Setting up your nursing station for breastfeeding

October 06, 2020

You're just sitting down to nurse the baby (again!) when you suddenly realize your phone is dying, your stomach is grumbling, you forgot to grab water and the baby has a dirty diaper.

Sound familiar? This happened on repeat during my first year of postpartum. When our second baby arrived, I was ready! I had set up a rolling cart and baskets, or what I like to call “breastfeeding mom caddies” all throughout the house. One was by the couch, one was beside the glider in the nursery, one was next to the bed… I had them stashed everywhere! 

What did I need once I sat down with the baby? A few bottles of water, some healthy snacks that didn't need to be refrigerated, a small jar of coconut oil, a book or magazine, a lightning phone charging cable, spare diapers, and wipes. I can't tell you how many times I was thankful for those little baskets and the rolling cart. (A lot!) 

Here are some snack ideas for your own basket:

• Graham crackers and nut butter to dip them in
• Fresh fruit you can eat with one hand like bananas, apples or pears
• Granola clusters or bars
• Raw nuts
• Lightly salted popcorn
• Dried fruit 

Another great idea is to have a milk expression caddy or cart, which can be especially helpful for quick access - a place where you can keep your pump safely plugged in and ready for use. I found this best-seller from Amazon, here.

Here are some ideas for a milk expression caddy:

• Clean, dry pump pieces such as spare flanges of different sizes, valves, and tubing. 
• Milk collection containers
• Breastmilk freezer bags
• Coconut oil for flange lubrication or post pumping breast soothing
• A burp cloth or hand towel for drips or spills
• Hands free pumping bra

And if you’re feeding directly at the breast and expressing milk, your cart can be a combination of the two. For me I needed both because there were times when my baby would sleep longer than usual and I needed to quickly express my milk in the morning. Having my cart set up beside my glider with my pump ready to go was a godsend because I had an early morning snack handy and I was able to express milk to make myself more comfortable.   

The key is to do what works for you! I'd love to see your ideas! If you’ve done this please share a comment or photo. :)

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