One very important part of preparing for your new little one is preparing to breastfeed. By preparing, you can feel much calmer and in control when the time comes, thus making it a more enjoyable and successful experience. Thankfully, there are several things that you can do to prepare.

Purchase Clothing You Can Breastfeed In 

In order to make breastfeeding easier, you should consider purchasing some clothing that are easy to breastfeed in. Thankfully, there are so many options now for tanks, tee shirts, and hoodies that are nursing-friendly. These tops have hidden slits in them that allow you to breastfeed your baby without ever having to remove any of your clothes.

These tops are so convenient when you are nursing in a public location, such as a restaurant, the park, church, etc. They can also allow you to start nursing your baby much faster, which can reduce a lot of stress for you when you have a hungry baby who wants to nurse right away. 

If you are baby wearing, these tanks can snap down for easy nursing access and make baby wearing and breastfeeding much more possible.

Sometimes being a new mom, it's harder for some to adjust to nursing in public spaces. The fears and concerns are real, and clothing that offers privacy can certainly relieve the anxiety and nerves for mothers just getting used to it. 

Make preparing for breastfeeding easier by packing your hospital bag with nursing friendly tops like this mom in her Cozy Nursing Hoodie.

Bun's Ribbed nursing tanks are stretchy for wearability during pregnancy and well into postpartum, creating coverage and comfort for nursing in public.

Visit With A Lactation Consultant 

Another great way to prepare for breastfeeding is to meet with a lactation consultant or take a lactation class before you give birth. A lactation consultant is a professional breastfeeding specialist who will let you know what to expect in terms of your milk coming in, pumping, helping your baby get the right latch for the first time, showing you how to hold your baby when nursing, and much more. They can also answer all of your questions and put a lot of your worries at ease.

Set this up at the hospital you give birth in because most of the time, a lactation consultant will come visit.  You can start breastfeeding within the first hour of giving birth and it will be essential for you to garner as much support and expertise as possible to be off to the right start. Discuss that this is part of your birth plan to breastfeed. 

Prior to this, you can attend a group breastfeeding class taught by a lactation consultant or you can choose to have a one-on-one consultation. Taking a lactation class before the baby arrives can boost your confidence and give you the much needed knowledge to prepare you for your nursing journey.  If you so desire, you could meet with the lactation consultant again after you've had your baby for even more help hands-on help with nursing your baby.  Many have mommy meet up lactation support groups that are even free to attend. 

It's just not always that easy and doesn't always come naturally for many.  Reaching out can be very empowering and even relieve potential for PPD. 

Talk With Other Breastfeeding Moms 

Some of the best advice that you can get in terms of preparing to breastfeed is from other moms. You can join a mom group in your local area, or even find one online. You could also do something as simple as calling up some of your friends who breastfeed and discussing with them some of your questions and concerns. 

Ask them what they are eating. What is their schedule. How long did it take them to get the hang of everything. 

The support of other moms can also come in handy when your baby arrives and you begin to actually breastfeed because they will be there to encourage you and help you as you begin your breastfeeding journey with your little one.

Keep in mind, everyone has a different experience. Take everything with a grain of salt and use this opportunity to be selective and gather all kinds of information to make your best judgements for what would work best for you. It's okay if someone has less than positive advice to vent to you, but then move on to the next support person that can offer more useful and encouraging words to you.

Purchase The Appropriate Supplies

There are a few different nursing supplies that you can purchase that make nursing more convenient for you and more enjoyable for you and your baby.

• One thing that you may want to consider purchasing is some soothing cream for your nipples. In fact, start now, well before you give birth!  Every time you moisturize your growing belly, do the same to your nipples.
• Well moisturized skin and nipples will save you heartache from pain and dry, cracked nipples.  Use 100% shea butter, natural oil, or lanolin. These creams are safe for your baby and you can easily spread them on your nipples after your baby is done nursing.
• If you have inverted or flat nipples, you may want to consider purchasing a nipple shield, just in case your baby has a hard time latching on. This can help them to get better suction at first and then you can stop using the shield once they have a good latch.
• A nursing pillow is a great thing for you to buy because it puts your baby at the perfect height for nursing. It also allows your arms to rest because they don't have to hold the baby up.  We would say that this is a mama must have!
• Nursing pads. Your breast will leak, so keep these handy.  Be sure you have a bra or sports bra ready as well.  Something without wires is best, to avoid clogged milk ducts and further complications.
• Call your insurance for your breast pump! Do this a month away from the due date.  Your insurance should provide the pump fully covered, but this can depend on your insurance so make this part of your to do list.
• Don't forget those game changing nursing tank tops and hoodies for ultimate ease, convenience, comfort, and style.

Summary

In order to prepare to breastfeed your baby, it is important that you purchase the appropriate clothes for breast feeding, you visit with a lactation consultant to learn more about the process of breastfeeding and what to expect, that you talk with other moms for first hand experience and advice, and that you purchase the appropriate supplies for nursing.

To learn more tips about preparing to nurse your baby, you can visit us here. 

Prenatal Massage or Salon Gift Certificate

Aches and pains are part of a normal pregnancy, which is why she'll really appreciate an occasional prenatal massage to soothe a sore back and aching legs and feet.  Ensure if you are thinking of getting this, splurge on a place that has top notch qualified massage therapists.  The wrong place can cause harm to mom or baby (there are many no no pressure points they should be aware of) so be sure to do your research on the best places in her area. If you are unsure, opt for a manicure pedicure at her fave salon, or a Dry Bar blowout. 

anekantsquick/Nursing Hoodie

When you're pregnant, comfort is foremost in your mind. anekantsquick offers adorable -- and on-trend -- hoodies that she'll wear all through her pregnancy and nursing months. The game changer is that these styles even look good when she is done with her nursing days!  Ditto for an array of colorful tank tops (in both classic and "swing" styles) that feel soft and comfy and are nursing-ready! And be sure to check out anekantsquick's Relaxed hoodies. (She'll want to live in them!).  Gift cards are perfect if you don't know her size. 

Tip: If you want to step it up another notch, and you know she's planning to nurse, check out our Breastfeeding Gift Basket idea. 

anekantsquick Cozy Hoodies stay stylish and smart for pregnany, nursing, and well beyond. Click the image to see more.

A Monthly Beauty Package

A subscription to a service like Birchbox ($10 a month) can provide something to look forward to each month of her pregnancy and will be perfect for a time when her beauty routine -- among other things -- is likely to undergo some changes.

Foot-Pampering Slippers

Carrying around all that extra weight can be tough on a mom-to-be's feet. Why not gift her with some soft, high quality, stylish slippers to provide comfort throughout her pregnancy? Ugg has some comfy and fashionable styles like their Coquette and Pom Pom slip-on styles. They're super-cute and offer a little support too.  She will probably be using these for a very long time. 

Help Her Communicate With Her Baby

Beginning at 20 weeks, a developing baby can hear sounds, and by the third trimester, her hearing is well-developed, so why not help the new mom-to-be communicate via a recorded message or soothing music using BellyBuds speakers, designed just for this purpose?

anekantsquick Photo 3-Session Package

Pregnancy is such a special time in a woman's life! Why not help her to document her growing belly with a series of professional pregnancy photo shoots. Book three shoots that show her at various points in her pregnancy. This is a keepsake gift that Mom, Dad, and growing child can enjoy looking at again and again throughout the years.  The frame worthy pictures will offer endless years of memories, and she'll be thanking you each time she looks at them.

Get Her an Unexpected Book About Motherhood

Chances are, she's already reading about how to care for her new baby on all the baby apps like What to Expect, Babycenter, and The Bump, but why not inspire her with a beautiful book about motherhood itself? Especially during the third trimester she will be resting more and more so a book will come in handy.  Real Simple recommends Waiting for Birdie by Catherine Newman, a touching and funny read about a mother's first years with her child. Another of their recommendations is Bloom, which was a New York Times Best Seller, and is touted as both a beautiful and inspiring story about motherhood.  

A Grocery Delivery Service

Umm yes sign me up!  This one of our favorites.  As the big day draws near, she's probably not going to feel much like grocery shopping, and she'll feel even less inclined once the new baby's at home.  A grocery delivery service timed to coincide with the last few weeks of her pregnancy or the first few weeks of new motherhood will be a gift she'll really appreciate. (Instacart, Peapod, and Amazon Prime and Fresh are a few good ones to consider.) . She can get all that she needs without leaving her couch!

Help Her Show Her Skin Some Love

As her belly grows, her skin can become tight and itchy. Some great products to combat those problems? Mum Bub products by Aden & Anais are all natural, soothing, ultra-moisturizing and gentle on stressed skin.  100% Shea Butter always is a good go to because she will be using it long after baby arrives and it is completely natural as well as extremely effective. 

Tip: Step it up a notch and make her a DIY Homemade Belly and Boobie Butter. She will be wowed by the thought and how delicious your concoction is! 

She's sure to appreciate the fact that you took the time and effort to help make her pregnancy as comfortable and enjoyable as possible! But making her feel special, pampered and supported is your ultimate reward!

Children are notoriously difficult to get dressed. Infants are a little easier, but their curious (and squirmy) nature presents its own set of problems. After wrestling your little one into their clothes, you might be so happy to get out the door that you don't give much thought to your own outfit.

You and baby rush out to start the day -- but then comes that awkward moment when it's feeding time, and you've bundled yourself in so many layers to ward against the cold that you don't think you'll ever get through your scarf, coat, sweater, camisole and bra. Neither does your baby, unfortunately, so now it's time to start up the waterworks and alert everyone in a mile radius that they're hungry and you simply aren't moving fast enough.

In many ways, having a newborn, particularly if you're breastfeeding, means relearning how to dress yourself as well. Ain't that the truth, right?!!

This is especially tricky during cold-weather months. Like who wants their belly to be exposed and frozen while having to be relaxed and calm while feeding baby? What's a new mom to do? Should you freeze for the sake of easy bra access, or should you bundle up and risk your hungry baby's wails as they wait for you to break through your winter clothing cocoon?

Well, not to fear. anekantsquick has you covered (figuratively and literally) with innovative nursing clothing that will keep you warm and your baby happy.

The Basics

These ain't your mama's nursing clothes. We're talking fashion and function here. For the simplest solution, try a nursing tank to layer under any hoodie or jacket, maybe even in a cool pencil stripe pattern. Not a fan of tanks? No problem. anekantsquick also has comfortable nursing sweaters in a variety of colors and styles. These tops are perfect for mild weather and warmer fall and winter days. Just throw on a hoodie or a jacket and you're good to go.

What if it's colder out, though? That's when you might consider a warm, stylish hoodie or sweater. The design is cozy, but light enough to pack on a heavier down or fleece jacket if needed over it.  The best part of all is that these anekantsquick nursing tops are virtually indistinguishable from "regular" clothing, so you'll be able to wear them long after you've stopped breastfeeding.

Layer, Layer, Layer!

Bun styles are really designed with layering in mind for when the weather starts to cool down.  You also don't have to pick just one. The trick to staying warm while nursing is layering, of course, but how do you balance that while nursing?

Layer your breastfeeding clothes. It might sound wild, but think about it: You can wear a nursing top as your base layer and cover up with a cozy knit wrap also designed for nursing mothers, and voila! You're warm, baby gets fed without much fuss, and everyone's happy. And if you can look stylishly chic while doing all that, well, that's just further proof that you rock, mom.

Relax Daily Nursing Pullover Sweater in heather gray. Pair it with a pom pom beanie and try the stretchy ribbed Nursing Infinite Scarf for handy extra coverage if needed.

The Cozy Nursing Hoodie is a mom uniform favorite.  Perfect for layering under any jacket or vest (Patagonia vest shown) and is the ideal accompaniment to some yoga pants (Lululemon yoga pants shown) and sneakers for a busy day out with your baby.  Wear this look well after breastfeeding is over.

Color pop your bump style, or nursing outfit with fun choices from the ribbed tank collection that features wide straps and a 360 stretch for any stage you're in.  These are ideal for a layered look that can go from work, street, to play. 

Distressed jeans (Levi's shown), comfy shoes (Adida's shown), and a flannel top will completely transform your nursing style.   The heather gray nursing tank is versatile enough to go under any button up for discreet and quick nursing access.  You're friends will never know you've dressed for breastfeeding success.