Become a Milk Boss: Things to Know Before Breastfeeding

This post is in collaboration with Itzy Ritzy. I was sent product to review and all opinions are mine. This post may also contain affiliate links.

When I became a new mom, I had no clue what I was getting into with breastfeeding. Taking care of a newborn is a round the clock job, and throwing feeding into the mix was overtime. While we no longer nurse and exclusively pump, I have learned along the way how to save time and my sanity on this new motherhood journey.

Storing my milk, I had to learn through trial and error what worked best. We are about to purchase a freezer because my milk storage is taking over, and I’ve learned some do’s and don’ts on how to store. First, make sure you always put the date on there. Those first few weeks home, I had no clue what day it was so putting the month and year is good enough for me! Always measure and add the milk when it’s in the bottle. When you pour it into the storage bags, it normally is off and doesn’t give an accurate measurement. We love the Medela and Lansinoh bags.

When storing, I first kept them in empty soda boxes which I still like because I can see the amounts and dates easily. Laying them down flat to store them as “bricks” is also a great space saver and I’m now storing them like this and then moving them to bins after they are frozen.

Ever cry over spilled milk? It’s not fun and it will make you sick when you spill that liquid gold. Use an extra flange as a funnel to pour the milk from bottle to bag. No mess and milk doesn’t get stuck in the zipper part, ensuring a good seal on the storage bag.

I recently received the Milk Boss from Itzy Ritzy and I cannot believe I didn’t have this the past few months!!! Have you ever used a boppy? This is ten times better. I now can find the perfect angle for when bottle feeding (also this would’ve been ideal for breastfeeding!) and my arm isn’t killing me by the end. I kid you not, whenever I’m holding her with this on she falls asleep so much faster. I don’t know what kind of magic this is, but I’m not going to question it! Haha

I’m also super excited to take this along for our next travel because it will save a lot of space and is easier to grab and use compared to the boppy pillow. Being a new mom, I love finding all the right products for my baby. What I love even more is that this is under $25 and has so many uses! If you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, mom of reflux baby, or just need extra support when holding baby; seriously this does it all. You can purchase yours at Target, Walmart, or Babies R Us.

Another major tip I have for those pumping is to make sure you’re using the right size. Some may not know, but breast pump shields come in different sizes! They can range from 21 mm to 36 mm and make a huge difference in your pumping ability. You can click here to read more about finding the right size. I was wearing the wrong size for four months you guys… It’s unfortunate but I’m glad I can now help educate others so it doesn’t happen to you!

Speaking of breast pump shields, I don’t think I know anyone who enjoys washing them in the middle of the night. Heck, who enjoys washing them in the day either! I use to wash after every use until I learned this trick.

Run them under warm water and then stick them in a bag in your fridge. Think about it this way, you can store your milk in your fridge for 5-8 Days; your breast shield is similar! I would only recommend up to 24 hours though, and I personally wash every 12 hours (3 uses). This will save you time especially if you’re used to having to wait for your parts to completely dry.

Another life saver are these Medela wipes. They are great for on the go cleaning and clean anything from bottles, breastpumps, pacifiers, and even highchairs. These are a must have when traveling or when I know I’ll be on the road and having to use my hand pump.

While out of the house, I always bring along this denture container my sweet L&D nurse gave me. It can hold your nipple shields, pacifiers, or bottle nipples. I like this because it’s a closed container that won’t get all gross from the inside of my diaper bag and keeps it sanitized. I like using this especially when bringing along my hand pump, that way when I’m finished pumping I can just take out the top and have it ready for baby. Any plastic container will do, this one is just convenient due to the round shape.

Lastly I would advise having a separate bowl or bin to wash baby bottles in. I’m a germaphobe so having her baby items separate is a necessity. This is also great so you can toss in used bottles that need to be washed so they aren’t all over the counter. I keep my bowl in my kitchen baby station area, alongside the drying rack and under her cabinet of bottles!

Now you are ready to be a Milk Boss! With these tips in your back pocket, you can more successfully tackle feeding your baby and still having that extra cuddle time. I wish I would’ve known about all of this before baby, but hey better late than never. I hope you gained some tidbits from this post and learned something new. We are all on this motherhood journey together and I love being a part of this community.