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

Oh, I also got a pack of freezer bags for storing any expressed milk.

I have had 3 DC. I had 2 nursing bras and breast pads. If I was having DC now I would get washable breast pads and I like the sound of lansinoh ointment. I only really needed breast pads for DC1 when I had a lot of spurting. Not thing else is needed . One can order anything to arrive next day so don't spend unnecessary money. I was persuaded to buy muslins but never found any use for them apart from as dusters.

Silicone nipple shields. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Worth buying in advance because if you need them, you’ll need them right away without delay.

The thing about breastfeeding is that what you need more than any sort of stuff is decent advice and support. If your breastfeeding budget is limited, I'd get a couple of nursing bras, some breast pads and maybe a tube of lansinoh nipple cream, and keep the rest to pay a lactation consultant if you need one. Make sure you know where your local breastfeeding support group and breastfeeding counsellors are.

I agree with @DaisyWaldron

Everything already been mentioned here!

But you need to be prepared to seek bf support if you need it. It shouldn't hurt if baby is latched correctly and please don't go through unnecessary pain. Of course nipples can get sore but they shouldn't crack or bleed

Good luck OP

I much prefer sleep bras to the nursing ones with clips - so much comfier and easy to pull your boob out of. Nipple cream and cabbage 100% too. Hakkas are good but I wouldn't use one straight away. You will find you drink about 5x more water than you used to so an extra large water bottle is useful, especially an insulated one.

Haakaa, rather than a pump. Less money and easier. Nursing bras, pads, lots of nipple cream. My first took a bottle or expressed milk no issue, my second wouldn't touch a bottle so it's all on me. Seemingly it can go either way, although if you introduce a bottle early you might be ok (but risk nipple confusion??). I personally didn't get any formula in and I'm ad because during those early weeks I think I would have caved and given up. It's a tough gig to start but it does get better. Good luck!

You don't need to buy anything in advance. Go with it and you can always pop to boots or order Amazon prime if it turns out you need anything.

@Twizbe

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.

I didn't need nipple cream, didn't wear nursing bra (had an old sports bra or no bra), didn't use nipple shields. I think you really don't need anything until you need it or not.

You don’t need any of that stuff in advance, if you need it buy it then. Tesco is 24hrs and amazon prime is a godsend when you have a baby anyway.

Find support, ask your midwife what’s around. Go to a group while pregnant (my local La leche league have been amazing) there’s also a great book by Emma Pickett.

I needed everything with my first baby, pumps, bottles, nipple cream, shields and formula but only really because I didn’t know what I was doing and made some naive choices (with extremely poor nhs guidance)

With my 2nd baby I’ve just needed boobs and nothing else - how do women in tribes or caves manage? They don’t have any of the stuff but are far better supported than modern, western women.

You can do this and it will be such an amazing bonding experience (even if it’s not easy or plain sailing!)

Thank you so much for all that great advice. I failed to bf with my first dc but I was not prepared, no support and lacked knowledge so ended of pumping which again didn't last more than few weeks due to supply dropping etc

Want to be as prepared as possible this time within a limited budget.

Thanks again

@HPmagic I pumped with dc1 as I couldn't get him to stay latched on. Dc2 is almost 8 months and I'm still happily breastfeeding.
I hope this time round is easier for you.

You need at least 2 nursing bras and a pack of pads (I used washable pads), that's it. You might need cream/ointment but not everyone does. I found a soft overnight bra was useful too. Don't buy the nursing bras until just before baby is due, ideally after

@HPmagic

Thank you so much for all that great advice. I failed to bf with my first dc but I was not prepared, no support and lacked knowledge so ended of pumping which again didn't last more than few weeks due to supply dropping etc

Want to be as prepared as possible this time within a limited budget.

Thanks again

One thing I didn't know which I found out when BF my second, apparently with each pregnancy we grow more milk ducts meaning it can often be easier to breastfeed a later child.

It was true for me but unsure if it's universal.

I didn't buy anything. Never needed anything.

Tell a lie, I bought breast pads but never needed them.

But then I figured it'd be easy enough to use Amazon prime/send my husband to Tesco if I needed stuff. If you live in the sticks, solo parent etc you might want to be more prepared, I get that.