Do i need to buy any of this...

[k4mi]

I am 39+4 and have got myself into a tizz today worrying about what i still haven't bought (not much) and whether i need to!

Can anyone advise:

I plan to breastfeed btw:

Nipple shields?
Gel pads to soothe boobs?
Nursing vests (have 2 bras)
Maternity pads (i have about 30 will i need more??)
Formula (in case I have no milk?? If so which one is best?)
I have some bottles etc that came with my breast pump but obviously hoping i wont need those for a while yet.

We are having a home birth so there wont be anything available immediately if i don't have it but we are near a supermarket should OH need to get anything else!

Thanks

I'd say that you might be wise to buy some more maternity pads as you don't know how heavily you will bleed afterwards plus they are useful when your waters go (if they do).

Anything else I would wait and see and if needed send OH out for it. Maybe write a little note with names/ brands on so that you don't struggle to remember what you want in the newborn fug.

You will need stacks more maternity pads imo. 30 won't last more than a few days, you'll want to use 2 at once for a few days and change them every couple of hours. Nipple shields or gel pads shouldn't be necessary, but make sure you have a tube of Lansinoh to help any nipple soreness. I didn't use a nursing vest, just longer ones, otherwise you'll just have to unclip that and your bra, too fiddly. I wouldn't get any formula tbh, I think if it's there you're more likely to use it when you don't really need it iyswim. My last point would be to make sure you have a bag packed just in case you need to transfer to hospital.

Also what about a breastfeeding scarf/cover up thing? Can i not just use a normal pashmina type thing as long as i don't mind it getting puked on?!

I've never seen the point of a breastfeeding cover except to relieve mothers of their money. A pashmina will be fine.

I used none of the above- have you got breast pads & nipple cream tho? (lanisoh best for both IMHO)

One of those u shaped cushions was good for BF too.

Thanks! Yes bag is packed, will get some more maternity pads then and already have the Lansinoh so that's OK and will write the other stuff down as suggested just in case!

Hi, I breastfed and didn't use nipple shields or gel pads. I did get a tube of Lansinoh (sp?) cream for sore nipples but didn't need it in the end

I bought a few normal stretchy vests from M&S to wear over my bras but under my tops for BFing when out and about (you pull your top up a bit and the vest down so acres of wobbly post baby flesh is not exposed to all and sundry )

I used loads of maternity pads - do not underestimate how much you will bleed!!

I didn't buy formula - if the worse happens and you decide to switch the supermarkets are open 24hrs so yuou can send someone out for some!! When I went back to work I mixed fed and used Aptimil.

HTH

Defionately yes to gel pads...they are amazing...and you will definately need more maternity pads within a few days....my DH tried about 8 different supermarkets/chemists before finding any. I dont know anything about formula at all other than if you need it in a hurry most local supermarkets sell the ready made cartons....however...newborns can actually cope for about 24 hours post birth with nothing (i checked this out just in case there was a problem with my last baby, she was about 9 hours old before i saw her in SCBU and got to feed her).
Best of luck with the home birth...cant wait for mine now.

Yes have breast pads and a cushion thing.

or a muslin. I never bothered, just pulled baggy top up

Don't worry about a cover up,I always use a scarf...or,shock horror,nothing.
The vests are usefull for night feeding,I found it was nice to have something supportive on.
And yes,more maternity pads,you don't need any of the rest at all IMO.

I wouldn't bother buying nipple shields or gel pads, you may not need them at all. I'd definitely buy extra maternity pads (and possibly a pack of those disposable pants things) as they would be the worst thing to run out of in the middle of the night!

I'd wait and focus on establishing bfing before you buy fancy vests - it will be tricky to get the sizing right at the moment. Loose tops and a normal stretchy vest / bump band underneath to cover tummy is probably the best way to go for the early days, special BFing tops tend to have teeny gaps for you to poke your boob through etc and IMO are for when you know what you're doing a bit more!

Great, didn't know they could go 24hrs, midwife will be here again on day one so will not worry about the feeding then.

Think i will make do with old vests for now, i have some big ones i can dig out until i leave the house for the first time at least!

I found the shields v useful as bf was soooo painful at first and nipples would bleed as dd had a v v powerful suck. But you could always see how you get on and then get someone to buy them if you need them.

Maternity and breast pads you'll need loads.

I bought formula too, just in case. Also dd was mixed fed from three months anyway.

The nursing vests may be unnecessary.

Tena Lady pants come highly recommended by my MW; better than paper knickers & pads; I found paper maternity knickers worse than useless.

I used my bump bands as a modesty vest when hoiking up my top to feed

Lanisoh breast pads & cream are by far the best especially if you're blessed with an over abundance of milk. I could leak through a washable pad in an hour!! Most embarrassing

The more you feed, the more milk you'll have especially if you do on demand feeding. Sometimes it "feels" like you're not making enough but that's often coz the baby is going through a growth spurt & taking more & needing a feed every 90mins. It usually settles after a day or two once your boobs catch up. If you don't let them catch up with baby, you won't have enough. It goes along in steps. The other factor is that their tummies are so tiny to begin with that they need lots of feeds to get all they need. It does become less relentless week on week until you get 3-4hr breaks between feeds.

I liked a nursing cover - ridiculously expensive - but my daughter kept pulling a muslin off me so it saved me a bit of angst.

Nipple shields sometimes help with a mild tongue tie but aren't essentials unless you're finding it painful. Some BF clinics are dead set against them, but they're worth a try and if it works for you & means you can carry on, then go for it!

Disposable bed pads would be useful as well as the maternity pads. I'm having a home birth too so will be stocking up on those as I remember they had them (thankfully) in hospital when I had DS

hi

I am due in 2 weeks with second baby. This time I have bought extra stretchy big pants from primark to wear over my normal knickers and pads to hold everything in place for first couple of days.

I also have bought some tea tree oil for in the bath- midwife suggested this last time and it was very soothing.

I haven't got any lansinoh this time, as I think I used it too much last time and actually made my nipples worse- they bled when they were very soft- but I may be talking rubbish! I have bought the little rubber shields though just in case, but again I am sceptical about their actual benefit!!

I treated myself to some nice moisturiser and nice shower gel, and some new black stretchy pyjamas to help me feel a bit better after the birth, and I got my hair coloured today so that I again feel relatively human for the first few days after giving birth!

I have bought 30 normal maternity pads and also a packet of the slim maternity pads in case I manage to escape stitch free (but this is more wishful thinking!), and two new deep red towels from TK Maxx that were not expensive. I am also planning on getting rubber flip flops this week incase the showers etc are communal.

leave the nipple shields, they were the end of me breastfeeding as the breast isn't stimulated in the same way and my supply dropped. also baby wouldn't latch on to breast, only thr shield once he'd had that. they do help some people through, but be wary of them.

I also haven't bothered with bottles/ sterilisers or formula- I didn't last time either as I didn't want to be tempted to give up on the breastfeeding too easily, and there is a 24 hour telco and asda nearby if I desperately needed anything.

I have got some Milton tablets which can also be used in an emergency too.