What Should You Have in a Lactation Kit?

Breast milk is recommended as the sole food source for infants during the first six months of life. However, each mother decides whether or not to breastfeed. If you decided to do so, here’s what you should have in your lactation kit.

When we are first-time mothers, it’s normal for us to make mistakes when gathering supplies. Perhaps we buy things that are unnecessary or that turn out to not be what we were hoping for. In some cases, we are totally free to make mistakes or to handle motherhood in our own way.

Although it’s true that breastfeeding a newborn is the best thing for mother and child, it is not always comfortable. Likewise, it’s not always as simple as taking the baby and feeding him. At the same time, we have to recognize that this beautiful task can become routine, excessive and exhausting.

How to Organize a Lactation Kit

Comfort while breastfeeding is very important. Although we know that feeding is necessary, it isn’t always practical. We will not always be at home or surrounded by the conditions that make breastfeeding easy, so it’s convenient to have equipment to do it outside the ideal scenario.

In some cases it will be necessary to be away from your baby for a little while, meaning you’ll need to extract and save extra milk. It’s convenient to have the tools to make such a necessity as easy as possible.

Some of the objects we will present to you are optional for breastfeeding. However, if you can afford them and want them, it’s always nice to have them.

Breastfeeding Garments

Not all of your clothes can be adapted for easy breastfeeding. Therefore, it’s important to have some garments at your disposal that are adequate during lactation. Shirts have been designed to facilitate breastfeeding. V-neck shirts or those with buttons in the front are ideal and should not be missing from your lactation kit.

Some garments of this type have beautiful designs, so they don’t even seem to be made for breastfeeding. These are perfect for when we need to breastfeed in public, because we can use them to go out without sacrificing on style. They also come in diverse options, such as double-layered dresses, nightgowns, tops and sweaters. 

In addition to shirts and different styles of clothes, bras are essential. While lactating, breasts can increase in size and weight, so your bra must be adequate. In addition, unfastening it can become complicated. Some bras therefore have a mechanism that allows you to breastfeed without taking it off.

Lactation Kit Accessories

• Breast pumps. This tool may not seem necessary, but it can be very useful. At first, when we are just getting used to breastfeeding, the mammary glands need to be stimulated. A breast pump is convenient when we want to regulate the baby’s feeding and also want a supply available when we need to leave the baby with a caregiver.
• Nipple protectors. These are silicon caps that cover the nipple but leave a hole through which the baby can extract milk. They are useful for preventing or healing cracks.
• Breastfeeding cushion. Cushions are important to create and maintain a proper posture for the baby. They support the little one and are comfortable, while allowing the infant to rest in the crook of the mother’s elbow. These replace pillows that do not quite produce the desired effect.
• When not feeding the baby, you may leak milk. This is uncomfortable and can cause your clothes to become wet. Covers are absorbent pads that are placed inside the bra. It is important for them to be impermeable to avoid mycosis.