Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

There is nothing more frustrating that getting a bunch of baby bottles as shower gifts when you are planning to nurse your baby. It is as though you have a constant reminder that most people choose to bottle feed, rather than nurse their babies. You don’t need to question your decision, and the gifts you receive should encourage you to nurse rather than make things more difficult. Anyway, if you are nursing, those bottles are just a waste of money.

So, if your friend is planning to breastfeed her baby, why don’t you try some of these great shower gifts?

Pump it Up
Did you think that breastfeeding means that your friend needs to stay at home with her baby all the time? Well, think again! With a breast pump, your friend can pump off some milk so that someone else can take care of her baby for a few hours, and she can get out and about without fretting about her little one.

Hey, breast pumps are also a great way to cope with common breastfeeding problems like engorgement! You can pump off a bit of excess milk so that you are not so tight and uncomfortable. If your supply is low, you can use the pump in addition to feeding your baby frequently to make your body produce more milk.

Many pumps come with cool carry cases that not only hold the pump, but offer storage for ice packs to keep pumped milk cold until you can get to a fridge. These cases are discrete and perfect for the mom who needs to go back to work, but wants to keep breastfeeding their baby.

Milk Storage
Of course, once you pump that milk, you need to store it somehow. A great way to do it is with breast milk storage bags. With measurements on the side that show how much milk is in the bag, your friend will know exactly how much milk she has available at any given time. The bags come pre-sterilized, so they are ready to use. They seal tightly and can be frozen of kept in the fridge. Some brands are even compatible with bottles that use disposable liners.

Leakage Protection
Imagine going out to dinner, enjoying your meal, then suddenly looking down and realizing that your blouse has two round, soggy patches. There’s nothing more embarrassing than having to explain that you have leaked all over your shirt in public. There is an easy solution! All you need are breast pads.

You can buy disposable breast pads, or if you prefer to “go green”, you can buy reusable breast pads that you can just toss in the wash. Make sure that any pads you buy do not have plastic liners as the plastic actually increases the risk of getting infections from moisture build-up. If you choose reusable pads, make sure that you get at least one for each day of the week.

Wear that Baby
It can be a real pain to constantly have to carry your baby around. This is even more true when you are breastfeeding, as you can’t just set your baby somewhere to feed him, you need to hold him instead. For the busy mom, a sling or other carrier is a great solution. Many carriers are designed so that you not only can carry your baby around with you, keeping your hands free for other things, but you can also feed your baby as you carry him around! A good quality carrier is indispensable. Make sure it has enough flexibility to be used as the baby grows, as many babies like to be carried well into their second year.

A Little Boost
Tiny babies can be such a pain to support when breastfeeding. Since babies have no head control to speak of when newborn, you need to support his head throughout the feeding process. An easy solution is to use a breastfeeding pillow. Later, when the baby is bigger and does not need the same amount of support, you can use the pillow to support the baby in a seated position, or for leaning over for tummy time.

Baby Burps a Lot
Oh boy, can babies spit up! Even though breastfed babies may spit up less than bottle fed babies, they still can be pros at making a mess. The best solution I’ve found is buying a package of flat, pre-fold diapers to use as burp cloths. If you get the smaller size, about 12” x 18”, they are a perfect fit for your shoulder, and absorb anything your baby can throw at you. Breastfed, or not, these are excellent gifts, and if you are the creative type, you can even add custom art to the edge do “dress” them up.

A Little Discretion
It can be rather daunting to breastfeed your baby in public. I know that I’ve had a tough time with my little one, holding her back from pulling the receiving blanket from over my shoulder, thus exposing us both for all to see. A really neat solution is a special breastfeeding cover-up. They are quick and easy to put on, and can’t be easily pulled off by a grabby baby. Many have special material that allows Mom to see her baby as he eats, while keeping things covered up.

A Bra that Fits
Wow, those boobs grow when filled with milk! Most nursing moms find that none of their old bras fit once their milk comes in. On top of that, they need to find quality nursing bras that not only allow them to feed their baby, but also support their breasts properly. A really great gift for a nursing mom is a gift certificate for a proper bra fitting and a new nursing bra. Find a store that specialized in fitting bras, and that carries a good selection of nursing bras. If you can’t get a gift certificate, offer your friend an IOU, then take her shopping once her baby arrives. Trust me, your gift will be highly appreciated and very well used.

A Tiny Reminder
Something I know I always struggle with is remembering which side I last fed my baby on. It is rather strange to go squeezing one breast, then the other, to figure out which one seems “fuller”, especially when out in public. A really neat product I’ve seen is a bracelet that you can use to keep track of all your nursing stats. It shows you whether you fed on the left or right side, and even keeps track of what time you last fed your baby. “Milk Bands” are really neat products that can make things easier for new moms (or even experienced moms).

Dressing in Style
Of course, nothing makes someone feel better about herself than getting new clothes. Whether you can take your friend out on a shopping spree, or prefer to buy something yourself, giving a new mom some fashionable nursing clothes is a great way to support her decision to breastfeed. There are so many neat styles out there, and the ability to nurse a baby easily, without having to hike up your shirt, or wear oversized clothes, is a blessing to any mom.

So, feel free to go out, and find something for your friend that is breastfeeding-friendly. She will appreciate it far more than if you got her stuff that she isn’t likely to use, and you will give her better motivation to keep on breastfeeding. Just knowing that you are there to encourage her will make life that much easier for her once her baby arrives.