By Taylor Etchison
Being a modern breastfeeding mother definitely has its perks! Whether you’re camped out on the couch nursing that newborn or expressing milk away from home, your smart phone or tablet offers a lot of beneficial help. Please keep in mind that this list of breastfeeding-friendly applications doesn’t include any feeding trackers. Timing feedings (especially for first-time moms) may discourage breastfeeding on demand and paying attention to baby’s cues. In addition, there aren’t any formula-sponsored or breast pump-sponsored apps.
These apps are not a substitute for real-life support. Working with a Breastfeeding USA Counselor or IBCLC should always be the first step to troubleshooting breastfeeding issues.
- Breastfeeding Solutions:
Price: $4.99
Description: Breastfeeding Solutions from author Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA helps mothers troubleshoot breastfeeding problems and offers answers to common nursing questions.
Pros: Easy-to-use interface; user-friendly navigation. Evidence based information, with cited articles. Common breastfeeding obstacles and myths addressed with workable solutions.
Cons: Should not be used as a substitute for in-person support. - LactMed:
Price: Free
Description: LactMed is a searchable database of drugs and supplements that may affect breastfeeding.
Pros: Easy to search. Lots of information. Shares references.
Cons: Doesn’t have Hale’s risk categories (L1-L5) - Milk Maid
Price: $2.99
Description: Milk Maid allows mothers who express breastmilk to manage their stash.
Pros: Records and times expressing sessions. Keeps track of inventory. Sets expiration dates. Allows you to differentiate between fresh milk and frozen milk. Exports data.
Cons: Doesn’t take feedings at the breast into account. - Growth (Charts)
Price: Free
Description: Growth (Charts) tracks your child’s weight/height gain against the WHO’s percentile curves.
Pros: Uses WHO standards. Charts adjust for 0-19 years of age.
Cons: Must upgrade to track more than one child. - Breastfeeding Management 2
Price: $1.99
Description: Breastfeeding Management 2 provides several calculators to help identify and manage early breastfeeding problems.
Pros: Has 5 calculators, including weight loss. Identifies red flags.
Cons: Shouldn’t be used as a replacement for real-life support!! - Fooducate
Price: Free
Description: Fooducate scans a bar code and then gives the food a grade and shows pertinent information about its nutritional content. Helps nursing moms stay healthy and eat well for themselves and their little one.
Pros: Over 200,000 products in its database. Gives healthier alternatives to less-healthy products. Grocery list capability.
Cons: Not much info on fast food or other restaurants. - The Portable Pediatrician
Price: $4.99
Description: The Portable Pediatrician is a Dr. Sears’ book-to-go, listing common ailments A-Z.
Pros: Very detailed. Includes growth charts.
Cons: Price - Ambiance
Price: $2.99
Description: Ambiance has over 2,500 soothing sounds to help nursing moms and fussy babies relax.
Pros: Customizable. Collection keeps growing.
Cons: None really. Pretty much does what it’s supposed to. - Diaper Log
Price: Free
Description: Diaper Log tracks diaper output.
Pros: Very simple. Lightweight. Doesn’t track anything other than diapers.
Cons: Can’t edit info once it’s entered.
Revised November 2013
Taylor Etchison
Taylor runs her own design and branding firm in Indiana. She is currently breastfeeding her first daughter, with a new baby on the way.
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