Breastfeeding what do I need

[HPmagic]

I want to try and keep costs to a minimum so what is essential. I'm not planning on being away from the baby for many months if even.

• Do I buy bottles and steriliser just incase?
• Do I definitely need a pump then?

Why did everyone else buy

I got a secondhand hand pump and bottles. I didn’t plan to use them but DS wouldn’t latch to begin with and has mild tongue tie so my nipples were on fire. Then of course it took a few days for my milk to come in. I found expressing more comfortable and meant I could get him fed. This was especially key at 4am after hours of screaming - I had the option to pump and feed him. I also had a couple premixed bottles of formula. That said there is very little you can’t get at a 24 hour supermarket or delivered next day.

I bought nursing bras and breast pads, nothing else.

I didn’t buy bottles, a steriliser or a pump until DD was a few months old and I wanted DH to be able to give her a bottle of expressed milk.

You’ll need nursing bras, breast pads (I used reusable ones), also try and get some nursing vests - I got some from H&M that had clips like a nursing bra would and inbuilt support I could put the breast pads in so they stayed in place over night but it was far more comfortable than sleeping in a bra and I really needed to sleep with breast pads on. I never used nipple cream but I know some people swear by it so it might be worth getting some just in case.

I wanted to add that my midwife didn’t recommend pumping for the first 2 weeks and I hand expressed in hospital. But needs must.

Nipple cream is an essential. One of those long u shaped cushions.
Maternity bra.

For now a nursing bra, nipple cream (the purple one I can't pronounce) and a Haakaa style pump to help with engorgement.

Anything else you can get if you need it.

Hiya,

I got myself a tub of formula for backup as I didn't want to be get myself stressed if I felt I needed it suddenly. I'm glad I had it for peace of mind but I never used it in the end.

Pump wise, I did buy one but never really used it as my LO didn't take to bottles and I was always available so it wasn't necessary. A good option for you could he to buy a Haakaa which is a manual silicone breast pump. You simply stick it to one boob while baby eats in the other and lo and behold you can build up a stash if you wish. In which case you'll also just need some milk storage bags/containers :-)

Nipple cream - Lansinoh is good. Very worthwhile for sore nipples in the early days.

Finally, nipple shields. Would very much advise you get a couple of sets to have at hand. You may find yourself struggling with pain at times and these can help you persevere!

Almost forgot..nursing bras. You want bras that easily release the boobs abs tops that also allow quick access.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your journey :-)

Nursing bras, breast pads and the phone numbers of breastfeeding support lines. Normal pillows and cushions for supporting my back / under my arms were fine.

You need muslins, feeding bras - loads on Amazon, Asda and Sainsbury’s also have good options - and nipple cream. Lansinoh, it’s about £8 and a tube lasts ages. You might want nipple pads, I only needed them for a couple of weeks but some women need them for months. Reusable and disposable both worth trying. I used the former at night and the latter occasionally during the day as they were smaller and didn’t show through tops.

If you need a pump you can get one then, rent or buy. I wouldn’t bother in advance. You could get a hakaa, which is a hands free silicon one that’s cheap and easy to wash. You use it on one breast while the baby’s on the other but again, get one if you think you need it, Amazon next day delivery.

Wouldn’t bother with bottles. If you need them you can get some in loads of places online or in person.

One of the things I found most useful was watching videos on feeding tips and tricks before and after DD was born. There’s one called something like “how to get a good latch” which was invaluable to me and I got DH to watch it a few times too so he could remind me of things when she was fussing.

Looking up how to feed lying down is also worth it, there’s a knack to it and it’s a game changer.

With my first I bought a tommee tippee electric breast pump in the sale and honestly probably used it less than 10 times in 18 months so I wouldn't bother untill you know what you're going to be doing. I had a haaka knock off from Aldi to collect milk from one boob while feeding from the other which was great for just being able to have a little to store, or if your nipples get sore.

I bought a couple of bottles and a few cartons of premade formula for emergencies in case of middle of the night, baby needs fed and won't feed disasters which was good for piece of mind. Never ended up needing it though.

All I used in the early days of establishing breastfeeding was Lansinoh breast pads (the best ones, especially during early days when you leak loads!), lansinoh nipple cream (apply before and after every single feed), and a good, comfy nursing bra. Everything else you can get if and when you need it. You're unlikely to need to pump in the early days cause your baby needs that milk and you'll be establishing feeding. Pumping can make your body over produce milk which can cause issues with feeding if it's too fast a flow etc.

If you are going to get a pump jsut in case, I'd recommend a hand one initially.

Nursing bra
Nipple cream

Everyone is different but I never bought a pump, steriliser or bottles. Don't forget the shops will be open after your baby is born so is circumstances mean you do need any of that stuff, you can buy it if/when you need it.

If you are keen to breastfeed then the best thing you can do is learn as much about it as possible beforehand. If you have a local branch of La Leche League nearby, getting in touch with them before your baby is born is a really good idea.

Nursing bra.
I wouldn't get anything else, you might not need any of it.

Savoy cabbage. Bloody brilliant if you get engorged. The leaves placed around the beast act as poultice removing excess fluid so reduced the volume in your breast. When you take the leaves out of your bra they are proper steamed. Google it. I’m not bonkers.

Lansinoh!
Nursing bra
With 24 hr supermarkets you don't really need anything else.

I did have two ready to serve cartons of baby milk that sat in the top cupboard and never got used.

I found the haakaa silicone pump a life saver- great at relieving pressure when you are establishing feeding and can be filled with warm water to help ease block ducts.
Nipple cream is also an essential, I had a lot of pain when I started breastfeeding and I wish I had stocked up on some more boob care items before hand, would have made feeding much more comfortable!

@TwigTheWonderKid LLL got me through the first difficult weeks.

Lots of great posts on here for what you need in general but I just wanted to recommend the MAM manual breast pump as it comes with a bottle which will also sterilise itself in the microwave, so you'd only need to think about washing and sterilising the pump bits. A cheap way of getting into expressing if you do end up doing it, I think the set is about £30.

I really like my Hakka as well, it was a no brainer catching the overflow to make a 'just in case' bottle for DP to use so you could just start with that and a set of bottles. I had the two things I mentioned in ready and DP probably did give a bottle of caught/expressed milk every other day but it was ad hoc. We did also keep a bit of formula in as a just in case but I like to be prepared. I breastfed DD til she was nearly two so the bottles didn't get a huge amount of use but it was good to know we had the very basics in the house. We used cold water sterilisation for teethers and bits and bobs, found that easiest.

I froze my spare milk but it went a bit odd when defrosted, some people's does apparently, so I won't be bothering doing that this time round.

I wanted to bf but was well aware it may not work out.
I purchased a Dr browns bottles set/ steriliser and the anti colic bits ready for 'just in case'.

Turns out bf went better than expected and when I tried introducing a bottle later down the line my baby hated the test on dr browns! Ended up buying another 3 makes before the 4th make was successful!

I wouldn't buy anything other than the ready made newborn set that include ready to go milk in teeny bottles and tests included so you have a back up if needed and it takes the pressure off feeling there is only breastfeeding as an option.
You'll know soon enough if you need bottles and I'm sure someone will go buy them you.

Maybe have an idea of what set you'd choose so there's no pressure if you decide last min to bottle feed.

Mam bottles sterilise themselves in the microwave. You can also get microwaveable steriliser bags which have a good shelf life if you needed something in just in case.

Other than that the little lilac tube of nipple cream- use on both nipples after every single feed and you won't get sore like so many do.

Nursing bra
Clothing with easy access for feeding
Muslims
Breast pump
Breast milk bags
Lansinoh cream
Brest pads
A good nursing pillow. I liked the my brest friend memory foam one.

Extras
Breast cooling things (like aloe Vera for ultra cracked nipples)
Lansinoh heat/cool pad things that are great for the engorged phase or for mastitis

Another vote for a Hakka, washable breast pads (my littlelamb ones saw me through 3 babies), and lots of muslins! Also I found the Kellymom website invaluable every time I had a random question or problem.

I'd just buy a couple of nursing bras - which are nice and comfy to wear at end of pregnancy too. Then I'd totally buy the reusable breast pads having used the disposable ones the first time round. Can be used as makeup remover pads if not used or after. So much softer on sore nips. I got 6 nude ones from Cheeky wipes.

If you need to use a bottle or a pump your local midwifes will have bottles they can give you until you go and buy some if needed and they can loan you a pump. I did this both times with mine so I could give some expressed milk. Don't waste money on things you may not need and chances are someone will give you or loan you them anyway.

Oh and do by a small tube of lanolin to help with sore nipples.

Bravado nursing bras- I bought cheaper ones on Amazon but quality was poor and Bravado is much better
Disposable and reusable breast pads (disposable is better if you have thrush and used in first few weeks so didn't have to think too much about washing)
Pump and steriliser bought on Amazon prime after birth. Had an emergency c section and then complications so combination fed to begin with
Lanisoh nipple cream
Nursing vests (layer up when out)
Large muslin for discrete feeding
Breastfeeding pillow (helps to prevent back pain)

I got a timmy tippy hand pump that came with a bottle and small microwave steriliser for £15. I did eventually upgrade to an electric pump when I went back to work, but for occasional bottles it was fine. I also got 2 nursing bra's from asda for £14, and that was about it. I wore normal clothes and pulled them up or down depending on the neck line, usually paired with a cardigan to hide any inadvertent flashing.