Top 10 Things I Wish I Had as a First Time Mom

2. Silverette Cups – use from the very first day postpartum

• I just did a blog post on these nipple saviors! Check it out here. 
• Last delivery I did not buy these early enough, I bought them once I had pretty awful nipple damage and wish so badly I had had them from day 1. This time I brought them to the hospital and used them pretty religiously that first week or 2 home and it makes a HUGE difference in your breastfeeding journey. 
• Of course, seeing a lactation consultant is very helpful if you are having difficulty, but these can help with healing and protecting your nipples in the meantime!

3. Alternative to the Haakaa for catching leaking milk – Elvie Curve or Boon Trove

• When you’re newly breastfeeding, no matter if it’s your first or subsequent babies, you will likely experience some engorgement and leaking milk! Last time I used the Haakaa and I felt it was not comfortable, and so easily fell off or tipped over. 
• This time I had the Elvie Curve which fits nicely in your bra, is super soft against your breast and collected milk really well so far (less than an ounce at a time for me which is similar to the Haakaa). I have not been super diligent and often just end up with milk all over me after my let downs though lol. 
• The Boon Trove is a similar style I’ve seen, which is half the price. If I hadn’t used a gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond, I would have gotten this one to start with! Both would be comparable I believe. 
• Another option is these tiny milk collector cups from Elvie which in hindsight would likely be a better option for me right now – maybe I should get these and stop leaking all over my shirts? 

4. Lots of healthy snack bars and bites

• Last time I did eat a lot of apples and nut butters, which aren’t easy to eat in bed overnight, and are to me more of a fall treat. Dempsey being a fall baby, this made more sense as a snack for me seasonally! 
• Having easy to grab bars that help you satiate your hunger at all the random hours of the day (mainly overnight!) is so helpful! 
• Here are some of my favorite bites and bars to keep on hand that are a little bit cleaner ingredients!
  1. Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars (I love the original and apple the best! My go to snack overnight still 8 weeks postpartum!) 
  2. Aloha Bars – I have been liking the cookie dough ones, they are a softer texture and not too gritty – a little pricier though
  3. RX bars – these are pricey and have a tougher texture but a great clean protein bar especially during whole30 – also a little pricey
  4. Majka Bites – these I’ve been testing out this time and although I cannot comment on supply yet as I am not pumping and don’t have a way to quantify my supply – they are a delicious and satisfying bite! And they are much bigger than one bite, I was surprised by how large they are and clean ingredients too!
     1. And there is nothing crazy ingredient wise so I can feel confident sharing with my toddler too
  5. DIY Oatmeal/chocolate/Peanut butter/Coconut/maple syrup bites if you want to get creative – it’s super easy to make your own oat balls! 
  6. DIY protein bars from Chocolate Covered Katie are SO EASY and SO GOOD!  
• Craving treats? Try these DIY Gluten Free and refined sugar free copy cat twix bites – they are AMAZING from Dani’s Healthy Eats. I do 1.5 times the recipe for 12 full size muffin tin cups and used cup liners

5. Hydration packets that have cleaner ingredients

• If you are breastfeeding/pumping – you know the thirst is REAL! 
• Having hydration packets is KEY to helping you get in all the water you can. As a first time mom I had some Liquid IV packets on hand and found they helped a lot. 
• Since then I would highly recommend LMNT hydration packets instead for their even cleaner ingredients and higher salt content which truly makes you feel more hydrated! I have a hydration post here you can learn more about them and what I liked and didn’t like! 

6. Straw Tumbler and Owala Bottle

• I see a lot of people with Stanley tumblers these days which is great. However, I have found that if you are a post c-section mama, it is nearly impossible to sit up and lean over to grab this tumbler off the table or nightstand without excruciating pain in the beginning!
• Yes I do have a large 40oz tumbler to carry around the house or bedside, as I recovered it was easier to use – however… the game changing water bottle MVP this time around is my Owala bottle. This is a water bottle that you can gulp or use the straw function. You can have it right next to you on the couch or bed and it doesn’t spill if it’s sideways. A straw sticking out of a tumbler has more spill factor!  It also comes in a zillion sizes and colors and is stainless steel, with BPA free plastic.
• I also plan to buy this Simple Modern tumbler on Amazon for the beautiful chic colors and that it also does fit in the car cup holder. I have a silicone straw set as well that I use in my current tumbler to have a soft straw that my toddler can also use – here is the link (we also use these for smoothies they are a  little wider and I love them for drinking out of the tumbler or even pint glasses!) – they fit 20-30oz tumblers it says. I fit them in my 40oz Reduce tumbler from Target with like 1.5 inches of straw sticking out for reference. 

7. Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger

• I did not have this the first time around with my daughter and I really wish I did! This thing is gold. 
• I will definitely be doing a review on this soon because I truly love it. 
• Cleaner non-toxic materials, secure safe location to plop your babe (supervised of course) and it’s so great to just plop wherever I need or near the bathtub to snuggle him in a towel after – it’s just so helpful and more secure than the Boppy one I had with my daughter.

8. Compression postpartum bloomers and high waisted underwear

• I had purchased some of these last time but not early enough – I would say having at least one or two pairs of compression bloomers postpartum is super helpful to help you feel your best postpartum.
• With a c-section, I ended up honestly buying more because they helped me feel secure and gave me a large surface area to put my larger overnight pads in once I transitioned out of diapers that first week postpartum. 
• Bao Bei Maternity makes the best compression maternity and postpartum bloomers – See the picture below and please disregard my dirty mirror lol.
  • I have the raw hem purple and black ones and I really love them. I had been alternating depending on which one I was washing (I just hand washed quick and hung to dry so I could rotate them more quickly this time). 
    • They are great for vaginal delivery but they are game changers for c-section recovery. I highly recommend. 
• Additionally, high waisted underwear are your friend especially post c-section!
  • I have been LOVING the Calita Intimates, a Canadian based company using Tencel fabric. I am loving the boxer brief style and the thong style now that I have stopped my postpartum bleeding.
    • You can use this link here for $6 off your order!
    • I just ordered 6 more pairs to replace a ton of my thong underwear with the high waisted version – they are just truly amazing, stay put, super soft. I am washing the few pairs I have like every other day right now because they are all I want to wear until my new ones come! 
  • As a first time mom I ended up purchasing some Auden underwear from Target that I enjoyed as well, it’s super thin and super stretchy, but not as high waisted. They roll right into my c-section scar right now and I do not like wearing them!  

9. Comfy breastfeeding bras/bralettes but also some you can pump in

• If you plan to pump early on, you definitely need a pumping bra sooner than later. If you want the best of both worlds, I highly recommend ones that you can combo feed in – pump and nurse in.

Best for Breastfeeding

• For the most comfy AF nursing bra as a second time mom, for a more bra like sexier style, the Our Embrace Soft Cup Nursing Bra is the MVP.
  • I have the tan and the black and I am in love. I just bought 2 more as I plan to live in them for a while. They are made with super soft micromodal fabric that also comes with pockets to put in cup liners if yout want (not included). They are OEKO-TEX standard 100 certified safe from toxic chemicals. They also have a front adjustable strap to help with fluctuating breast size. I would say size up one size in these. I’m usually a Medium across the board but got Large here and am happy with the size and fit during pregnancy and now breastfeeding postpartum. 
•  I also love the Bao Bei adore me bralettes – (pictured above with me wearing it!)
  • They are more athletic style material and dry really fast when you leak. I find pulling them down can wear out the seam quickly where it connects to the strap, so I’ve taken to pulling the bra up to nurse in which isn’t as comfortable as pulling down. If you are unsure on sizing I would say size up so that it’s easier for pull down access. 

Best for Pumping and Nursing

• My absolute favorite that I used exclusively when I went back to work when I had my daughter are the Davin and Adley Amelia Camis
  • I have 5 of these now in different colors! They are game changers. I absolutely loved the Cami style for layering, and they keep your flanges or wearable style pumps so secure – and you can pull down or up for nursing access! I would nurse in the morning and after work, and pump all day at work in these things! I wish I had them earlier on last time! I usually am a Medium in Davin & Adley but sized up to a Large in my 2 new Amelia Camis in the new cream and mocha colors so that I can have a less snug fit so newly postpartum. You can use the code SARAHFAMASTORY for 10% off!
• This time I also bought the Love and Fit shop nursing and pumping bra and it is also SUPER comfy!
  • I haven’t pumped in it yet but I plan to do a review for you all soon! You can pull aside for nursing and also pump in it!  You can use code SARAHFAMA for 10% off – they also have the best leggings! I’ll have to also do a review on these they are just amazing. 

10. Breastfeeding friendly tops that you can wear in public

• As a first time mom, it was COVID quarantine times in 2020 and I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to nurse outside my home. When I did leave the house I wish I had had a few more breastfeeding friendly styles. As a second time mom, I know what I am capable of nursing in, but I want to be covered in different ways. 

Zipper style tops

• Although I like the non zip styles better, I love the discreet/doesn’t look like a nursing top these tops provide!
  1. Movemama apparel T-shirt – super soft, zippers work well, cute styles too! 
  2. Nursing Queen – I have a couple tops from here that are long sleeve and work well, but felt the material isn’t that soft. Movemama is way softer! 

Favorite Layer or pull aside tops

• I have been living in the styles below this summer!
  1. Bae the Label – a lot of cotton and modal fabrics, chic wearable styles that you can wear different ways and not feel like you’re in nursing wear (I’m wearing the blush pink t-shirt style top in the featured photo on this post!)
  2. Of an Origin – organic cotton which I love! Easy to pump or nurse in and can wear her tops a variety of different ways! Her joggers are also so perfect 
  3. Free People Love Tank for pull aside access in summer! 
  4. Cropped boxy t-shirts from Target – honestly living in them – they always have styles like this for super cheap! Worth it! 
  5. Suckle Style is a new company I saw – I haven’t tried yet but I want to snag one asap! They are a little pricier though but the zip open style with the coverage looks amazing!