Optimal Nursing and/or pumping station

Let me start with: Fed is best. I do not judge how you feed your child–you do you and just make sure you are following what your doctor has recommended. This post is for those who choose or want to nurse/pump mainly because I have experience with both. If you bottle feed, I am sure that many of these things parallel but you may need to modify a bit. I am trying to streamline the process for mothers–because it is hard–very hard–and feeling like you have some control over the situation can help

Power Source

You will need to charge your phone, plug in the pump, have a little night light, etc so you will need power. I also suggest having a smaller/dimmer light you can control from this spot rather than a bright over head light. You want to keep some sort of drowsy to you and baby so you can go back to sleep when you are done. I have this AMAZING shelf, light, wireless charging station that I am in love with in my downstairs pumping station. Upstairs, I have a night light.

Comfortable Chair

You will spend a lot of time here and the more you can relax the more you are likely to produce. I rocking/gliding chair is always nice for soothing while nursing, but not necessary. I also have a blanket because I will be “exposed” and exposed skin can be cold skin and if I am cold I am not relaxed. Again, more relaxed means better production (usually). Upstairs I have a glider and downstairs I have our recliner.

I personally liked using the boppy in both of my nursing chairs/stations– especially in the beginning when nursing. There are many nursing positioners as well as a regular pillow–boppy was my preference. This will help you lay baby so you have hands/arms to help you get the correct position/latch.

Table/Storage

You are going to need to set down milk bottles, set down pump parts, set down your book or your phone. You may need a nipple shield, nursing pads, or burp cloths. You may need comfort soothers to help with production. You may want a discreet place for the pump parts. A nice night stand or end table with a cute storage basket works!

In your storage baskets

• Entertainment. You will spend a lot of time in this chair. As much as I would love to say you will enjoy staring into your babies eyes all the time every time, it is not likely that is all you are going to want to do in that time -something to help pass time. I would recommend having your phone, a book, the remote, something you can do with one hand while you nurse. You can take many breaks to stare into babies eyes.
• Pump/Milk Catchers. I know with my past babies, and likely with this one, I have so much extra milk on the not nursing side with a let down I am investing in an Haakaa to catch the milk and store it. I will pump on the other side downstairs as well.
• hands free pumping bra (I wore this and pumped one side and nursed the other with Stella, pumped both sides with Nolan (while working)).
• nipple shields
• nipple cream (affiliate link-use siraya10 for a discount)
• Nursing soothers (hot for helping produce, cold for engorgement)
• nursing pads
• burp cloths–they most likely will “urp” have quick clean up on stand by.
• snacks (you can get super hungry while nursing)
• water (you can get super thirsty while nursing)

Things you may need but not at your station:

• milk storage bags
• milk storage system (to freeze and storage location)
  • I freeze flat on the boxes in the freezer
  • I use book boxes from my teaching days to put in chronological order in the deep freeze chest freezer
• bottle/pump sterilizing system (either a machine or a system you will follow)