinoh soothies that your store in the fridge, and taking any postpartum medicine you might have been prescribed!

You can also pump just a TINY bit to relieve some pressure (if you pump too much, your boobs will be like “OH HEY YOU WANT ME TO KEEP PRODUCING THIS MUCH, YEAH?”

AND ALSO: demand of your support network time and space to take relieving showers. You are 100% not required to fully care for a toddler and a newborn at 3 days postpartum!!!!!!

In addition to the other great ideas you got already, I wanted to add one more thing that worked for me in early months: Ameda Breast Shells. They are these little plastic doohickeys (that's my technical term) with that can either help draw out inverted nipples (not what I used them for), or help shield tender nipples. It's basic keeps nipples exposed only to air (no rubbing on pads/against clothing or bras), and were a lifesaver for me. That plus lanolin really helped me get through the first month or so of nursing.

I was a 32 G pre-pregnancy and gargantuan by the end. I used a boppy nursing pillow and loved it, but I am sure other brands are great, too, just something! It does feel like you have about 12 less hands than you need in the beginning, but you will figure it out. Babies make a lot of noise while they breastfeed. You will be able to hear her breathing and swallowing so it would be obvious if she could not breathe. I don't recall ever have any smothering problems. Really early on, since she was so tiny I had to tuck her body under the boob that she was not feeding on so that she could get close enough to eat. We breastfed for 16 months. The first month was hard. We had latching issues and I had bloody nipples, but we eventually got there. I don't think the latching had anything to do with my breast size. I would also recommend lanolin cream and these soothie gels. Put them in the fridge they are amazing.

My lips are my biggest issue—they're in a neverending peeling cycle. I have really dry skin in general and I can't really breathe through my nose, and I think all the mouthbreathing exacerbates things. I don't get cracking or the red circle around the lips that kids get, but just constant peeling peeling peeling.

I use lanolin. It's the sheep equivalent of sebum, which doesn't sound great, but it's similar to the oils produced by human skin. I use Lansinoh, which is intended for nipples that are chapped from breastfeeding. (Don't buy pure raw lanolin, it will smell like sheep.) I recently found it in these minis, which I really like since they're a normal chapstick size. They helpfully say "SOOTHES & PROTECTS SORE, CHAPPED NIPPLES"... I try not to leave them out when my students are around.

It works best when I use it as a routine several times a day instead of as needed. I always fall back into trying to apply lip products only as needed, which completely does not work for me. I would never wait until I had a problem to apply any other moisturizer, so why do I do it with lip moisturizers? Who knows.

I do the wash cloth exfoliation thing, which maybe helps, but is not nearly enough for me. Does anyone do any intentional chemical exfoliation on their lips? Are there products for that?

I've never really found a solution for my peeling lips and have mostly just learned to live with it. :\

I'm going to try switching to an SLS free toothpaste. I've used them before and didn't notice it helping my lips, but I wasn't looking out for it so who knows.

For SPF I've been using Banana Boat SPF 45 Lip Balm. It's fine.

For cold sores I take 2g of Valtrex (an antiviral used for herpes) when I feel a tingle, and then 2g 12 hours later. If I take it in time it can normally completely prevent an outbreak. I also use Abreva, but only on the sore itself at the very early stages since it works by protecting cells from becoming infected. I don't think there's any point in using it once it erupts, though I'll keep using it on my other lip if it's touching.

If you end up with super sore and chapped nipples I cannot recommend hydrogel breast pads enough! They are amazing, cooling, soothing and help speed up any healing. Like these ones!

Hydration is key- but you may also need an occlusive/moisturizer to help get them better. I use a lanolin based lip balm but anything with lanolin (try a nipple balm for breastfeeding moms ) or petroleum jelly will help.

Not going to lie, it can hurt! I ended up using nipple shields for the entire time I breastfed (22 months) and I super recommend having some in the house - they make it so much more bearable! Getting your supply started with just the pump will take a lot of effort so if you can manage to feed direct it is honestly easier.
These are the nipple shields I used and I also used these gel pads for the first week, so soothing! Do what you’re comfortable with though, don’t feel pressured, just do what works.

Get formula as backup, it lasts for years and you never know if the baby's going to respond to your breast/ or if you'll have lactation issues. If you do have problems with latching, nipple shields are a temporary solution, if you have flat nipples because of the size change in your boobs then you can buy a nipple everter instead so the baby doesn't have to try to adapt to silicone. Lansinoh Breastfeeding Starter Set for Nursing Mothers includes, 1 Lanolin Nipple Cream, 24 Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads, 2 TheraPearl Breast Therapy/ Latch Everter Set

Some babies dislike the taste of that brand of nipple cream, so you might want to get something else instead. Coconut oil is a cost effective, easy to find solution that's harm-free and good tasting/ smelling with no need to wash it off before feeding like some other products.

If your boobs are over-reactive to the letdown, you might want to get a manual suction breast pump to cover your nipple that's not being used for feeding. That way there's no wasted milk/ mess to deal with.

Some important things to remember is that if you want your milk supply to stay at a healthy level, every time you feed, you need to make sure your boobs get as empty as possible, to train your body that it needs to refill the boobs - rather than letting them get engorged. When that happens, your body starts to get the hint that you or the baby don't want the milk and production slows.

Also if you're stressed out, you might not be able to breastfeed at all, that's what happened to me. I'd spend half a day getting less than a cup of milk and had my daughter on me for several hours a day. It was pretty horrible. So the breast warmer in that link above should help with relaxing your boobs so you can let down, if that's a problem. Also making sure you have your own quiet place will help a lot if stress is an issue for you.

I'm looking at introducing some pure lanolin into my routine, but I'm not 100% sure on the comedogenic/irritation ratings. I found this online:

ingredient : comedogenic factor : irritant factor

Lanolins

Acetylated lanolin : 4 : 0

Acetylated lanolin acohol : 4 : 2

Anhydrous lanolin : 0-1 : ?

Lanolin alcohol : 0-2 : 2

PEG 16 lanolin (Solulan 16) : 4 : 3

PEG 75 lanolin : 0 : 0

The lanolin I've been looking at is this one, the ingredients list says it's 100% Lansinoh HPA lanolin - Lansinoh is the brand so I think this is something they've named. I don't know what kind of lanolin this is in regards to the ratings above. Any help?

Additionally as lanolin is quite thick and hard to use, this liquid lanolin caught my eye but I'm wondering if anyone knows how effective this is compared to the 'normal' thick stuff? Is it to lanolin as mineral oil is to vaseline? Is it still just as effective? What kind of lanolin would it be in regards to the ratings I found?

Thanks!

You can find the Aritaum lip mask on Amazon.

If you want something cheaper, I really like pure lanolin - it's really sticky and thick, but it works wonders. Something like this is super affordable.

I got about the same pumping with my freemie cups. I used to get 1-1.5oz per side now I get 2-4oz. But I used my old set up this weekend to do some quick pumping and needed to clean my cups and I got 3-4oz per side, so about the same.

Freemie flanges are 24, 28, and 32mm. They don't have smaller, but there are inserts made for the freemie cups by another brand to resize the flanges to 21mm. https://www.amazon.com/Maymom-Inserts-Freemie-Flanges-Collection/dp/B01HOSPXBQ (mobile sorry). I can't speak to them, I use the 28mm, but that might help.

I use my freemie cups 3-4 times a day back at work, and I'm happy to answer any more questions I can.

MotherLove makes a great nipple cream that doesn't have any lanolin. This site has some really great videos and fact sheets about what breastfeeding looks like and how to handle difficulties. Have some Soothies in the fridge for at first when your nipples HURT. Don't have formula ready to go "just in case" as it will inhibit your ability to trust that you can feed your baby. Trust yourself, your baby, your body. See if there's a La Leche League group near you and start going to meetings before the baby comes. You'll get a chance to see breastfeeding in person if you haven't before, as well as meet lots of moms who can talk you through tough times in person (which is huge). Some moms there might even be willing to show you how their babies latch and what you can expect.

The single best 2 pieces of advice I got: Don't be afraid to get help. Never quit on a bad day.

I know it sounds crazy, but nipple cream. Yes- cream for chafed nipples which happens when breastfeeding (apparently?! And sounds no bueno). It’s lanolin has a vaseline consistency, and comes in a purple tube. Holy grail for super dry and chapped lips:
Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream, 100% Natural Lanolin Cream for Breastfeeding, 1.41 oz Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MI648C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sxLvCbVHBEY2Z

Get a nipple cream. I use the Lansinoh brand and have found it to help with the itchiness perfectly. It's thicker than lotion and stays on much longer. It's more like Aquaphor.

I had a C-section. Here's my list of musts:

Nipple Cream: https://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-Certified-Organic-Cracked-Nursing/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1524170982&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=nipplecreams+for+breastfeeding&psc=1

Nursing Pads: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Ultimate-Protection-Nighttime-Discretion/dp/B0179BQBP0/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524171034&sr=8-8&keywords=nursing+pads

Huge drinking cup so you don't have to get up so often: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGMBG5Q/ref=dp_prsubs_3

Nursing Bras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DBJ53P/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Extra Long phone charging cords: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074296YH3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Burp Cloths (which are useful for a million things, I bought 3 of the 10-packs and am so glad I did):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VBYVVA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And my MIL got me this housecoat type thing made of sweatshirt material that was longer than knee length, zipped up, and had 2 massive pockets. I lived in the thing for like a month because I couldn't stand pants after my C-section. Plus it was warm and the pockets were really handy for carrying things (phone, water bottle, burp cloths, etc) while I was holding the baby.

Not AB, but I swear by nipple cream.

Yes nipple cream. It's mostly lanolin and it is very moisturizing. I use it as a lip mask and my lips are chap free for the rest of the day.

Regarding breastfeeding... I never had any problem with my incision while feeding them - it's really low (close to your bikini line), so it's hard to irritate it while feeding them.

My nipples are definitely sore at times, particularly during the first two weeks or if the girls want to eat more frequently (i.e. cluster feeding). I find that using Lanolin after each feeding helps a lot. After the first few weeks, my nipples definitely started to get used to the feedings, so, most of the time, I’m not that sore.

The first two weeks were the most difficult for me. My hormones were raging, I was still recovering from the surgery, and the girls and I were still learning how to breastfeed. There were times when I felt like all I was doing was feeding them... After two weeks, I decided to start using the pump a little, so that we could give them bottles if my breasts were really sore or if I just wanted a break from breastfeeding. At first I felt guilty about it, but I am so happy I made that decision. For me, the breaks were definitely needed… plus, my husband gets to bond with the girls while he feeds them.

Tandem feeding has also helped A LOT! I use the My Brest Friend Twins Plus Deluxe Nursing Pillow and I would highly recommend it! It takes a little while to figure out how to use it when you’re by yourself, but it cuts feeding time in half!!

I survive breastfeeding the first couple months with the help of this.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter, 2-Ounce Jar https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JVCBBG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_chHPub0ASWG0M

Without it, I think I would have quit trying from first couple of days.

This too shall pass! Be strong mama.

Thought about using https://www.amazon.com/UTIMI-Suckers-Corrector-Enhancer-Inverted/dp/B07VY289M5/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=nipple+sucker&qid=1573637266&sr=8-9 as a retainer because it would work sorta like a baby nipple.

But that looks like more fun.

I don't use Aquaphor, but I do use Vaseline (from what I understand, they are pretty much the same) and at night I'll put Lanolin on my lips, as per a recommendation from this sub. I just use Lansinoh Lanolin (it's a nipple cream for breastfeeding mothers). You can find it here -> http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Grams/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404659636&sr=8-1&keywords=Lansinoh


As a recovering lip balm addict, it seems to really help. I don't find it necessary to be constantly applying lip balm.

I find the same thing with coconut oil. It makes everything seem dryer, and it doesn't absorb very well.

My son thought it was hilarious to bite me and get a reaction. I️ would gently press his face into my breast like I️ read about, but that did not help. I️ then just took him off the breast and stopped the session for a few minutes, that seemed to make a better point. I️ used Motherlove nipple salve and it helped but I️ remember one time I️ actually had to avoid nursing on one side for a day (hand pumped when needed, pink milk was interesting). Good luck!

Motherlove Nipple Cream Certified Organic Salve for Sore Cracked Nursing Nipples, 1 Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PFhbAbPJS8TFP

I'm pre-op, but lanolin cream/ointment and nipple gels are great for chafing and stinging pain (not at the same time). I plan on getting several pairs of gels; they're amazing right out of the refrigerator.

Few things I brought second trip that I didn’t think of first time (I’ve had two NICU babies):

Comfortable clothing. Post delivery the pre pregnancy stuff won’t be comfortable nor will the maternity stuff. For summer, I’d do soft cotton dresses, maxi skirt etc for the weeks after delivery. I couldn’t stand stuff touching my incision.
For immediate post op, comfy pajamas. Something you won’t be embarrassed to wear from your room to NICU (I didn’t want to wear hospital gown).

I’d get some soothie pads for your nipples. Your breasts will be super sore and the NICU will want you to pump every 3 hours. Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads for Breastfeeding, 2 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LSpWCbF9CESBE

Breast feeding bra or tanks of your choice. You probably won’t want anything with an underwire.

Long phone charger (10 feet) bc plug locations aren’t convenient.

Insulated water bottle. You’ll need to drink massive amounts of water post delivery while pumping / breast feeding.

Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding, 1.41 Ounce Full Size Tube, Soothing Lanolin Balm, Safe for Nursing Moms, Nursing Essentials https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MI648C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bnkQDb5DRVTXK

Made for breastfeeding folks! Works better than lip balm, Vaseline, and aquaphor

If someone's having sex with you they are not going to suddenly stop and be like "oh my god, your nipple is doing a thing!" It's really a non issue.

However, if this is something you can't get over you have a few options. There are places that can pierce your nipple to make it not be inverted anymore, but make sure you do a lot of research and look for someone who knows how to do it, maybe ask your doctor if they know someone. You could also give something like this a try.

I hate lanolin/the idea of wool grease, but MotherLove makes a really nice organic and (minus the beeswax) plant-based one of you ever decide you want to try something else. I like it!

Here's the link if you're interested: Motherlove Nipple Cream Certified Organic Salve for Sore Cracked Nursing Nipples, 1 Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VKOFxbT6WEZ29

Lanolin is the best ingredient for chapped lips. You don’t need fancy expensive lip products to make them smoother.

Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream is very popular for lips. It is originally used for chafed nipples but who cares? The tube is convenient for on the go and it’s less than $9.

I opted for a jar of pure Lanolin since you get 7oz for the same price. I just transfer it in little mini jars for convenience.

At night, put a warm wash cloth over the lips for a minute or so to loosen the skin, rub it gently with the cloth. If it hurts STOP! Then slather on Lanolin before bed, it is very sticky so you need to get used to the feeling.

For maintenance, I mixed some Lanolin with Vaseline and use it as an everyday balm.

These have been an absolute lifesaver for me Lansinoh Soothies Breast Gel Pads for Breastfeeding and Nipple Relief, 2 Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7BkZDb3DCNC16

I don’t know if it’s available in the UK but I used mother’s love nipplecream.

link

This might sound weird but I just started accutane so before I started I wanted to see everyone’s recommendations, and one of them was nipple cream for your dry lips and so far my lips haven’t cracked using aquaphor first and then applying nipple cream! This is the one I use Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding, 1.41 Ounce Full Size Tube, Soothing Lanolin Balm, Safe for Nursing Moms, Nursing Essentials https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MI648C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e62oDbVK5ANYQ

Buy a tube of this and give it to your wife/partner on like feeding #6 and she will love you forever. Lansinoh Lanolin Cream

Try soothies! if you haven't already. They saved my breastfeeding relationship. I had them on 24/7 the first few weeks. Also lots of lanolin. My favorite was the Medela brand, it was the most comfortable. Try expressing some milk and rubbing it on your nipples and then let them air dry.

When I got the chance I did some searching and found some experts showing how it's done. Same technique applies for adults (of course your mouth is a bit larger so you'll probably end up taking more in, but it all works out).

Aim the boobie for the roof of the mouth, when your mouth takes in the boobie it'll slide down to where it's almost gagging you.

You'll make like a seal and it'll just stay where it's supposed to be. You use your tongue to massage the teat (Don't know how else to describe it, but once you play around you'll figure it out, and breathe through your nose.

As the suckler it was a bit weird and until I learned to relax my jaw got a little tired trying to do more work than necessary.

Your nipples being a little sensitive afterwards sounds normal. I know nursing mothers sometimes get cracking, but there are fixes for that

Lansinoh is less than £7 on Amazon, Boots can be quite pricey. If you go for Subscribe & Save (set to once every six months) you can get free delivery then cancel the subscription entirely or cancel the next delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007ZNGUZY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1

A tube of Lansinoh will last you forever, it's not a cream as it claims it is an ointment. Don't put it on damp skin, it will be sticky (rare humectant as well as occlusive properties).

We are a 20 minute drive from the hospital and husband will not leave my side, so I'd like to get everything in. I'm a notorious overpacker, too, but I'd rather have something I don't need than have not have something that I do need.
Mom Stuff:

• A nicer hospital gown to make me feel human
  
• Mesh panties
  
• A few non-slip socks
  
• Travel sized makeup & general toilettries
  
• Nursing shirt
  
• Super comfy yoga pants that I can leave with
  
• Heavy flow pads
  
• A few different stool softners
  
• A few different nursing bras
  
• Something to lay down in the car for leaks
  
• Disposable nursing pads
  
• Tucks cooling pads
  
• Spray
  
• Nipple butter
  
• Preperation H wipes
  
• Gel nipple soothing pads
  
• Nursing pillow
  Baby Stuff:
  
• Onesies in different sizes (nb, 0-3)
  
• Hat, socks, mittens
  
• Car seat
  Dad stuff:
  
• He's kindof on his own. I've been telling him for a month that I need his overnight stuff. He finally got some travel toiletries, so I guess we're getting somewhere
  Both
  
• 10ft charging cable
  
• iPads
  
• Kindles
  
• AppleTV (we're still not decided on this though)
  
• Snacks
  
  I think that covers just about everything. I used travel packing cubes to keep all of the clothing items organized, and I already had several different other travel bags that I generally use when actually leaving town, for all of the "other" items. [edited formatting]

I love my breast shells! I could never get the hand of suctioning the hakaa, and these slip right into your bra: Breast Shells, Nursing Cups, Milk Saver, Protect Sore Nipples for Breastfeeding, Collect Breastmilk Leaks for Nursing Moms, Soft and Flexible Silicone Material, Reusable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075GBX2GP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vIOTCbR7P90M9

I highly recommend using a lanolin-based nipple cream ( I use Lansinoh) at night - it is unparalleled in terms of adding moisture to your lips, moisture retention throughout the night and healing sores and cracked bits, etc. I also use the Jack Black lip balms with SPF during the day mostly because I don't want to carry around a tube of nipple cream to reapply after eating, lol. Any lanolin-based lipbalm would do, tho!

Sounds like you may need something like this. I haven't personally used them but i have seen a lot of moms on here recommend them.

haha bad timing :)

good thing it's super cheap though!

My favorite lip products keeping my lips moisturized and not crusty are the unscented O'Keeffe's Original Lip Repair during the day and Lansinoh Lanolin at night before I go to sleep.

Boppy Nursing Pillow

Some kind of nipple butter. Lansinoh was what I used (and also found it works well for chapped nose during a cold!)

Nipple Gel Pads

Thermopads

Nipple Shield. These can be tricky but they worked wonders for me in the first few weeks while trying to get my nipples used to feeding. It took a little bit of time to get my LO to eat without it but they also saved my nipples.

Best thing I can recommend is Lanolin. Yes, it's for breastfeeding mothers' nips, but that stuff works. I used to reapply aquaphor once an hour or so, but I only needed to reapply lanolin once every 6 hours.

This one is my favorite.

Edit to add: their diaper balm is also the best for when you get to that point.

Mom here, this stuff was amazing for the soreness. Also makes a good lip balm too.

Motherlove Nipple Cream Certified Organic Salve for Sore Cracked Nursing Nipples, 1 Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007CQ726/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nfN3BbX2MTRH3

It's sheep sebum, basically. It can help a lot with chapped lips (and nipples).

You can get lanolin in products like this or in fancier balms by the brand Lanolips.

If you want sticky ones these seem to have adhesive bits. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lansinoh-Disposable-Nursing-Pads-Pieces/dp/B000WHHKEU

Its the UK site but I'm sure you'll find the same elsewhere on Amazon.

I use this. It’s been great and even though it’s only 1 oz, I still have a lot left after BF for 6 weeks.

Mother's Love worked great for me. It can also double as diaper cream.

I used to get really raw with my second one, and I found a nipple shield helpful. I'd stick it on with a bit of lanolin, and it'd keep my raw skin away from his gums.

I also LOOOOVED these things for the first month or so of bfing. If my skin was raw, I could keep it covered in lanolin and I could keep my bra from sticking to it. https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Sore-Nipples/dp/B00LSP1PE6

There's nothing wrong if you're not getting much when you pump. The pump isn't as efficient as baby when it comes to getting milk.
The hospital where you gave birth might be another place to check. They sometimes have new moms groups that meet. It's worth a try!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MI648C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Lmao silly me, sry

I did the same thing when I breastfed. My lactation consultant also recommended using a nipple everter, which I bought, but never used because I didn't end up needing to. I can mail it to you if you like! Just PM me.

I think it's probably because they are already sore. They can take a few days to heal. Keep lanolin on them and these are amazing. Stick them in the refrigerator for extra soothing!

I got a haakaa pump to catch the milk that leaks from the opposite breast while my baby feeds from the other one. (I don’t use the suction though to avoid creating more demand for milk.) I just prop it under my breast to catch what drips out and then I store it in the fridge. That helps because I’m not wasting the milk and it doesn’t go all over me or the baby.

I also bought the lansinoh ultimate protection nipple pads and they are AMAZING. They hold so much milk and you can avoid getting milk on your bra or clothes.

And I got the lansinoh nipple cream because it’s safe for baby, no need to wipe it off before she eats. And I haven’t had dry or cracked nipples yet!

My baby is only 11 days old but this combo has been working so far!

Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Hot or Cold Breast Therapy Pack with Cover, 2 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J61VL9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nD7YCbD006DC6


These saved me!!!

Would [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Grams/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469591912&sr=8-1&keywords=Lanisoh+cream) be the product that you're using?

Oh, I will most definitely look into Aquaphor!

I have heard so many good things about Earth mama nipple butter from several new mama's around who are currently successfully breastfeeding their little one. It has been 9 years since I've since BF a baby and I struggled for the first 6 weeks. I'm hoping it's a little different this time.

Lansinoh works best for me. Seriously.

I can't wait until chafing season is over.

$12 for the three small tubes of pure lanolin I mentioned here on Amazon

You can get a bigger tube and just use that if you're the kinda gal to always have a purse on you. I like the convenience of the smaller tubes and a little goes a long way!

I use this one off Amazon! But it's not as refined as some others that are specifically processed for lips and it does smell strongly of sheep (I don't particularly mind this because I wear it at night).

Other options that I know are really popular include Dr. Lipp and Lansinoh but I don't have personal experience with those.

Medela Soft Shells for Nipples

My friend was telling me about this when she was breastfeeding.

Use this, you need a tiny bit on the area and you will be good!

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin for Breastfeeding Mothers, 40 Grams https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MI648C/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_UAklxbCMT79D7

I use the Lansinoh packs below.. I've also heard of using a diaper?

Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Hot or Cold Breast Therapy Pack with Covers, 1 Pair (2 Count), Heating Pad and Ice Pack for Breastfeeding Relief, Nursing Essentials https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J61VL9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GmruDbZ588PAQ

I took 1 newborn sized sleeper and 1 0-3 month sleeper. I didn't really use much that the hospital didn't provide, except for nipple cream (I got this kind and really liked it) and the Boppy pillow.

Lanolin is good for this. I use it for my lips but the product I use is marketed for nipples.

link on US Amazon for what I use

The problem is even when you get a good latch, you have had a bad latch before so the damage is done. It takes about 2-3 weeks in my experience for the nerves to deaden in your nipples and for it to get pain free.

You're doing all the right things though! Maybe take some motrin (you prob already are if you're 6 days pp). I got these madela nipple shells, they protect your nipple from your clothes and allow air in so you don't get thrush.

http://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Sore-Nipples/dp/B000058DPN/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421680583&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=madela+shells

Also get these soothies, and keep them in the fridge between feedings and slap them on after. These don't allow air flow so don't use them ALL the time.

http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Gel-Pads-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421680652&sr=8-1&keywords=soothies

Also, expressing some milk by hand after a feeding (like a drop or two) and spreading it around your sore nipple and allowing it to dry helps, breastmilk has healing properites.

I really, really liked Motherlove. It's herbal, and super smooth and soft. I couldn't stand trying to mash the hard Lansinoh onto my already sore nipples. One note of warning though, it's mostly oils so will stain clothes/bras if you don't have anything protecting them.

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads for Breastfeeding, 2 Count, Soothing Relief for Moms With Cracked and Sore Nipples https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bV.ZBb6E3DX35

Lanolin is the crowd favorite here. Some people shy away from it because it's actually a nipple-chafing cream, but it's a natural substance with no irritating additives. Many people find that it works FAR better than any of the typical lip-care products. This is the version that most people use, though you can search for products that are made with lanolin but look like typical lip-care products.

Amazon has a checklist feature that really helped me build my registry as a FTM. There's also a "Good, Better, Best" checklist that has honest, unbiased reviews of products in each category to highlight the "covers all of the bases, minimal bells and whistles, low cost" to the "all of the crazy shit you will never need but costs a million dollars!"

Here are a couple of things that I selected based on those lists and reviews here:

Breastfeeding pillow

Booger sucker

Wipe warmer (I also picked out a stand for it to protect the dresser I'll be using as a changing station)

Washable organic nipple pads... to answer your question they absorb leaking milk so your shirts don't look like they're crying all the time. disposables exist, too, but I figure why spend more money throwing them away when you can just toss them in the wash. This pack had enough pairs that it's not like you'll run out in between laundry loads, especially with baby making messes!


Motherlove Nipple Cream becaude apparently your nipples will become the Sahara.

I have never used it personally! I buy the cheapo Lansinoh via Amazon and I've been using these tubes for ~6-7 months and they're all still pretty full. A little goes a long way. I suspect they're similar!

If you plan on nursing, in the beginning, you will leak out of the breast baby isn't feeding on. These shells catch the milk so your shirt doesn't get soaked! And a bonus--if you sanitize them, you can save the milk and freeze it for later!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075GBX2GP/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543538408&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=breast+milk+shell+collector&psc=1

Is she breastfeeding? I ordered these in a fit of desperation in the middle of the night. Wish I had them from the start, slowest (feeling) two day prime shipping of my life.

https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Sore-Nipples/dp/B00LSP1PE6/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1485119492&sr=1-4&keywords=medela+nippleshield

Lansinoh Lanolin Nipplecreams for Breastfeeding, 100% Natural Nipple Cream, 3 Mini Tubes (0.25 oz each) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FNZQHJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AfF4BbXCF4BCN

Or if you’re frugal, you can get three of these little ones. Same stuff just unflavored.

I like the Lansinoh brand...

Amazon

Target

Walmart

Yes to the dishes question, and no to the shells. I posted a link to the brand I had. They did work well when you leak. And were amazing for those beginning of breastfeeding sore nipples.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075GBX2GP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZQC3DbHY04RHB

Honestly, there isn’t much you can do. It takes a few weeks for your nipples to toughen up. I think mine finally stopped bothering me around the end of week three beginning of week 4. My LO is now 10 weeks old and they only hurt when she grabs them with her razor talons. Some things you might try in addition to applying the nipple cream.

• Take some Tylenol for the soreness.
  
• Apply warm compress before nursing and use your fingers pressed around the nipple to help soften the breast and make the it easier for the baby to get a deep latch more quickly.
  
• Apply cool compress to breasts after nursing to decrease inflammation.
  
• If your nipples rubbing on the bra is painful you can use breast shells inside your bra.

I'm a first timer, so I have no experience post-pregnancy, but my nips have been tortured since early on. I got this stuff on Amazon and it is a life saver. It works so well that I only have to use it a couple times a week to keep everything hydrated and happy for several days at a time.

This is the kind I use. Bought mine at Target, but here's an Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-Certified-Organic-Cracked-Nursing/dp/B0007CQ726

I usually get it on amazon. You can find larger sizes at Walmart and target. I think I've seen them at cvs too but not sure. Look in the baby section, it'll be packaged as nipple cream for nursing women but it's fine to use for lips!

After scrubbing, try applying [this lanolin salve ](Lansinoh Breastfeeding Salve - HPA Lanolin, 1.41 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MI648C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ph.CybJH251WS) on them. My friend swears by it after she used it for her nipples when breastfeeding. I've yet to use personally- I think I lost the tube I ordered but give it a shot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LSP1PE6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B2-xDbMNM4W64

have you tried any type of lanolin?
I use this type

Lanolin. Specifically, this kind: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Salve-Lanolin-1-41/dp/B005MI648C

not AB products, but I exfoliate with a damp towel at night, and then use unscented lanolin on my lips while I sleep. It's annoyingly sticky but I sleep on my back, so it's fine. The product I use is Lansinoh Breastfeeding Salve. I've tried other lanolin products and they smell like...well, sheep.

Aritaum also makes a ginger sugar lip scrub and overnight lip mask, and it's been continually manufactured for years now.

Here http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Twin-Pack-Nipplette/dp/B001JHSTS8

> Lanolips

[srs] I'd never heard of this, so I had to Google it. I've been using Lansinoh's 100% lanolin for my lips for quite a while, but only at home, because I can't bring myself to bust out nipple cream at work. I may have to buy some Lanolips for social situations. :p

https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVCBBG

This was a must have for me.

I got this stuff http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVCBBG as an alternative to lanolin.

Non-mobile: lansinoh gel soothies

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

I'm not sure about the color, but I find that a little bit of lanolin really nourishes my lips more than any marketed lip balm. You can find it in the drugstore under nipple ointment or get a big size here

I've got earth mamma angel nipple cream. no experience using it yet, but it says it doesn't have to be wiped off.

medela lanolin before every latch (safe for baby) and lansinoh gel soothies right after every feeding got me through the first few weeks. My consultant said latch was shallow, and it took about 3 weeks to fix. In the meantime, it hurt. Badly. But here we are, still going at almost 11 months. Hang in there! It really, truly gets better!

Lansinoh nipple cream for brestfeeding women: https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Salve-Lanolin-1-41/dp/B005MI648C?th=1

It has lanolin and is hypoallergenic as it is meant for nipples that get sucked on by infants.

Kinda hard to put it on as it is very stiff from the lanolin but it is pure magic for dry skin

Lansinoh Lanolin 100% pure and organic lanolin. A small dab goes a long way once melted to body temperature. Use medication then seal everything in with lanolin. I found not even Aquaphor or Vaseline is occlusive enough to ward off transdermic moisture loss.

Normal (unfortunately). If it turns to pain, then you probably have an issue to address. Lots of open air time helped me. I also used the below bc I leaked a lot or if we had people over visiting/helping and I didn't want my nips just totally out haha.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H75C9Y3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a0cvDb54Y6BDD

For the sore nipples this might help. https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Nipple-Natural-Breastfeeding/dp/B005MI648C

This is the only thing that helped me too! I use a thick layer of Lansinoh every night. Dirt cheap and a giant tube will outlive us all.

One is simply not "set" on diapers, you need more. A little thing, but you need them - pacifiers. "Oh, we have a 2-pack already." No, you need about 8 of those within reach at all times (our pediatrician recommended not giving until 2 weeks old).
Also, if the female species is feeding the spawn, then invest in these. You will not be able to find them in stores and the 24 to 48 Amazon takes to deliver will make turn the female species into the devil. While you are at if you do not have a quality breast pumping if she will be breast feeding, invest in that as well.

And while you are at it a baby straight jacket for sleeping. This has helped our spawn sleep longer throughout the night.

If you're nursing or pumping, a good nursing bra is invaluable. I cringed when I spent $70 on mine but damn if I didn't use ALL the time.

Also, in the early days of breastfeeding/pumping my nipples were SHOT. They hurt so much, any fabric on them was torture. I LOVED these, they were a lifesaver: https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Sore-Nipples/dp/B00LSP1PE6/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1505236261&sr=1-11&keywords=nipple+shield They keep fabric from touching your sore nipples and can be worn under a bra.

Rave: Lanolin

Holy shit, guys. Thanks to recommendations I found via the search bar, my lips are healing! Lipsense destroyed my upper lip and it was chapped and scabbed for 3 full months. I got some Lanolin from Amazon a week ago, mixed in a bit of Aquaphor, and put it into some empty squeezable lip balm tubes, and my lips are almost back to normal!

Try lanolin! It's sold in bulk at some health stores or as nipple cream, slightly embarrassing but it works wonders on the lips.

I'm a bit extra so I use glycerin (Glysolid), lanolin, and vaseline on my lips at night & in the morning and since I started that I have no lip problems.

Since others are saying their nipples were fine, I will chime in and say my nipples were a shredded disaster the first month of breastfeeding and I almost gave up like 1,000 times. Every time my son cried I cried. I still wouldn't recommend roughing up your nipples first - I don't even know if that would really help when you have your little piranha going to town on your nipples. I ended up ordering these, and using with lanolin, and that finally allowed the scabs on my nipples to heal between feedings (rather than the scab drying stuck to my nursing tank and then ripping off when I moved my shirt). After the first few weeks, it stopped hurting at all and we made it 27 months!