what will I need?

[geordiemacminx]

oping that someone can help me out a bit as I'm getting all confused..

First baby due in a couple of months so I'm going through that stage of wanting to buy everything that I could possibly ever need... because of course the shops wont be open once the little one is here...

I'm planning on breastfeeding (I kow that it isnt quite as simple as that but thats the plan at the moment)... but then have been looking at expressing once the milk "settles" (if thats the right phrase) so that dp can feed too. Is there anything that I need to buy before he gets here.. sterilisers (micro or electric), botttles, pumps etc? A friend recommended the tomy closer to nature stuff.. but she doesnt bf.. also is there a huge difference between manual and electric pumps as the later seem to be quite expensive? If I buy one brand of steamer/pump or bottles do I need to buy the rest in the same brand?

Apologies for all the questions...

If you are planning on BF then it may be best not to buy anything to do with bottles at first.
Electric pumps are far better than manual ime try and borrow one or hire one even if you don't want to buy one.
Personally found micro sterilisers are fine, they take up little space and if you get a shops own then they genearlly take 4 or 6 of any make bottle.

geordiemacminx, what you need to breastfeed is your breasts.

You may need Lansinoh (I would recommend having some - it's good stuff), breast pads, nursing bras - and that's pretty much it.

I would also advise you read a bit about breastfeeding on kellymom - really do look here.

The shops will be open once you've had the baby - get bfeeding established before you bother faffing about with expressing.

(I have a steam steriliser that I inherited and an Avent Isis breast pump - but I didn't get them till after DS1 was born because I wanted nothing in the house that could stop me bfeeding!)

Good luck with the birth! Keep posting here if you need help with bfeeding after you've had your baby.

that website looks great HM, I have sent it to my home account, and will add it to favourites.. unfortunately I can only just get away with mumsnet at work, they might get a bit if I sit and look at diagrams of breasts for the rest of the afternoon...

I think I will follow advice, buy some nice nursing bras, pads and Lansinoh and leave it at that... best having the positive view that I WILL be able to breast feed... they are such a size it would be a shame to waste them

Thanks guys