Is breastfeeding ever really "free"?

[easterbaby]

I'm bf my 10 week old DS - and pleasantly surprised to be still doing it (I gave up after 3 weeks first time round.) I get that bf offers some benefits in the early days (although I certainly don't think formula milk is as bad as it's cracked up to be.) And I can buy the argument that once established, bf can be easier for mums. But I don't understand how some people advocate bf on the grounds that it's "free".

I can't do without my Lansinoh nipple cream (£10 a pop!) - a tube lasts a few weeks. And I get through a pack of their disposable breastpads (£5.50) every 2 weeks. I've tried reusables and cheaper brands, but they chafed my skin. I'm handwashing and alternating my two Bravado nursing bras - after wasting money on cheaper, uncomfortable bras - and am about to shell out £40 for another. I haven't bothered with a nursing cover as I'm not shy about bf in public - and would just use a muslin if I needed to.

I haven't totted up a direct comparison, but find that I'm not saving as much money as I expected. Especially when you factor extra drinks/snacks when I'm out and about!

What do others think? Anyone got any tips on cutting the costs without cutting the comfort?

1000 euro in doctors fees each for my 2 ff daughters minimum in their first 3 years. Ds is 2.5 and he is on a zero balance. Breast pads in place of san pro since periods did not come back for 16mths. No formula but bottles and breast pump. Bf was way cheaper but mainly because we pay for doctors in Ireland and the 2 older kids caught everything.

I'm only 5 weeks in with first baby and BFing is a real struggle...lots of pain, 2 bouts of mastitis, raw nipples...so I've been trying everything that might help:

Lansinoh (£10)
3 x sets of nipple shields (£20)
Hand pump (£25)
Medela electric pump (£90)
Disposable breast pads (£5)
Washable breast pads (£5)
Gel compresses for sore nipples (£10)
Breastfeeding vitamin supplements (£15)

4 x bras (£80)

£260 total so far - GAH! And it's a complete hassle and I'm really not enjoying it.

I found the pain went away after a while.
The feeding definitely gets easier

postitnotes, have you called one of the helplines, or seen someone? Mastitis and painful nipples generally are signs of bad latch ... (particularly the nipples) and generally things can be done about that.

Anothernumberone
That is quite shocking. Is it a fixed price per appointment?
So far we had 2 appointmemts 1 for cmp alkergy at 6m turned out to be soya allergy and 2 suspected ear infection which it wasnt. Thats it up to 20m

Don't worry postitnotes it will get easier and easier as the weeks go by! I was in a lot of pain the first few weeks with very cracked nipples. I think at around 10 weeks something just clicked and it became enjoyable, all those lovely cuddles :) I'm now so glad I kept going as whenever DD wakes in the night I can stick her on the boob for a few mins rather than have to go down to a cold kitchen and make up a bottle, it's great!

postitnotes The first 6 weeks or so are definitely the hardest. You and your baby are still establishing the supply. They tend to go into a bit of a feeding frenzy at around the six-weeek mark when they have a growth spurt, which I think coincides with supply shifting from hormone-led to demand-led, but I found that it suddenly got dramatically easier after that!

Have some - you've earned it!

I never used cream. I didn't use a bra at all for the first month or so then after that didn't need breastpads. After that I only purchased two nursing bras, OI din't buy a pump or any equipment.

A lot cheaper than formula and all the equipment.

If formula is £10 a tin, then could cost a lot over 12 months, including the energy to heat water and sterilise, the equipment etc..
I would like to see a realistic costing.

One downside to bf mine tended to poop a lot (more than ff or mixed fed babies) but could be doen to allergies. So lots of nappies used.

A helpful dr will prescribe you lansinoh I have found.

I always thought that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch' must apply to breastfeeding. You can't make calories without calories. However, I think I prefer the idea of buying cake than ff kit.

I never used pads, but yes Lansinoh is fab but you don't need it for long. You do have to buy different clothes, bras, stretchy tops and in the end I think I had all the ff kit too.

A lot of it is stuff that if you didn't have the money, you just wouldn't buy it (expensive creams, covers, nursing clothes/bras, pumps, disposable pads). There's an element of choice/marketing.

The extra calories (between 300-500 cals a day on average iirc) are partly going to come from the extra fat the body stores in pregnancy. The extra you actually need a day is only the equivalent of around a pint of full fat cow's milk, so about 50p a day.

lily I totally agree. Marketers try to get in on every act, it's actually not "necessary" to buy very much to breastfeed.
Millions of women do it the world over without the need for any special equipment.

Yes 60 euro per visit but both had consultant appointments at 1 at 180 euro a pop and both stayed overnight in hospital before 3 another 100 euro. Both had 4 antibiotics before 1. Someone in the UK pays for the higher doctor's bill for ff babies be thankful it is not you. You do get done money back as a tax refund though. These were also full term 'healthy' children but with recurrent ear infections.

I haven't used any equipment really - no cream, no pump, no pads, no cover.

I have obviously used nursing bras and now just use nursing vests all the time. So I suppose that was an investment.

I may also have cost the NHS some in antibiotics for mastitis (not that much though, normally can unblock a duct with a bit of effort now) and the world chocolate supply is likely rather diminished for the sake of my three boys.

But when you consider I fed one to 16mo, one to 54 months and the last will probably do similar, I think it's quite good value.

It's the cheapest diet I have ever been on ....

I was given a bag of ' essentials' from a friend, it was the exact bag given to her by another friend and I've now passed it on. Contained tube of lanishton, ancient hand pump, reusable breast pads and a selection of bras.
So far 6 babies have been fed from this (now legendary) boob bag!!

Biggest expense. .. savoy cabbage (oh the wonderful feeling of cabbage bra on day 3

As pp said. ... women the world over don't have access to mothcare breastfeeding essentials list and manage.

Wish I'd taken the £10 a week and saved it. Would have paid for a nice little holiday:)