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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do I need to buy this stuff?

21 replies

McRoo · 07/03/2013 19:09

Hi,

Just after a bit of advice. I'm 31 weeks pregnant and absolutely determined that no matter what I will breast feed. However, I get the impression that its not always that simple and some women/babies don't manage to do it so should I be buying bottles, sterilisers, pumps etc? I feel like it will be a waste of money buying stuff I'm convinced I won't be using but am now getting worried that I won't be able to breast feed and will then be caught short at a time when I'll probably be seriously stressed out and upset and having to make a trip to the nearest mothercare with a hungry baby if I can't manage it.

There are so many lists of stuff you must buy but is it really essential?

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Springsister · 07/03/2013 19:12

No. I didn't bother. Luckily both mine were good feeders and took to bf straight away. Day 3 was tough and dc2 wouldn't open mouth wide enough but I asked for, and got, support in hospital.

sleepyhead · 07/03/2013 19:15

Unless you're in the middle of nowhere, dp can go out and buy bottles/formula/pump/milton tablets etc if you need them. Mothercare not needed - any decent sized supermarket will have the necessary.

ChunkyPickle · 07/03/2013 19:16

Nah, there are 24 hour supermarkets, Amazon delivers next day, just get it if you need it.

I didn't believe any of the lists, I just had clothes for the baby, newborn nappies and a huge stack of cheap handtowels - oh, and a baby bouncer and a pack and play/travel cot.

That, and one of my settee cushions to prop the baby on because I fed rugby hold in the end saw me through the initial baby shock (so a couple of months :P)

I did buy a pump, but it turns out my breasts refuse to be milked mechanically so that was a waste of money

eltsihT · 07/03/2013 19:16

I didn't have any bottles/formula etc in. Ds lost 12.5% of his birth weight by day 2/3 as my milk was slow coming in. Midwife insisted we give son some formula, so sent she sent my hubby out to buy what we needed. And phoned an hour later to see if he was back yet

Hubby now sees being sent to the shops to buy formula etc as a right of passage for new dads.

I would maybe research the bottle and formula you want to use as I got stuck with what my hubby bought, he literally picked up one of everything in the range! And set some money aside to buy them but wouldn't have then in before hand.

ExBrightonBell · 07/03/2013 19:17

I wouldn't bother buying that sort of stuff now if you plan on breastfeeding. If you do need it, you can buy all that sort of equipment from most large supermarkets. 24 hour Tescos is worth remembering if you suddenly need something in the middle of the night!

blossombath · 07/03/2013 19:19

All you would need in an emergency would be a bottle, a carton of ready made milk and some milton or similar to make sterilising fluid. the milton is useful anyway as you can use it (diluted) to wipe down surfaces etc.

I think there is some research showing that women who have formula just in case don't breastfeeding as long but frankly if it gives you peace of mind to know you have the formula then I would get just one carton. I had one, ended up throwing it out

Pumps etc you wouldn't need right away, i found hand expressing milk easiest inthe early days.

Where do you live? If you are close enough to shops that you will be able to pop out easily, or send friend/dp then I really wouldn't worry too much.

stargirl1701 · 07/03/2013 19:20

No. I had major problems bf but not having bottles etc was not an issue.

I would recommend you buy Lansinoh, breast pads, hydrogel pads, nipple shields and lots of cake!

Oh, and read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding before you give birth.

DeathMetalMum · 07/03/2013 19:21

You don't neex to buy them at all. Bf if it doesnt work generally happens gradually anyway so you are not likely to end up rushing around with a starving crying baby. Plus most of these things will be available in any supermarket. Even my local shop 5 minutes walk away has baby milk and bottles if you did want something and mothercare etc was closed.

CareerGirl01 · 07/03/2013 19:21

Wasn't able to breast feed with DD1 and had bought an electric pump and the works. I was unwell though. Poor DH had to go to Tesco at 2am to buy formula - even then we were scared to feed her. This time round I've borrowed a manual pump and am going to try and breast feed - with more help. Like you OP am determined but am not going to beat sky up if Ij can't. However I am going to make sure I have more support this time round.

CareerGirl01 · 07/03/2013 19:22

Sorry that's 'self'

Original poster

McRoo · 07/03/2013 19:23

Amazing super quick response mumsnetters! Thanks! Definitely made me feel better and I think I'll hold off and stick to my guns that I can and will successfully breast feed. This has been bothering me for weeks so thank you!

OP posts:

mamapants · 07/03/2013 19:24

I didn't buy any and am very glad not because of the waste of money but because I had trouble to start with and by day 3 when all the hormones kick in and the middle of the night and couldn't get LO to latch on if they'd been in the house I would have used them.
Few days later and everything in full working order and hard to believe I'd been in tears about it. If you do need thinga decent sized supermarket will stock everything. Also the hospital will have plenty of supplies.

sleepyhead · 07/03/2013 19:29

Yep, I think it made dh feel quite manly being rushed off on a mercy dash by the midwife for milton tablets, bottle, pump and savoy cabbage*

*leaves, for down my bra - had awful engorgement and a bad start, but ds was bf for over a year in the end.

IShallCallYouSquishy · 07/03/2013 19:33

I was adamant about breast feeding too so never got any bottles etc. we were very fortunate DD took to BFing. There were a couple of rough days on first few weeks where if I had formula etc in the house I may have caved, but not having it meant riding it out and by 6 weeks we had BFing well and truly established.

I'm so glad I did and 9.5 months on we are still BFing with the occasional bottle of expressed breast milk. She's never had formula (not that there is anything wrong with it!) and I owe it to my pig headed-ness!

Good luck with your imminent arrival

PurplePidjin · 07/03/2013 19:36

No, in short. Sterilisation tablets are good for cleaning - i mix one up in a squirty bottle with a squeeze of lemon juice to do kitchen surfaces and toys - but you may well waste a lot of money buying matching everything. Some babies only like certain teats, or refuse completely. Breast feeding can be painful and hard work in the early days even if you've got it right, get set on the sofa with biscuits/kindle/tv remote and plenty to drink and let the sucking stimulate your supply :) you can worry about expressing once things settle down.

PurplePidjin · 07/03/2013 19:41

Oh, and you can sterilise most types by dumping them in a saucepan of boiling water for 5 minutes!

Yyyyy to lansinoh and breast pads - it's amazing how scratchy the inside of a bra is Emma Jane do a lovely soft nursing bra based on chest size not cup/bra size for the early bit till you can get properly measured

ChoudeBruxelles · 07/03/2013 19:44

I breastfed but was grateful that I had a pump as once my milk came in my boobs were so bloody big and hard DS couldn't latch on without me pumping a little bit out.

Also i wanted to be able to leave DH to do some feeds so got bottles to express.

kittykatsforever · 07/03/2013 21:07

It's up to you really, I still found i needed it and I bf exclusively for 6 months, I had a couple if bottles as once bf was established I wanted dh to be able to do one night feed so I could sleep longer and used the pump to express that, thereby warranting a steriliser for the bottles and pump, it worked great for us as when I weened dd to go back to work she was never bothered breast or bottle, it also means you can leave them with someone else, I only did a few times but if you think about it if there's nothing but you you really are completely tied to the baby, you can't nip out as you never know when they'll need it and you can guarentee if they sleep through the one night you go out they won't!
Also my breasts got very engorged when milk came In and I'd have had to give dd formula without pump as she just couldn't latch on and I could never master hand expressing.
I think if if remains unused in packets things are easy to sell on on eBay etc but agree you can get things at most supermarkets if need be if you want to wait

Damash12 · 07/03/2013 22:23

Ok, here's my advice/list - typing while breast feeding 7week old!! Vital purchase - paracetamol! For the pain on day 3 and once that kicks in put your little one on ASAP. For me the other things I had was a great pillow called my breast friend - think it was from mothercare but had that from 1st Ds so 4years ago but I'm sure they are still out there and it's fantastic, supports the back and gives a great position for the baby. Secondly, an electric pump (purchased from eBay) didn't have one 1st time but this time it's been brilliant. 3rd lansoline nipple cream. 4th breast pads. But all of these can be bought a few days in once you know if it's going to work for you but I hope it does as it's magical and a great way to for a bond, it also makes you sit down and relax .. Good luck Hun x

craftycottontail · 07/03/2013 22:33

I'm planning on breast feeding but have bought a manual pump and a few bottles as want DH to be able to feed once we've got things established.

I didn't spend a lot though, just trawled netmums local for sale boards for bargains.

MummaPanda · 07/03/2013 22:38

I was glad I had invested in bottles (2nd hand from ebay with new teats) as dd was tongue tied and it wasnt picked up until she was a week old. So she could only drink from a bottle and couldnt latch on. Which was an absolute nightmare in the hospital when we didnt know what was going on.

So even if you have a great milk supply like I did, other things can happen that you didnt expect.

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