Earlier this spring I had the honor of helping Motherwear pick a few new products to add to its accessories line for the summer catalog. It was great - I got to poll nursing moms I knew, and do a little pretend shopping. Things have changed a lot since I had my son just a few years ago (the slings, especially, have gotten so much cuter, and the pumps have also improved quite a bit). Be sure to check out these and other new items in the accessories section of the Motherwear site and soon in the new catalog.
If there is an "it" sling in my moms groups it's the HotSling. It's compact, great for nursing, and of course really cute. I think that many moms are tempted to buy several. The patterned one to the left is the designer model (available in several patterns), and you'll 
also find everyday slings basic black and khaki. There's even a "pool pouch" for wearing in the water!
I'm very happy that Motherwear is now carrying Medela's Swing breastpump. This is the one I recommend for moms who are planning to work part time or are planning to be at home but want a good pump for an occasional bottle. This pump is a huge improvement over past Medela single electric pumps. The cycling speed and automatic let down mode make it more gentle and effective, and the whole thing is really compact and has a nice design.
Motherwear is also now carrying the perennial favorite Boppy pillow, which can be used for nursing and also for baby play. It's been redesigned with a "miracle middle" to fit all waist sizes. Several cute covers, too. One is shown to the left.
To the right are Soothies, a popular product for speeding healing of sore nipples. A lot of mothers I know swear by these. If there is already damage to the skin of the nipples these can help. But remember: If breastfeeding hurts, get help quickly. The remedy for pain is usually fixing the latch. In the meantime, while you're healing, these are a often a nice product to have. Got it?
Another useful product for relieving engorgement (and a more sophisticated option than frozen peas) are Bust Buddies cool/hot packs, to the left. You can use them cold to relieve swelling from engorgement, warm to help get milk flowing before feeding or pumping when engorged, or warm to clear a plugged area. 
To the right is a product I'd never seen before - a Kushies nursing pad case. It's for those times when you're at work or out in public and can't just fling your wet pads in the general direction of the laundry basket. This would have been a big improvement over the plastic shopping bag I used to stuff in my purse. They're even available in different colors. 
Motherwear is also now carrying two products from Earth Mama Angel Baby: Organic Natural Nipple Butter and Bosom Buddies herbal blend. Bosom Buddies comes with a reusable muslin bag for making a poultice. Again, nipple creams are great for healing if damage has been done, but to really fix the problem, get experienced help as soon as possible, okay?
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