did you know it’s world breastfeeding week? i mean, technically it ended yesterday, but i’m still nursing, so it’s still bf week to me. if you want to know a little more about my journey so far, check out yesterday’s post. otherwise today, i wanted to round up some target nursing essentials that have been a lifesaver in both of my journeys with breastfeeding.
unless you’ve done it, you don’t realize all the items AND logistics that goes into nursing, pumping, or both. not only is there the timing piece (“how long until i have to pump/baby has to eat again? can i run that errand?”), there’s the logistics (“ok, we are going to be out of the house all day … where and when will i feed the baby?” “i’m going on a work trip … how will i get the milk home?”) and then there’s the outfits (“can i pump in this?” “that turtleneck is definitely out … there’s no way i can feed a child without exposing my entire torso to the universe”). for real, the amount of mental logistics that take place around if i can maneuver my bra without a ‘janet jackson superbowl moment’ is crazy.
ALL THIS TO SAY … target has made my life MUCH easier on a couple of fronts. i talked at length here about their nursing rooms, which are a LIFESAVER. i also buy most (all) of my nursing bras from target. after having logan i was not that impressed with the selection [and they are so freaking expensive!], but since target launched the auden brand last spring, i was pleasantly excited to find that they had some nursing bras! thanks, target, for delivering on what was a gap in the marketplace: nursing bras that don’t look crazy under a shirt and also don’t break the bank. some of my favorites are below:
tip: if you are going to pump, you do not need one of these. it’s such a pain to switch bras all the time, and you can get the pump to stay inside your regular bra. you’re welcome.
pumping at work is a whole challenge in and of itself. with logan, i brought a completely separate bag in addition to my work bag. since i walk back and forth between buildings/my parking ramp a ton, i was bound and determined this time to get everything into one bag. right now i’m using this backpack and fit my work computer, planner, pump, accessories, power cords, snack bag [yes, i have a snack bag], and wallet/purse combo in it. last time around i used this pump, which worked fine, but i wanted a little something smaller this time so i ordered this one through my insurance. i’m bound and determined not to go to more than one bag, so i keep all of my milk, pump, and parts in a little one of these cooler bags. during the day i store in the fridge at work, and it keeps the milk cool until i can get it into the fridge/freezer at home. i like this bag because it has a slim profile [and can fit in my backpack easily], but really any cool lunchbox will do.
as far as supplies go, i go all target brand on those as well. i had used a variety of milk bags with logan, and they all work well, so i figured i could save a few cents and go with the target brand. hey, it adds up!
last but not least, i’m always looking for outfits that allow for easy access, whether that’s pumping at work or nursing in the evening/on the weekends. button-down ANYTHING is great. here are some of my favorite pieces i’ve picked up as of late that don’t look like your obvious “this is a nursing shirt” shirt.
more nursing-friendly options:
happy thursday!