Before I first started breastfeeding I was under the illusion that nursing was the free option. How wrong could I be? There’s nursing bras and breast pads to consider and if you require accessories such as nipple shields, breast shells and devices to help correct inverted nipples then the costs really start to add up. At a rate of only two breast pads a day disposables could cost you in the region of £25 in the first six months of breastfeeding.
Phillips Avent has an excellent range of breastfeeding accessories which they sent me to review.
Even now Mr A’s five months old I still wear breast pads. Whether I need them or not is probably under debate but I feel it’s better to indulge my paranoia than to end up with wet patches on my top. Avent Ultra Comfort Disposable Breast Pads are firmer than many other brands meaning they don’t screw up in your bra. They’re super absorbent so you don’t have to worry about leaks either. Unlike other brands I didn’t find that the filling separated and pulled apart inside the pad. They also have some fab reusable breast pads. I was a bit wary of them at first as when I had TB I tried a number of reusable breast pads which stuck and clung on to my boobs when they got wet (you don’t expect to get sore nipples from having to pull your breast pads off) and tended to leak. The Avent Washable Breast Pads were a breath of fresh air. I’ve been using them over and over and they’ve never once leaked thanks to the leak-proof liner; they’re no thicker than your average disposable either. The surface in contact with your skin is soft brushed cotton so there’s no worry about rubbing and the lace outer prevents slipping. The pack of six pads comes with a handy mesh bag so you don’t lose them in the washing machine.
Breast shields scare me. I tried some when I breastfed TB and they were horrible; they were rigid and unforgiving and I felt like they were a torture instrument designed to slowly cut my nipples off. The Avent Comfort Breast Shells are firm on the outside and contain a removable, soft silicone petal massager which sits on the inside cushioning your breast. They were a real delight to wear. The set comes with two hard outside shells, one vented to help protect and heal sore and cracked nipples, the other fully enclosed for collecting leaking milk, an essential when you’re pumping at work. Gentle pressure from the helps to relieve engorgement in those difficult first weeks.
I’ve been lucky this time around that I haven’t had any real problems with breastfeeding and in Mr A’s first week I was lucky enough to put a halt to cracked nipples before they really became a problem. The Avent nipple protectors would have been perfect to avoid a week of wincing every time Mr A suckled. The ultra-fine, soft, odourless, taste-free silicone protectors are shaped to allow skin contact with baby whilst feeding and let your baby still feel and smell your skin. Because they’re so thin the nipple protectors provide no barrier to your baby’s suckling and are transition free as your baby returns to the breast once your nipples have healed.
The Avent Breastfeeding range is available online and in many high street shops including your local supermarkets.
