Are they trying to sell us breastfeeding, like you need equipment?

[Fllight]

Sorry if I am being overly cynical but alongside the 'bottlefeeding solutions' kit on offer at Boots, there is this

It looks like such a horrid money making ploy

Obviously many of us who breastfeed don't generate enough potential income opportunities for the big companies

This is going to put people off . 'Oh I was going to, but look what you need!'

Someone did suggest that the manufacturer's 'ideal mother' was one who wanted to bf so bought the bf kit... then failed at bf so had to buy the ff kit. I thought that was probably true and very sad.

Very true Badger and very sad.

God, post natal women are such a target for people flogging crap aren't they? All of them are bonkers and will buy owt. Owt at all.

A pot of tea that refills itself with a biscuit tin that does the same, and a pooter that types what you want on MN whilst you eat the biccies, drink the tea and feed.
(well, sod the rest of the Bfing mums, it's what I want right now!)

Oh, and some kind of nightie that has built in breastpads, but can move itself, to stop my boobs leaking all over my bed cos I dont have a bra on and am co-sleeping.
(DS isnt quite accomplished enough to remove my breast from my bra without waking me just yet)

My kit would include a third arm, choccie (obviously) and Scrubs DVDs which are absolutely genius as each episode is 20 mins long - perfect!

I had great fun walking round the Baby department in Boots with my Mum last week sneering and laughing at nearly everything they had for sale.
That being said I've got some washable breastpads and some Lansinoh in my hospital bag, for just in case (39 weeks today). And some muslins for propping up large floppy boobs (thanks for that tip, you guys!) Good advice and support are all that's needed and that's free! I can't wait to start feeding!

xx

Oh I'm so glad I've just read this thread girls, being a naive 1st timer, (baby due sept) i fully intend on BF and was considering buying this 'kit'. REALITY CHECK. Thank God I've seen the light. I think they pray on us vulnerable 1st timers who don't have a clue what they do or do not need. Of course you don't need a kit. That's the beauty of BFing ffs. Agree with someone saying the manufactures idea of the 'ideal mother'. So easy to get sucked into it isn't it?

well I breastfed and used most things in that kit

didn't cost me £95 though!

I had an expressing machine, bottles, breastpads, breastshells (fab actually, mine used to collect nearly 2oz, ready to bottle up)

I didn't use a warmer though, wtf? and no idea what an 'out and about kit' is

a video may have been useful though

Well you might need any or all of it at some stage but there is a very large chance you won't.

I rushed around the first time buying a second hand steriliser (actually about 3 )and a pump, and so on, just in case the breastfeeding didn't work out...I didn't know, I'd never done it before! And I never used any of it really - Oh yes, I did use the microwave steriliser a few times but I can't remember what for, as he refused to use a bottle till he was over a year old
I tried the pump one day, just as an experiment - got out about 2ml of milk and the next day my boobs were like watermelons so that was stupid
So then I must have sterilised the pump again - yes that's right, I sterilised the pump and all its components before using it as it was second hand.

God, I was so naive! It all seemed like a big new world then. This time it was 'Oh I remember this' while being so busy with Ds1 that I barely noticed I was breastfeeding. I was sawing shelves in half with the baby latched on. Actually that was tricky...

I needed a breastpump to help with my supply and the manual one I bought (asvent and about £30) was crap. Then I bought an electric medela one which was about £60

why on earth are they so expensive???

my manual one was ok, and I think my sterilser came with bottles (which both of my charming children point blank refused to take to until 6 months old but anyway...)

there is a lot of crap for sale though, I agree

wipe warmers anyone?

having bought electric vacuum pumps for non-bf applications at work, £80 for an adjustable-phase adjsutable-pressure pump like the Lactaline is actually pretty reasonable.

No idea why some of the manual ones are so much though - my TT one was £20 and it is ace.

an 'out and about kit' is a kit to ensure that no-one else has the hideous embarrassment of the revolting sight of seeing you bf in public. so that you can feed your baby expressed bm in public with a socially acceptable bottle instead

oh is it?

I thought it was the little coolbag for carrying the pump and stuff to work in [naive]

out and about kit

excellent value

well the medela one worked but at the end of the day its a bit of plastic and a small motor. Its not rocket science

lol at out and about kit

I do remember taking about 7 nappies though for a trip to Asda

you don't think straight with a newborn do you?

I think my law you should be made to go shopping with someone who is already a parent so you don't end up buying a load of crap

actually that may be useful for returning to work? no idea as I had had enough at that point

lol again at the use of discreet

oh so it is for expressing while out and about

tis a sight smarter than my ancient yellow coolbag but I bet the pump isn;t a patch on my lovely lovely Lactaline.

WHY ARE ALL THE ELECTRIC PUMPS SO EXPENSIVE?
bOTH TIMES i'VE BOUGHT ONE FROM TOYSRUS FOR £25
Oh poo, sorry bout the caps