Sterliser etc when hoping to breastfeed

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Hoping to bf my first baby and at the minute have not bought any bottles, sterlisers or pumps etc etc (am 37 weeks). My theory before was that I can easily get them delivered/ fetched when I needed them but now my baby brain is making me think this is madness and I must get organised - I don't even know when I am likely to need them to start with - having a "argh I'm so clueless day!"

If I were you, I would do a bit of research on sterilisers and the options, but not buy anything yet. Your theory was totally right, you can buy one if you need it.

Some people like to have one or two bottles for peace of mind, but the other school of thought is that having them there is too tempting if you are having a tough time getting breastfeeding established. Shops are open such long hours now, I'd probably tend to the view that you can get those if you need them too.

I have EBF both my daughters and actually gave my steriliser away just after DD2 was born - if I ever needed to do a bottle (about twice cos am lazy!) I just boiled it in a pan old style!

Thanks one day - I think I just needed someone to say that I wasn't completely mad. Think I will resist the temptation of having stuff in the house and if worst comes to the worst it's only 10 mins to the 24hr asda - Thank you:)

Hi. I didn't have bottles etc and then found I had no milk for ten days. Dh's managed to buy the pump to get supply going, bottles and steriliser ok, however I wish now I had chosen in advance so could have had different bottles. All the best for coming weeks. Oh, after two months my milk supply caught up and didn't need bottled unless I wanted to express. Ds now six months.

Newborn can be fed from a cup, spoon, finger, syringe etc so you don't even need a bottle. And yes pan on the hob or sterilising tablets / liquid which can then be used on bath toys to keep them getting gunky.

Have you been to a breastfeeding support group yet? This is the best preparation you can do if you want to bf because if you do have any issues you know who to call on. Is also great for having an idea of how bf really works and changes as the baby gets older. And you might make some friends to hang out with on ml.

I had a very simple microwave steriliser which I bought last minute for sterilising my breast pump.

If you intend to express, you will need something. I'd at least research what you want to save a panicked purchase.

You do know you don't need to sterilize bottles that have had breast milk in them, don't you?

I did a breastfeeding workshop as part of my nct course and also at local surestart (who have a breastfeeding cafe on thursday mornings so know they are there for support - the mw/hv (not sure which) that ran it too was great and was very much ring up, ask for me and I'll come out to see you asap) so do know some stuff.... just feel it has all left my brain! When I feel a bit less stressed will do some research so have an idea what to send dh/mother out for it I need them.

We never used a hot steriliser. We just bought a bottle of Milton and used that.

Cold water steriliser. Used it in nicu and just didvthe same at home. Used Milton fluid and just redid every night. I was feeding and ppumping and so with an ex nicu baby had to take all precautions.IIt's a useful piece of kit to have and very cheap, if you do get bottle d it's not brand specific either.

I had the exact same thoughts as you when I was pregnant OP but never got round to buying bottles, steriliser etc. DS is 6wo tomorrow and still don't have any of that paraphernalia, some mum friends think I'm mad not to be expressing so DH can try doing some feeds but to be honest it all seems too much like hard work to start expressing and sterilising at the moment!

So my advice would be not to worry yet and go with the flow.

Good luck and enjoy it!

Knowing where you can find things is really useful, but as my fab antenatal teacher said, You live in London. There are shops.
I suggest phoning up or ideally visiting some breastfeeding groups before birth, as they move or close for halfterm which you are supposed to psychically know dates of when you give birth. And where you could get a pump from if need be - I hysterically packed DH off to Mothercare and later found could have got one for half the price in the supermarket.

BIL advice was that people start giving you stuff esp once baby arrives - I used a saucepan once but then found I'd been given 3 secondhand sterilisers!

We use milton tablets, they are a lot cheaper than the fluid and a box lasts 28 days

Also helps to know who in your local Nct hires out breast pumps. We needed one unexpectedly and were able to hire a hospital grade one on a Sunday night for 2 weeks for about £20. If I hadnt done that i would definitely made a hasty and probably expensive purchase!

Thanks for everyone's advice. Will probably get some milton in and have been researching bottles and pumps today (that didn't get me confused in the least!!)

It's interesting to know about pump hire but our local nct group is basically non-existent and just doing courses so don't think it's a service they offer.