What would you put in a breastfeeding gift basket?

[LupusinaLlamasuit]

Really want to do this for someone about to have a baby for the first time but worried that some of the things I have in mind might be seen as presuming it might go badly!

So I'm thinking of the following:

Breastpads
Card with websites, BF helplines
Gift voucher for nice nursing bra (Figleaves? Anita?)
Two stretchy vests in her size
My old Jack Newman book

And then I was going to have in a parcel-taped box with 'Only Open in Case of Emergencies' on :

Lansinoh
Jelonet
a feeding cup/dropper

Is this last bit a bad idea? What would you add/lose in either category?

Thanks

Fab idea- I would have loved one.

I'd second the nursing necklace for when bubs is a little older and starts to grab her hair/boobs/anything else within reach.

When I had DS I would try and grab a few hours sleep in the evening while DP looked after him. I would wake up at the slightest noise until DP got me a sleep mask and some ear plugs. Perhaps putting them in with a note explaining that they are for her to use while Daddy is in charge so she can try and catch up on some sleep!

An iPhone. Phone, Internet, games and so much more on one hand-held device. Perfect for interminable hours of cluster feeding!

My first thought was chocolate! But would second the idea someone had of a thermos mug. It's a godsend, your tea stays warm and if it has a lid you don't worry quite so much about drinking hot drinks near the baby. Maybe a pint glass for later on (to ensure she stays hydrated). Nice PJs or a nightie, ones that are front opening or vest type to just pull down one side.
It's a lovely idea, if your friend is keen to BF. I would have said extra chocolate should be in the emergency part, but you could put the other things just in the basket, she will be able to work out they are for emergencies, or you could label them?

My mum made me a "new mum survival kit"

Something like this: link

You're a lovely friend.

Can I suggest this brilliant water bottle?

Can use it one-handed, it holds loads and you can't spill it. And it comes in lovely colours. I wish I'd had one when my DCs were tiny, but I have one now they're bigger and they love it too.

Sounds great - I want one too! (I'm still breastfeeding at 15 months, do I qualify?)

Actually, one of the best presents I got was a cafetiere cosy - essential for keeping the coffee warm in the pot while you have to attend to the wee one. Still use it all the time!

When my friend has a baby I put together a new mum pack - large carton of orange juice (to prevent constipation!); lansinoh (as above - worth it's weight in gold - actually almost costs as much as gold come to think of it!); chocolate and nice biscuits. Actually can't remember what else - but love everyone's suggestions!

Go for it!

I was hellbound determined to breastfeed and loads of people were negative, very much you'll change your mind soon enough, so I would of loved a breastfeeding basket as a show of support and encouragement. But only because I was so determined.

Lansinoh, chocolate, baby-booby necklace (for them to look at and play with) and "this side next" bracelet. Also perhaps Lilypadz instead of breast pads? I never got round to buying some, but have heard good things so will next time.

Also I couldn't have lived without my little (ish) v shaped pillow. I also have one baby tshirt with breastfeeding is good type message on it (Care Instructions: Handwash only, love unconditionally, breast feed as required)- but I know alot of people would say that was taking it too far. Its from the Lactivist website.

PS, DD is 18 months and I still BF (at bedtime).

It's a brilliant idea. My experience of breastfeeding was that everyone was so concerned not to 'pressurise' me into doing it that they actually gave no real help or advice. I struggled through not having a clue what I was doing and would have LOVED to have been given useful things like Lansinoh beforehand. It's very hard to get hold of in an emergency.

A sling that you can feed from is quite a good idea for B. F . mums and I found breast feeding tops very welcome. They certainly preserve a bit of modesty: Definitely don't go and buy "an emergency boy of formula" on the first day home from the hospital. It really crushes the spirit.
Breastfeeding tea is quite a nice idea, assuming they like hot drinks. I love the idea of housework couches though.

A sling that you can feed from is quite a good idea for B. F . mums (my mum made me one from an online pattern) and I found breast feeding tops very welcome. They certainly preserve a bit of modesty: Definitely don't go and buy "an emergency box of formula -just in case" on the first day home from the hospital. It really crushes the spirit.
Breastfeeding tea is quite a nice idea, assuming they like hot drinks. I love the idea of housework voucher though.

Corner pillow, and a hundred muslin squares. Lansinoh and the individually wrapped breast pads (way better than tescos)
Trawl on freecycle for a breastfeeding chair and stool for your pal!

aaawww, what brilliant suggestions.

I have decided to make it a 'new mum survival' gift basket but with a strong BF help feel

I have got already:

2 x Muji stretchy vest packs (2 vests in a pack, one white set, one black) No idea what size she'll be so have bought one 10 and one 12 and kept the receipt just in case!

Some expensive disposable breastpads

Some Always Extra . Well. No-one tells you you can just use normal sanitary stuff when you get home do they. And I never had a MW ask to, ahem, look at my 'loss' at home...

Lansinoh (yay!)

Some dry shampoo and nice face wipes (jeez some days I just couldn't even wash...)

Lots of Green and Blacks

I am recycling my 12 million muslin squares

Now I just need a coupla other bits and to print off some BF contact details...

oh I also got her a little unlined notebook and some pencils (she's arty you see) for scribbling notes, sketching her beloved baby, and perhaps making a list of things to remember because she's suddenly become all addled like the rest of us

And I bought her an insulated mug at GREAT expense from a well known US coffee chain. Which was a bit stoopid but I was in a rush.

Would a breastpump be too boring?! I tried two diff ones before finding the right one.

Lansinoh - total lifesaver - definitely not an emergency item (but then I struggled with soreness etc). I was the one ringing those BF helplines, crying, night after night!!

Probably promises of time/advice/support are the best present you could ever give.

What a LOVELY friend you are!!

That I never had anyone like you around!

PP
x

erm... there seem to be lots of choc fans on here.. as much as I love choc myself, cocoa is actually a STRONG ALLERGEN and so is any type of citrus. So I'd suggest, so harsh as it may sound, you stay away from tons of chocolate (esp dark or bitter) and liters of orange juice bc these are likely to cause allergies in your baby. Tho a small bite of choc a day won't hurt. Or eat white choc.

as for nice nursing bras - if your mate is into sexy underwear, try gift vouchers from zodee.com.au or becheeky.co.uk - they stock a good range of HotMilk at FAR lower prices than figleaves

ACtually that is a really good point, esp since her H has a serious nut allergy.

I wonder what the advice is these days about BF and eating nuts/peanuts etc? Since there's some evidence (isn't therE? Am I dreaming this?) that avoidance in infancy might worsen allergies...?

Sorry - haven't read the whole thread, but how about some nice cordial? Like Rock's Squash?

Here's the latest food advice from the Food Standards Agency:

www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/baby/breastfeed/?lang=en

I've also printed out the following:

Breastfeeding Support
The best people to get support for BF are trained, specialist BF counsellors. Not all Midwives are experts, Health visitors often are not and Doctors VERY rarely! You will get LOTS of different advice and often people will say ?oh it looks fine? even if it still hurts etc..
To distinguish between good and bad advice, ask if they?ve done BF training, and whether they fed their own babies (not all good advisors have however). Or just cut to the chase and go straight to those who are able to give good, up-to-date advice: the BF support helplines.
If you?re upset, might help to get someone else to call first (they can?t always take a question straight away). But do keep trying even if you can?t get through at first. And if you need to, try them ALL!
National Breastfeeding Helpline 0844 20 909 20
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers helpline 08444 122 949
Breastfeeding Network Supporterline: 0844 412 4664
La Leche League Telephone Helpline: 0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding line: 0300 330 0771
Breastfeeding Network Drugline: 0844 412 4665 ? this one is good if you?re prescribed something you?re unsure about (often doctors tell you to stop BF unnecessarily because of medication)
If you can?t get through however, you might have a more urgent question: you can often get instant help here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding by asking a question, or using the search facility, or by scrolling down the list of posts for a similar question.
Or ring me!
This thread is good for a summary of things people wished they?d known when they started BF: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/753304-what-do-you-REALLY-want-to-know-about-b reastfeeding
Tiktok posts on this board a lot: she is a trained BF counselor so her advice is usually the most credible. Search on posts by her and keywords for really good advice?

Good BF websites with lots of info:
www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html
www.drjacknewman.com/

Video help ? sometimes useful if you?re struggling to latch on?
Really good videos (of good latch) here: www.nbcionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=13 Or just go to www.nbcionline.org and go to breastfeeding help

Videos (eg of good latching on?) can be found at:

www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_video.html

Breastcrawl and biological nurturing:

Basically the idea that good skin to skin contact immediately (first hour) after birth shows some evidence that babies themselves ?crawl? and latch on without help. And if BF isn?t going well later, trying lots of skin to skin can help a lot also.

Amazing video about ?breastcrawl? approach: www.breastcrawl.org/video.htm

Try also: www.biologicalnurturing.com for some info and research into this approach

This is quite a good, helpful blog: thetruthaboutbreastfeeding.com/missionstatement/

Hi lupusinaLlamasuit,

This was on a thread that I was on a while back and I think its something that would have helped me first time round because its non judgemental - however far you get you have something to feel proud of rather than ever feeling like a failure for not getting further which lots have people have said they have felt. It was posted courtesy of oopsacoconut. Stick it in the basket with a note saying however far you get on the list you have done good...

First feed Helps to stabilise baby?s blood sugars and
protect baby?s gut
A great opportunity for the first skin to skin
cuddle
1 day The antibodies in your colostrum provide
natural immunity from infection Helps womb to contract towards normal size
2-3 days Sticky black meconium is cleared more readily
from baby?s bowel
Instant relief for hot, swollen breasts when
your milk comes in
1 week Transition to world outside womb is eased
Frequent feeds means time to sit or lie down
and for you and your baby to get to know each
other
2 weeks Food and drink always ready at the right
temperature, adapting to baby?s needs
Hormones help you get back to sleep after
night feeds
4 weeks For premature babies lower risk factors for
heart disease in later life Saves time sterilising and making up bottles
6 weeks Half the risk of chest infections now and up to
seven years old
Breastfeeding likely to be easier and you can
go out and about without bottle feeding
equipment
2 months Lower risk of food allergy at three years old if
breastfed only Reduced risk of ovarian cancer in later life
3 months Five times less likely to get diarrhoea now and
a reduced risk for the whole year Fewer visits to GP as baby less often ill
4 months
Half the risk of ear infections;
Reduced risk of asthma now and protection
continues up to six years
Feeling of empowerment at having been solely
responsible for growing your baby to four
months
5 months Five times lower risk of urinary tract infections A lovely way to reconnect with your baby if you
go to work
6 months Lower risk of eczema now and up to six years
old Less risk of osteoporosis in the long term
1 year
Three times less risk of becoming obese by
age six and a lower risk of heart disease as an
adult
No need to buy formula milk at all, saving at
least £450 this year
2 years Likely to have higher than average scores on
intelligence tests
Expect fewer visits to orthodontist when your
baby is a teenager;
Risk of breast cancer reduced by eight per
cent

links to some of the things mentioned earlier- spiggy and gemmasetters mentioned breastfeeding necklaces, this site has them (and reminder bracelets to keep note of side and baby feed wheels to keep track of feed times) www.babybeads.co.uk and www.lactivist.co.uk has pro-breastfeeding t-shirts, bags etc.

I am quite shocked by the food standards agency advice, tbh. IMO you do not need to take vitamin supplements! Also very heavy on the meat and fish, it's perfectly possible to bf and be a vegetarian! And I don't believe they mentioned chocolate

I would have chocolate, muslins, a cabbage, and some chocolate. Cake?

Lupusina Your basket sounds lovely! I'd love a friend like you.

It looks like that food standards website is out of date. There is new evidence that we should be eating peanuts when pregnant and breastfeeding - it says here about the new evidence. I always did as I thought that in the womb and through breastmilk was the safest place to be exposed to something for the first time.

kitkakqueen what a great inspiring list for encouraging Breastfeeding. I may print it to show other mums.

"So I'd suggest, so harsh as it may sound, you stay away from tons of chocolate (esp dark or bitter) and liters of orange juice bc these are likely to cause allergies in your baby"

Fortunately, this is absolutely not true!!!

"Likely" to cause allergies? I don't think so

Bonzodoodah

I liked it so much that I asked oopsacoconut if it would be ok and she said go ahead

Its the most positive b/feeding "thing" that i've read. I'm actually going to print it out for my midwife ( very pro breastfeeding )