Maternity Products & Preparing for Birth

Your comfort is paramount at this time in your life. At Olivers Babycare, we want you to be as happy as possible in the run up to your birth date, and this guide offers some valuable information about the products which are available to expecting mothers, and how to prepare for the birth.

Maternity Accessories

Your breasts are like the early-warning systems of your body; they'll be the first to react when you become pregnant and they change and develop drastically over the course of your term. You need to keep them comfortable, and there are bounteous products designed by mothers and midwives to help you. First, let's quickly discuss maternity bras. These are discussed in a bit more detail in the 'Maternity Wear & Maternity Bras' guide, so we won't get too hung up on them here, but it can't hurt to have quick peek.

The two brands Anna Cecilia and Emma Jane currently lead the maternity bra field thanks to their devotion to quality and commitment to comfort. Both brands offer a range of maternity and nursing bras, and we recommend that you go and get yourself professionally measured for a maternity bra about a month before you come to term. Anna Cecilia's maternity bras are made fully adjustable by three rows of hooks, so you can change the shape of the bra to fit the shape of your breast, quite a handy feature for a nursing bra. They also have zips which run horizontally across the front of the bra so you can breast feed without the hassle of removing or arranging the bra awkwardly (there are models available which have a vertically-aligned zipper, if you find that a more appealing prospect). The design and mechanics of the zip and the inner lining of the cup make it impossible to catch any flesh in the it (in fact it's not a zip in the conventional sense anyway; there are no teeth to speak of), and most models have a piece of fabric which folds flat of the handle of the zipper to conceal it and prevent it from catching on the inside of your clothes.

These maternity bras are necessarily bigger and more robust than your ordinary non-pregnancy bra, there's no escaping it. But they offer the support and practicality you'll need in the month leading up to birth, and for your entire time nursing.

Nursing & Breastfeeding Products

On the topic of nursing, you might consider the use of some breast pads while you're lactating. At the top of the range are Tommee Tippee's disposable breast pads. These discreet, comfortable pads tuck inside your bra to take in any seepages of milk, keeping it away from your clothes and keeping you dry and comfortable. Their thin profile makes them invisible inside your bra, and their liquid gel centre makes them remarkably absorbent. There are breast pads available cheaper than Tommee Tippee's; but they're not nearly as absorbent and represent a false economy; in our experience you end up using two cheap pads at a time, but even this doesn't totally prevent leakage so you have to buy more cleaning products to wash your clothes. When you combine the price of using twice as many cheap pads with the cost of laundering your clothes more frequently and more thoroughly, you quickly see that the cheap pads are in fact significantly more expensive.

Related to the disposable breast pads are Isis's Comfort Breast Shell. These also tuck into your bra, but they're designed to separate your nipple from the material of the bra. They allow the air to circulate around nipples made sore by breastfeeding, allowing your skin a chance to heal before the next feeding.

If you're not keen on having maternity products tucked inside your bra - even the most secure pads occasionally escape, particularly at night when you're asleep - then the Lilypadz are the innovative solutions you've been looking for. These soft, lilypad-shaped disks adhere directly to the breast, but instead of soaking up leaked milk like the pads do, they're designed to prevent leakage altogether. They squeeze the nipple very slightly which, according to the midwives and lactation consultants which have approved them, stops milk from escaping in the first place. They can be worn swimming and they don't rely on other items to work, unlike a pad which relies on the presence of a bra. They're virtually invisible too, so there are no unsightly or unnatural bumps under your clothing. They feel a little alien if you've never worn them before, but you very quickly forget they're there.

Nipple Shields

There are nipple shields too, products which are particularly useful to first time mothers. It can be difficult to get a newborn baby to latch on to your nipple the first few times you try, so the nipple shields are a great way to protect yourself and encourage your baby to feed. They're made from a thin layer of silicon which adheres directly and firmly to your breast, and they have a hole in the centre through which access can be gained to the nipple. They're quite high maintenance - they need to be boiled each day to protect your baby's health - but they can be a godsend if you're having a tough time breastfeeding.

Keeping Comfy

To keep you really comfortable while you're pregnant and when you're nursing, there are a range of pillows designed specifically for mothers. Ranging between around £20.00 and £40.00, the maternity support pillows are either v-shaped or completely malleable. Sitting in an arm chair, you might have one end of the long pillow tucked under your right shoulder supporting your body, and then arching round your neck to support your head, and over your left shoulder to support your baby while he or she feeds. These pillows are effortlessly comfortable, and you can feel the experience and knowledge which the design draws on; these pillows were obviously made by mothers, for mothers.

Preparing for Birth

Aside from decorating the nursery which we deal with in a separate guide, you should spend the time in the run up to the birth of your baby making yourself comfortable. Learn as much as you can during your maternity about the early stages of childhood. It might sound dull if you're on maternity leave, especially if your job is a really busy one, but rest up. You'll appreciate having the rested energy when you need it. Learn and practice making recipes for babyfood if you don't intend to buy it ready made, and learn and practice folding cloth nappies if you've never done it before. Make some space for yourself where you feel comfortable, throw down a bunch of pillows and stick a TV and DVD player in front of them with a table next to it; basically create a 'den' where you can happily sit and nurse for as long as necessary.

Get some exercise too. Only you know when you've found the right balance between activity and rest, so work at it. Swimming is a highly recommended activity for pregnant women, just as long as it's not too strenuous, but most mildly aerobic exercise is beneficial. Our Resources section has some excellent links to sites which will give you all the information you might need about maternity and preparing for birth, and Oliver's friendly staff are only an email away!