Written by: Lindsay Kuula
Date: April 18, 2026
Read Time: ~8 mins

I’m currently 25 weeks pregnant with my second, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the breastfeeding essentials that I loved (and hated) with my last. I successfully collected over 200oz of frozen milk at any given time for an entire year and was able to nurse until my toddler turned 16 months, which I only stopped because I found out I was pregnant with baby 2.

You might be reading this because you’re pregnant, are in deep research mode and are building out a registry. Or maybe you’re postpartum and are looking for ways and products to make your breastfeeding or pumping journey easier. Either way, I’m sharing all of my most loved nursing products that I’ll be using again and constantly recommend to my friends. Whether you’re a first-time mom or you’re going back for round two, this list covers what actually made a difference.

Let’s begin with my ride or die, all time favorite nursing product.
You can also shop my Amazon Breastfeeding Collection Page, where I added all of these products + more that I used and loved during my breastfeeding journey.

Boone Trove Silicone Manual Breast Pump and Hands-Free Breast Milk Collector

If I could only recommend one product on this entire list, it would be this, without question.

I was gifted these at my baby shower and genuinely had no idea what they were. One of the moms explained it in front of everyone: when you nurse on one side, your other breast leaks milk, and these silicone milk collectors catch every drop that would otherwise soak into your bra.

I used them every single nursing session until around 9 months, when my supply naturally leveled off and I wasn’t actively building a freezer stash anymore. The routine was simple: nurse on one side, pop one of these inside my bra on the other side with a gentle suction, and let my letdown do the work. I was collecting anywhere from a ¼ oz to 3 oz per session depending on the time of day.

I’d add whatever I collected to a bottle in the fridge, then freeze once I hit around 3 oz. The 2-pack was perfect! One in use, one clean, dry and ready to go. They wash easily with a round bottle brush.

They are fairly flat and round, small enough to easily fit inside your bra. Even when i was nursing in public, I could inconspicuously collect milk without anyone knowing.

Pro tip: A light suction pulls more milk. If I was planning to switch sides mid-feed, I’d skip the suction entirely and just let it sit against my breast to catch the letdown passively. Both approaches work, it just depends on your goals.

Why it’s worth it:

• Recovers milk that would otherwise go to waste
• Builds your frozen milk stash without ever touching a pump

Other similar products: There is also the regular Haaka which I absolutely hated. (Some moms swear by it.) It was so big and bulky to me that it just got in the way. There was no way to comfortably have it positioned to where your full boob just wasn’t completely out.

Haaka also makes a similar product called The Ladybug which I haven’t personally tried. I will for this baby and report back, but I purchased them for a friend, and she said they gave her welts are were impossible to clean. TBD on if this will be my experience.

Where to buy: Amazon | ~ $26

Boppy Nursing Pillow

The Boppy is one of those breastfeeding products that basically every first-time mom ends up with, and for good reason. I used mine multiple times a day for months, and after having a c-section, it became an essential. It did a lot of the [literal] heavy lifting during recovery when picking up and holding a baby for 8+ feeds a day was strenuous on my body.

Positioning matters more than most people realize when you’re breastfeeding — for latch, for your back, and for comfort when you’re in that position for 4 or more hours a day. The Boppy wraps around your waist so your arms aren’t bearing all of the baby’s weight, which is a game changer at 3am / post c-section.

The other reason it earns a spot on this list: it doesn’t stop being useful after nursing. We used ours for tummy time, as a sit-up prop when E was learning to hold herself up, and honestly just for general baby lounging. Both the pillow and the cover are machine washable and dryer safe, which when you have milk and cloth material in one place, you’ll want to keep clean.

Why it’s worth it:

• Takes strain off your arms and back during feeds
• Helps with latch positioning, especially early on
• Gets used well past the nursing phase

Where to Buy: Amazon | ~$50

Breast Pumps: What You Actually Need to Know

Before you go and buy a pump, I’d recommending checking your insurance to see if you’re eligible for a free pump. I used Babylist’s website and it was incredibly simple, and that’s how I got my free Spectra S2 with like 400+ breastmilk storage baggies all for free.

With that, there are so many different types of breast pumps — manual, electric, and wearables. All of these truly come down to personal preference and your intended use, but here’s what you should know.

Electric Breast Pumps

I call electric pumps the workhorses of pumping. Compared to all other types of pumps, these truly are designed to collect the most amount of milk, efficiently. It’s a countertop pump, so it’s probably not the one you’re throwing in your bag, but for sessions at home, nothing beats it.

My favorite electric pump, which is also the most popular breast pump for new moms, is the Spectra S2 (or S1, depending on if you want a rechargeable battery). The suction is strong but surprisingly gentle, it actually mimics a baby’s natural nursing pattern with a letdown mode followed by expression mode. There are millions of guides out there to help optimize how much milk you can extract from each session. I typically followed this:

Start in Massage Mode (Cycle ~ 70, Vacuum 1–4) for 2–3 minutes to initiate let-down, then switch to Expression Mode (Cycle 42–54, Vacuum 4–8) for 15–20 minutes until milk flow slows

Crucial Tip: Ensure that your flange sizes match your actual nipple size. This will make or break your comfort level and amount of milk you’re able to collect. Pumps typically come with a few different flange sizes between 24mm and 28mm, which may work for you. Often times the breast pump will come with a chart, if not, you can use Aeroflow’s website to find a rough estimate of your sizing for free.

I have to use a size 13 flange which does not come standard in any pumps, and for spectra, these are the flanges I’ve purchased that I really like.

Why it’s worth it:

• Most effective pump type for maximizing milk output
• Potentially free through insurance — always check before buying
• Mimics baby’s natural nursing rhythm, which makes a real difference for letdown

Where to Buy:
Spectra S2: Amazon | ~$175 (but check your insurance first — mine was free)
Compatible Duckbill Flanges: Amazon | ~$20

Wearable Breast Pumps

This is where information overload starts to happen and there feels like a million different choices. Here’s my solicited advice since you’re reading my blog where I’m giving my honest opinions. If you are only able to afford one type of pump, choose an electric pump. Wearable pumps are amazing, and I used them when I was looking for convenience over effectiveness. I’d use them on calls, doing household chores, etc., but I felt like they never fully “dried me out”. Meaning, I always had a bit more milk that the wearables couldn’t quite fully pull out to complete the job. (This is my personal experience).

I have a few different types of wearables, by my go to was the Momcozy M9.

Why it’s worth it:

• Totally hands-free — you can actually function like a human while pumping
• Discreet enough to wear under a loose top, which was a lifesaver on work calls
• Great backup option for when you’re out of the house and can’t lug the Spectra

Where to Buy:
Momcozy M9: Amazon | $242 (My favorite wearable pump)
Momcozy M5: Amazon | $199 (My second favorite wearable pump)

Manual Breast Pumps

There are a few different types of manual pumps. I’ve heard people love them, I personally didn’t use them, so I’ll try them with my next baby and report back.

Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies

I chose the bottles my lactation consultant recommended, which were the Pigeon Glass Nursing Bottles. I absolutely love these bottles and would recommend them to everyone, although quite expensive. I have a few of the 5.4 oz and a few of the 8.1 Oz. I. personally liked the smaller ones, but depending on how much milk your baby takes, you might need the larger ones.

The bottles are great, but the standout product that needs to be known are the flat lids that fit on bottles. For the first 1-2 months I was putting each bottle in with the nipple as the lid, but then you have to clean the nipple, and OMG it’s so annoying. So I found these flat lids. They’re so easy to clean, plus you can shake up the milk, travel with the milk, etc. 10/10 recommend. Plus they’re cheap! I used these ones.

Why it’s worth it:

• Lactation consultant recommended
• Glass bottles are better than plastic for safety (microplastics) and the environment.
• The flat storage lids are a tiny upgrade that will save your sanity — especially at 2am when you’re cleaning bottles half asleep. (The nipples are sooooo annoying to clean).

Where to Buy:
Pigeon Glass Nursing Bottles: Amazon | $34.99
Flat Lids: Amazon | $8.95

Silverette Nursing Cups + Nipple Cream/ Nipple Butter

I became unhinged, desperate, and was in so much pain when I first started nursing. My nipples were purple, they were cracked and I cannot even begin to explain how sore they were. I was given nipple creams and disposable postpartum heating / cooling pads for nursing, and they worked, but it wasn’t miraculous. You know what product was… these Silverette Sterling Silver Nipple Cups.

These sound woowoo, and when someone told me about them, I scoffed. However, I became so desperate after a few long and brutal days of nursing, I bought them. I was shocked when my nipples started healing, fast. I would put nipple cream and these silverettes on in between each feed, and it actually worked. My bruises started going away, my nipples stopped bleeding and the cracks healed, like within a day.

For Nipple Cream, I used the Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter. I thought it did a great job of keeping my nipples hydrated and reducing cracks. For this next baby, I’ll be testing a few other brands and options, and will report back.

Why it’s worth it:

• Sterling silver has natural antimicrobial properties — it’s not woowoo, it’s actually science
• Healed cracked, bleeding nipples faster than anything else I tried
• The combo of Silverette + nipple butter is the most effective protocol I found

Where to buy:
Silverette: Amazon | ~$45
Earth Mama Nipple Butter: Amazon | ~$14

Momcozy Portable Breast Milk Cooler

I did not have this on my radar at all until I was three months postpartum and got asked to travel for work. A five-day trip. I said yes immediately and then the logistics hit me: how was I going to keep my milk cold for 10+ hours straight while working a booth at a tech conference?

I went down a full research spiral and kept landing on the same product: the Momcozy Portable Breast Milk Cooler. And woah did it work.

The cooler comes with a vacuum-insulated canister, two 11oz bottles, and two ice packs that slide into a ring inside. I pumped every three hours, filled bottle one, then bottle two, and combined them once the temps matched. My milk was still cold when I got back to the hotel at 7pm after leaving at 8am. No fridge hunting, 0 stress.

One thing to know: the 22oz capacity is perfect if you’re producing around 5-6oz per session. If you’re an oversupplier, you might max out on a long day. Worth noting before you buy.

It also doesn’t look like a breastmilk cooler, which I appreciated walking around a tradeshow floor. It looks like a large, elevated water bottle in the most muted, sagey green. It blends in.

Pro tip: Freeze the canister itself, not just the cooling gel inserts. It extends the cold time significantly.

For a full breakdown including the ratings, internet sentiment, and more detail on how I used it — you can read my full Momcozy Cooler review here.

Why it’s worth it:

• Keeps milk cold for 10+ hours without needing a fridge — a total game changer for long work days or travel
• Doesn’t need extra refrigeration or ice packs to keep the milk cool. Plus it CHILLS the fresh milk and brings it down to refrigeration temps.
• Vacuum seal actually works, which sounds like a low bar but is not always the case with coolers

Where to buy: Amazon | ~$90

Best Nursing Bras for Breastfeeding

When it comes to breastfeeding, using a bra that allows quick and easy access to your nipples while also being discrete was a must have for me. I found a few different bras I used for different purposes, but they all followed that general rule.

SKIMMS NURSING BRA

I have 3 different colors of the Skimms Nursing Bras. I really love these for lounging around the house. They’re so soft and comfortable, they’re perfect for providing support, but they’re not great at giving any shape. They have the easy access clip at the top, and the way the fabric is placed when you unclip, it doesn’t just expose you. You kind of have to dig aroud to grab your boob out, but it’s extremely discrete, so it’s a great nursing bra for public breastfeeding.

Why it’s worth it:

• Incredibly soft — this is the bra you want on for hour 6 of cluster feeding
• The unclip style is surprisingly discreet for nursing in public

Where to buy: Skimms Website | ~$45

MOMCOZY NURSING BRA

I also used a Momcozy Nursing Bra when I wanted to go out in public. It actually gave me support, was soft and had the easy access clip. There is a small strip of fabric that runs behind the size when you unclip it, and doesn’t have much coverage if you don’t like your whole book exposed. For me, I couldn’t care less, but I know some do prefer discretion.

Why it’s worth it:

• Actually gives you real support, which most of the silky soft bras don’t
• The easy access clip makes nursing in public easy

Where to buy: Amazon | ~$45

MATERNITY SLEEPING BRAS

I purchased This 4 pack of Maternity Sleeping Bras that I really liked. I’ve never slept in bras before, and I stopped sleeping in bras after about 4 months, but for the first few months, wow, it was so helpful. First, I would leak soooo much that it was nice to just have fabric that would absorb the milk, instead of covering our sheets. (It’s easier to wash bras than sheets).

Second, in the middle of the night, I used the Boone Trove Milk Collectors to collect the extra milk from my let down, so I needed to be wearing a bra. And putting on and taking off a bra on top of all the other things in the middle of the night, was a pass for me.

These are pretty soft, i ordered a size too small somehow (probably postpartum brain), so they are pretty true to size.

Why it’s worth it:

• If you leak at night (and you will), this saves your sheets from milk stains, preventing constant washing of sheets
• If you’re using milk collectors at night, you’ll probably want to wear a bra and these are the easiest on/off option
• 4-pack means you’re not doing laundry every 2 days

Where to buy: Amazon | ~$45 for the 4-pack

Supplements to Help Increase Milk Supply

BREWER’S YEAST

One of my friends brought me some lactation cookie balls in her meal train drop off and I never looked back. I made these weekly. Tweaked and perfected my own version of the recipes online, and did notice a nice bump in supply when eating one of these a day.

I would actually eat one in the middle of the night as a little treat, which helped motivate me to get up during the ungodly hours of the night.

The main ingredient that is supply-promoting is brewer’s yeast, which is commonly used as a galactagogue to boost breast milk supply. I used this brewers yeast but i know a lot of other moms swear by the Mommy Knows Best brand too.

The cookie bites I make also have Collagen Powder for a boost of protein as well. I use Needed’s because it’s pasture-raised, hormone free (which is SOOO important postpartum when our hormones are all over the place) and ingredients are incredibly clean.

I included my recipe at the end of this blog. Jump there now.

Why it’s worth it:

• Noticeable supply bump, especially when used consistently
• No Fenugreek, which matters more than most women realize (more on that below)

Where to buy:
Amazon | ~$15-20 for brewer’s yeast |
Needed collagen: Needed.com (Get 20% off using my code HARDLAUNCHMOM)

PUMP IT UP LACTATION SUPPLEMENT

I started taking a natural lactation support supplement a week before my due date and continued for about 2-3 months postpartum while my milk supply was still leveling out. I used Happy Healthy Hippie’s Pump It Up. My lactation consultant didn’t necessarily promote it, but because it didn’t have Fenugreek, she said it was okay.

For what it’s worth, my lactation consultant recommended staying away from Fenugreek because while it can increase supply in some women, in others it can actually decrease supply. So it’s very hit or miss. Most lactation support supplments have Fenugreek in them, so be mindful of what you use. A great replacement is Moringa. When I lost my supply, I drank Moringa tea and took pills to help bring it back. You can read about what I did to get my supply back here: I Lost My Milk Supply – Here’s How I Got It back

Why it’s worth it:

• No Fenugreek, which my LC flagged as a potential supply killer for some women
• You can start it before your due date so your body has a head start
• Natural ingredients and easy to work into a daily routine

Where to buy: Amazon | ~$25-30

Lindsay’s Lactation Cookie Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups oats
• ½ cup whole flaxseeds
• 4 tbsp brewer’s yeast
• 1–2 cups nut butter (I mix almond + peanut)
• ½ to 1 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ¼- ½ cup collagen protein powder

Directions:

1. In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix all ingredients except chocolate chips.
2. Adjust oats, nut butter, and honey until you reach your preferred texture. Too sticky? Add more oats. Too dry? Add more nut butter or honey.
3. Mix in chocolate chips.
4. Scoop ¼ cup balls, roll tightly, and place on parchment paper.
5. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes, then store however you’d like.

Notes: 
I prefer whole flaxseeds over ground—they help keep the texture soft, not crumbly.
If you use use collagin powder, you might need more nut butter or honey to keep them from being crumbly. You can decide the consistency you personally prefer.

Everything You Need to Start Your Breastfeeding Journey

If you made it this far, you now have my complete, unfiltered list of every nursing product I actually used, loved, and will be using/buying again for baby number two.

To make shopping this list easier, I built out my Amazon Breastfeeding & Nursing Collection with everything mentioned here (plus a few extras that didn’t make the blog but are still worth knowing about). It’s all in one place so you’re not hunting down 12 separate tabs at 11pm during a pregnancy research spiral.

Whether you’re building a registry, postpartum and in the thick of it, or just trying to figure out what you actually need — I hope this saved you some time and some money. These are the products that genuinely made a year of breastfeeding doable for me, and I don’t recommend anything I wouldn’t buy twice.

Did I miss anything? Drop a comment below — I read every single one, and if there’s a product you swear by that I didn’t cover, I want to know about it.