One of the best things a woman can do when pregnant and planning to breastfeed their baby is read breastfeeding books.

Many of these will teach correct technique and positioning, and if a mom can get those right from the get-go, she can avoid most of the challenges moms face while nursing.

Breastfeeding books also explain normal breastfed baby behavior. A woman who has never nursed a baby may not realize how often new babies need to nurse. She may mistakenly assume that breastfed babies act like the formula fed babies she’s observed (they probably won’t).

Another great thing about having breastfeeding books on the bookshelf: When mom does experience some challenge, getting answers is as easy as grabbing the book, turning to the index, and reading.

Some moms are shy about seeking help from a breastfeeding counselor, and may not have the money or adequate insurance to hire a Lactation Consultant. But they can often solve problems on their own with a little good information from an expert.

Here are some of the best breastfeeding books available.

• Amy Spangler’s Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide- Amy is a mother, author, nurse, board certified lactation consultant and the author of several very good books on breastfeeding including Breastfeeding, Keep it Simple, which is a personal favorite.I interviewed Amy Spangler a couple of years ago and you can read the transcript of that conversation here. Her expertise clearly shines through in her books and I highly recommend them for any breastfeeding mom who wants good information.
• La Leche League International’s Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This one is considered the breastfeeding “Bible” by many. Seriously, reading it is like having tea with a very experienced older, wiser mom friend. Its tone is very warm, and it touches on many aspects of mothering, such as discipline and nutrition, not just breastfeeding.This is seriously a must have book for any breastfeeding mom. It is an invaluable source of advice for the first couple of years of baby’s life. One of my favorite things about the book are the many stories from different moms. Instead of having just one “voice”, one source of advice, you’re getting the collective wisdom of hundreds or thousands of moms in the book.You can read another review of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding here.

What was your favorite breastfeeding book? Do you give a new mom a breastfeeding book as a baby shower gift?

HOTmilk Lingerie is a newer line of lovely maternity and nursing bras, matching undies and gorgeous nursing nighties and gowns.

With names like “Awakened by Her Desire” and “Blissful Disorder”, you know these are no ordinary nursing bras!

Read more reviews and shop HOTmilk Lingerie here.

- Bravado! Sublime Soft Cup Nursing Bra

- Bravado! New Lifestyle Microfiber Nursing Bra

- Bella Materna Women’s Padded Nursing Bra

- Elomi nursing bras

What is your favorite nursing bra?

Here are a few tips on choosing a nursing bra:

Decide how you feel about underwire styles versus softcup. Personally, I hate underwire bras while I’m nursing, or anytime. I find that the underwire slides around and pokes me when I hook and unhook my bra. I also didn’t want to risk plugged ducts, which underwire styles can contribute to.

But some moms love underwire, especially if they’re fuller figured and desire “lift”. It’s really a personal decision, but if you do begin having recurring plugged ducts or mastitis, ditch them for softcup styles.

Choose a bra with some stretch. Your breasts will change throughout the day and you need something that will feel comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable without some support at night, choose a bra especially designed for nighttime. It will have less support and be far more comfortable and will have room for nursing pads to catch leaks.

Keep in mind that your bra size will likely change a few times while you’re nursing, so you may want to have only two or three bras in your current size. The bra you wear in the immediate postpartum period may not fit when your baby is a few months old. Your breasts are usually largest in the first month postpartum, but then they begin to reduce in size a little bit, although they likely won’t be the same size they were before your pregnancy until after you wean.

Also, if you are a big leaker, you may need a larger size to accommodate nursing pads. Slightly padded or lined bras are popular so that you can avoid the dreaded “headlights” phenomenon.

This style, the Elomi Molded Nursing Underwire Bra, features a seamless style perfect for wearing under your favorite fitted tees, it offers stretch and close set straps so they’re less likely to fall off your shoulders.

It’s available in nude and black.

While some moms prefer not to use underwire while they’re nursing because it may trigger plugged ducts, many women love them, especially for larger sizes. They get high reviews from nursing moms who like good support and coverage without padding.

For moms that just can’t do underwire, another option is the Elomi Beatrice Wire-free Nursing Bra. It offers beautiful support with no underwire. Available in nude.

The coupon is for $1.50 off. At Publix grocery stores in the southeast beginning Wednesday or Thursday, the boxes of tea are on sale for $3.29 each, making this a particularly great deal if you have a Publix nearby!

Mother’s Milk tea contains herbs that are commonly used as galactagogues. Meaning, they have traditionally been used to increase milk supply.

Go here to download the coupon:

Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk Tea coupon.

You might also want to read:

• Breastfeeding herbs
• Breastfeeding tea
• Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Tea

Undercover Mama is a unique strapless undershirt that attaches to your nursing bra. This makes it easy for you to breastfeed without showing your stomach or side.

As you can see in the first pic below, it attaches to any nursing bra (there is a “hook” style and a “loop” style attachment available, the hook is shown below).

When it’s time to feed the baby, it opens with the flap of your nursing bra. The rest of the shirt stays down against your belly and sides. So, you can wear any shirt you want and still be able to nurse comfortably.

Here is a full pic of the Undercover Mama:

To enter to win the UnderCover Mama, go HERE.

The contest will run for one week, until Thursday, August 18 at Noon Eastern time. The winner will be notified at that time.

Here are some of my favorite tips for nursing in public.

- Nurse at the first signs of hunger. A nursing baby generally draws less attention than a screaming one! So latch your baby on as soon as you notice that s/he is hungry…rooting, sucking on fist, grimacing face, etc. A crying baby also makes you nervous and you and baby may take longer to get latched on comfortably.

- Bring a book or large purse to set in your lap for camouflage. Your diaper bag would also work. Set it in front of baby on your knees while you latch baby on. Or hold a book so that your baby’s head and your breast are out of view.

- Practice latching your baby on quickly and discreetly in front of a mirror at home, so that you know how to do it without anyone really noticing when you’re out and about.

Again, to enter to win the Undercover Mama, go HERE.

Weleda Nursing Tea is a specialty tea for nursing mothers made with the finest ingredients. A nicely brewed cup of this tea should aid in your digestion and help soothe your baby’s tummy pains. The taste of the tea will be enjoyed by most, with its anise & fennel flavors.

I like that the ingredients are certified organic to give you and your baby only nature’s best ingredients. The ingredients include: fenugreek, anise, fennel, caraway and lemon verbena. Fenugreek helps to increase the milk supply. Anise seeds, fennel seeds and caraway give you and your baby good digestive functions. Lemon verbena is a popular ingredient in herbal teas to help your digestive system but it also helps you to de-stress. Together they make a fantastic blend to support your breastfeeding and give you relief with any digestion problems.

A note of caution: if you think you might be allergic to any of the above mentioned ingredients or are pregnant, it is always advisable to talk to your physician beforehand.

Overall, if you like herbal teas with a distinctive anise/fennel flavour, this tea is certainly worth its money. It tastes great and helps you and your baby feel good.

Weleda Nursing Tea is available on Amazon.com and in large natural health grocery stores.

Nursing a baby is a very rewarding and wonderful experience. Breastfeeding gives the baby the best start in life, but it also gives the baby and mother time to relax together and create a strong bond. If you are or have been a nursing mother, you also might have experienced certain breastfeeding issues, such as extremely tender and sore cracked nipples. This can be a very painful condition and can stop mothers from continuing to breastfeed their baby and instead rely on formula.

In my opinion, Heal Sore Nipples is a high quality product that is effective in healing painful nipples. It can be used safely by nursing mothers for a prolonged period of time. It is blend of essential and natural oils without any pesticides or other chemical fertilizers. You can also use it before symptoms appear as a precautionary measure to make nursing an enjoyable experience for both mother and baby.

Overall, I think this is a must-have nipple care product for nursing mothers.

Another benefit is that you have nothing to lose when buying the product as it comes with a 60 day unconditional money back guarantee.

Green to Grow baby bottles are made from PES plastic (polyethersulfone), a high-grade, BPA-free resin known for its exceptional durability.

Found to be less porous and less reactive than other materials, PES remains dimensionally stable over a wide range of temperatures, is resistant to most chemicals, and can withstand repeated sterilization.

With growing concern over polycarbonate plastic and the chemical BPA (a developmental, neurological, and reproductive toxicant), Green to Grow’s BPA-free baby bottles and gift sets are a safer feeding option, providing parents with peace of mind.

Green to Grow has generously offered to give away one of their bottles to a reader here!

Simply leave a comment, be sure to use a valid email address, and a winner will randomly be chosen on FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 at NOON Eastern time.

p.s. If you don’t win the giveaway, or if you do – and want more Green to Grow products, they are availabe on Amazon. Take a look at the Green to Grow Welcome Home Set

Review: Traditional Medicinal’s Organic Mother’s Milk

I received a box of Traditional Medicinal’s Organic Mother’s Milk when I first started to breastfeed and found that I truly enjoyed it right from the start. I prefer this over Yogi’s Nursing Mother’s tea as this one tastes lighter and smoother. Mother’s Milk is a caffeine-free, all organic blend of herbs and spices designed to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers.

Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk, 16-Count Boxes

Anise is a spice that I have never enjoyed. The fact that Mother’s Milk seems to use less of it than Yogi’s nursing tea is a plus for me. What I taste when I drink Mother’s Milk is a sort of sweet, yet a little spicy blend of herbs. It tastes best with a touch of honey. It also contains the herbs of fennel, fenugreek seed and coriander, which are a nice combination for a healthy milk supply. The blend of spices smells delicious too.

The way I prefer to drink this tea is cold. I brew a pot of this overnight, chill and drink cold throughout the day. Since there is a tiny hint of spearmint in it, it can be refreshing. This way I am getting in several cups on a daily basis. During the winter months, a warm cup can be soothing for the body.

My milk production has been steady and plentiful throughout the years, perhaps due to drinking this tea. This is also one of my favorite gifts to give a pregnant mother who has planned to breastfeed or still deciding to do so. Having a low milk supply is worrisome for many women and having this tea helps reduce that worry. A box of 16 bags costs around $5.

See also: Yogi Women’s Nursing Support Tea review