I've seen some cool tricks over the years! Here's my favorites.
Camisole pumping top
Want a cheap and easy pumping top? Pair a plain camisole with a pull-down bra like the Busty Mama Bra. To pump, pull the armpit of the cami across the breast so the cami strap is between your breasts. Then pull down your bra. After positioning the pump flange, adjust the bra front and cami strap to hold it in place!
Thirst quencher
When you start breastfeeding, you're going to be thirsty. My favorite hack uses a camelback tube. Get yourself a tote with a lid, have your husband drill a hole into the lid, and stick the straw in. Fill it with water, stick it on your nightstand, and you've got a day's supply of water. Bonus: it gives your partner something to do.
Sore Nipples
A common jest among new mothers is to say "put coconut oil on it". But it honest-to-God works with sore nipples. After correcting our latch, I was still left with sore nipples. Every time I nursed I would follow up with coconut oil and let it dry before putting on clothing.
Robes
You know when you're really pregnant and no form of clothing is comfortable? The same happens when breastfeeding. I pretty much lived in bath robes the first month after giving birth. Get yourself a whole stack of them. Doesn't need to be anything special... Regular bath robes will work fine. You can breastfeed in them, and easily switch to skin to skin.
Electrolytes
We're back to the thirst quenching bit, because really, you're going to be sooooo thirsty. One way to help is to make sure you're getting enough electrolytes.
Here's a recipe for my favorite pregnancy & postpartum electrolyte drink:
- Fresh squeezed orange juice (3-4 oranges, or about a cup of juice).
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon, or about 1/4 cup of juice).
- Coconut water to taste (at least a couple cups).
- Honey, 1-2 tablespoons.
- Salt (preferably pink salt or iodized salt) 1/8 teaspoon.
You'll need to blend it up, either in a blender or with a stick blender. I used to make these drinks in large mason jars and blend with a handheld stick blender. Fresh squeezed juice will lose vitamin potency fast, so be sure only make what you can drink that day.