what are your most favorite and worst breastfeeding products?

[briannas auntie]

I thought this would be a great topic for the contest this week.  Because of being on Domperidone for stomach motility, it has caused breastmilk production (even though I have never had a baby).  So, to avoid mastitis, I pump once a day. 

My favorite products I have used are:

Medela Swing electric breastpump (my absolute favorite pump)

Medela Harmony manual breastpump

Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter

My Breast Friend positioning pillow (excellent for resting your arms on while pumping)

Easy Expressions Hands Free pumping bra

Lansinoh Ultra Soft disposable nursing pads (wonderful for sore nipples)

Medela Soft Shells for sore nipples

The worst products I have used are:

The First Years MiPump (doesn't have good suction, sister didn't like it either)

Palmers Cocoa Butter nipple cream (too sticky)

Evenflo disposable nursing pads (left gross gel beads all over my breasts)

Gerber reuseable nursing pads (not absorbent one bit, despite washing them repeatedly)

So..... how about you?  Are there any products you found helpful during breastfeeding or exclusive pumping, or found terrible?

Jessie

[hildare]

i second the my breast friend pillow.. i liked it a bazillion times better than the boppy.

i loved my medela PIS. 

i also appreciated the breastflow bottles.  i can't think of anything else that was super helpful, those are really the only things you need, esp if you WOH. 

[ibusymomto5]

I LOVE my Boppy & my nursing footstool. Also love my good, supportive nursing bras. I'm a large cup but small band, and it's not easy to find bras that fit well in that size but I've found some that are pretty good this time - Much better than what was available a few years ago.

My least favorite bf items have been nursing tanks. I've tried Target ones, Glamourmom(just the regular), and Bravado, and all are horrible if you have larger breasts. No support whatsoever. I'm tempted to try the Gamourmom Full Bust one, but it's so $$.

[crystal_buffaloe]

The best:

We're still using the boppy at home going on 9+ months What can I say? I like it, though the My Breast Friend was nice when DD was tiny, tiny.

Lasinoh storage bags - just a really well-designed product, safe, easy to store, thaws quickly.

Sleep nursing bras (I bought 3 and then 2 more) -- I'm lazy and I just wear these all the time So comfortable and much quicker/easier than undoing clasps on a regular nursing bra.

Hydrogel pads -- for the very early days, these were a lifesaver.

Microwave reusable sterilizing bags -- also a godsend. So much easier than boiling parts on the stove, and you can re-use them 20 times!

The worst:

Nuk reusable nursing pads -- too stiff and bulky -- they show through clothes.

Nursing tops from Motherhood Maternity -- I bought 3, and they were all kind of poorly designed. A regular shirt is actually more modest.

[KempsMama]

Favs:  Boppy pillow, Medela PIS, Lilly Padz, Johnson and Johnson's Nursing Pads, Target Nursing tanks (I know a PP said they were awful for large breasted women, but I'm an H and love mine.)

Worst: Gerber Reusable Pads, any kind of "sleep" bra

[Choaners]

I second the lasinoh storage bags, they're soft yet sturdy, fat seems to stick to them less than those awful medela ones, hold more milk than Medela option and break/leak less often.  

Medela comfort nursing bra, soft support (i'm a DD), easy clasps, folds down easily and doesn't push up on baby's face like others

Boob Design nursing tank, not for support, but for discrete nursing clothing, comfortable, simple.  i wear mine night and day b/c like to have my belly covered at all times.

Nursing Mother's Companion (book) -simple, comprehensive, clear