Planning on breastfeeding...what do I need to buy?! (first baby)

[FlirtyThirty]

Hi ladies...

I'm looking for a little advice.
I'm pregnant with my first child and planning on breastfeeding. Assuming that this is possible, please can you tell me what I need to buy?

Breast pump? Bottles for expressed milk? Stuff for my poor nipples?!

Let me have it...

Flirty x

I bought loads of special front opening nighties and pajamas and rarely wore them (mainly because they were all like tents). I ended up back in my usual pajama bottom/big t-shirt combo and just hoiked my t-shirt up. Really didn't mind about exposing my tummy in the middle of the night with only DP and DS to see!
That reminds me though, if you are bigger boobed, you might want a sleep bra. Actually, by the end of pregnancy you might want one. I found it much more comfortable, especially when my nipples were sore as it kept my boobs from rubbing on my t-shirt.

food you can prepare and eat with one hand - breakfasts especially. You can't have cereal (one hand to hold bowl, one to spoon), you can't butter toast, you can't scrape

boob tubes are great for wearing round your middle and under your boobs when your feeding so they can cover your exposed tummy when you hoik your top up. much cheaper and more versatile than buying loads of breastfeeding tops. They're also surprisingly comfy to wear in bed(traditionally round your boobs)when you might want a bit of suppport but easy access.

... porridge from the pan to the bowl

I recommend hot chocolate (microwave the mug of milk) and croissants or brioche

Only thing I can add is muslin squares. When feeding I would have one of these under the breast to save my clothes from getting milk on when DD dribbled or I leaked! Especially handy when feeding out and about.

1. Small pkt of breast pads to see if you need them. Ones without plastic are less llikely to give you nipple problems. If you really want to avoid leaking, for example because you're going out to a party and you're all dressed up, use a plastic-free one inside one with plastic in. Some people like LiliPadz instead of paper breast pads, but they suppress rather than absorb.

1. Decent bra a little bit bigger than you think you'll eventually need, for when the milk comes in on about Day 3/4, and for when you are around the house.

1. Couple of other nursing bras, well fitted in a bra shop about 3 weeks before due date. Do not use Mothercare - their advice is very variable. Maybe smooth beige cotton for under light tops and a sexy black one, if you're into lingerie.

1. Masses of muslins for when milk squirts all over the place, leaks happen, baby sick and so on.

1. Small tube any old nipple cream for emergencies, everyone has their own preferences, but best to avoid lathering stuff on if you can help it at first, while you find your way around the situation in the early days. Recommend sparing usage until you know what you're doing - one of my friends ruined her nipples in under a week by putting too much merchandise on them.

1. Golden rule - always have some sort of pump to hand in case you get cracked nipples and start to get engorged because you're feeding less on one side - if this happens your risk getting mastitis (very uncomfortable). If you have a pump nearby you can anticipate this and keep your breasts nice and soft, with the milk flowing properly. I like the Avent Isis hand pump but everyone has their own preferences. Battery ones sometimes are a bit brutal with nipples, but as I say, it's personal preference.

1. Another golden rule - get your posture perfect (best pix I have seen were a few years back in a bood called 'Bestfeeding'). Breastfeeding or v-shaped pillows can be very helpful with this, as can a copy of the Yellow Pages underneath your feet, and a good supportive chair with a cushion behind your lower back.

1. Final golden rule - always have a drink (eg juice, water, nice cuppa tea) every time you feed. Make feeding a cozy little interlude for yourself.

Best of luck!

See if you can get to any bf lessons before lo arrives. I did with ds1 and it was te best spent 4 hours I have ever spent - at least I had some idea what we were supposed to be doing!!

Definately get some breast pads in - with ds1 once my milk came in there was no stopping it! Get measured for feeding bras at about 38 weeks. Lots of muslin squares, a wireless phone and a good supply of tv remote batteries, a dp who will be at your beckon call for the first few weeks! Think they're the essentials!

To add to the list: I'd create a comfortable nursing area where you can have eveything you could possibly need to hand, bar the loo.
Mine was the sofa in front of TV, I bought a cheap coffee table to put in front of sofa where I could put laptop (for Mnetting), books/magazines/newspapers, telephone and glass of water/food, and box of tissues to wipe of excess milk/puke from baby/nipple.

For your water, get a good size sports bottle - no spillage if you knock it while juggling baby, book and water!
Uncle Ben's sachets of microwaveable rice, and fresh pasta for the freezer with some stir in sauces - you can knock up a good high carb lunch in five minutes then.
Lots of lansinoh!
You may want some infacol too - who knows if it really helps with the wind but I find using it makes me feel better .
Boxes of tissues stationed where you feed for squirts and spills.

i bought 2 feeding bras, a tube of lanolish and breat pads. didn't buy any bottles or have a pump until ds was about 2 months as i thought if they were there i would be tempted to use them if things were tough! got a my breast friend feeding cushion when ds was about 3 moths but wish i'd have got it sooner-it's great and i still use it at 7 months. good luck

oh, and one of those thermos mugs to keep your fennel tea warm

Lots of vest tops with long/stretchy straps- for when you're feeding in public (or in front of people you'd rather not see you newly baggy tummy). You can hoik your shirt up and vest down, thus exposing boob for the baby, but preserving your modesty. Works a treat- quite often people won't even realise what you're doing, and means you can pretty much wear what you want.

A V shaped cushion (useful later for the baby to be propped up in) and lots of covers for it.

A lovely, warm soft and very beautiful bed jacket for night times.

More muslin squares than you can possibly imagine.

Some good trashy books.

Lots of credit on your phone.

A multi-remote control for the tv/dvd/Sky so you only have to find one.

Lots of nice food you can eat one handed.

Lansinoh is brilliant. Lots of muslin cloths too. You might want to get some LilyPadz further down the line to deal with leakage but I'm not sure if they're ideal to start with: celebrate your amazing milk-producing abilities and let your norks work out how much to make at first

Get SKY+ if you don't already have it. If Ross Kemp and Kelly Brook can work out how to use it, a new sleep-deprived Mum can.

Best of luck!

Re nighties/pj's - I sleep in just nursing bra and pants so that DS gets skin access - he loves stroking me as I feed which is amusing in starbucks and kind of cute in the middle of the night.

I started out with lilyPadz and found that they didn't co-operate with Lansinoh - although the literature says it's ok. I got thrush and threw the lilypadz away and have had no problems since.... May be just circumstantial....

Definitely get muslins - useful for a million and one spills and also for modesty when you're out and about - I carry two with me at all times!

I don't think you need a pump, personally, If you do need to express a little because you're engorged, you can hand express! I wouls save money on the pump until you decide whether to express. I hated expressing myself. Far too time consuming. much easier just to stivk baby directly on and let them do all the work!