Planning to BF - what do I need?

[DaleyBump]

I'm getting induced on Tuesday with DC1 and have only just got around to buying a breast pump. Family members would like to babysit and I'm hoping he'll be EBF so we do need one. The thing is, I don't know what else I need. I know there's some kind of freezer bag I need but I don't know what it's called or where to find them or anything.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks so much for all the kind wishes and advice :) really appreciate it :)

These people have a good helpline

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/

Also www.kellymom.com is extremely useful for advice

A breastfeeding cover for when you are out and about. The ones that have a bendy bit of plastic at the top are fab as they let in fresh air (breastfeeding generates a lot of heat) and you can have a peep.

Ice packs in the freezer for when you start getting engorged. I sat on the couch with two big wine cooler thingys wrapped around my boobs for a couple of hours and it was the only thing that would help.

Support numbers and a shed load of willpower.
The knowledge that it will get much easier than the first few days.

I'd suggest you don't spend money on a cover unless your baby is so easily distracted that you need to block out the outside world to make them feed. If you're nervous about flashing, a strategically draped muslin usuall does the trick for the few secons before the baby is covering anything that you wouldn't want seen.

When you're engorged, pump. Relieves the pressure and gives you a freezer stash. Even if you don't want to go out socially or catch up on sleep, you might want to leave the baby to go to the dentist, or to a funeral, or to visit a very old man who would be horribly uncomfortable around breastfeeding - reasons I've been glad of a bottle in the last month alone.