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Pregnancy

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

Planning to bf...what do I need?

35 replies

dillydollydarling · 24/04/2015 12:08

Obviously I want to be prepared in case I can't breastfeed for whatever reason and I do plan on eventually expressing so that other people can help with feeding, so what do I realistically need in terms of numbers of bottles, sterilisers etc?

And is it worth just buying a couple of different makes of bottles in case baby doesn't get on with them?

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ToddlingAlong1 · 24/04/2015 12:19

I am just buying a steriliser / bottle set to start and then will buy more bottles of a different type, if baby doesn't get on with those. All bottles will fit in the steriliser so can mix and much. I am not buying things like a breast pump or express bags until I know I can breastfeed.

I am also going to buy one or 2 bf tops just to get me started and will go from there.

Do people buy nipple guards or only if needed?

Artandco · 24/04/2015 12:30

Get one glass nuk bottle ( small size), with latex year size one. It's the one most breastfed babies will take

Then just buy a box of Milton tablet and can cold sterilise with them in any bowl/ tub in house. No need to buy an actual steriliser

I also bought 5 ready made aptimal milk 200ml. To keep in cupboard incase I had to go back to hospital for whatever reason so dh had something straight away he could feed baby ( didn't happen but was nice in case)

IAmAPaleontologist · 24/04/2015 12:31

Boobs!

Seriously.

If you cannot bf for some reason then the hospital will provide formula initially.

It is recommended to not express until you have bf established and you supply has settled down. Otherwise you'll just be stimulating more milk production every time you express which isn't ideal for you.

Also, it is far better for baby to have a dedicated person giving feeds and not have other people doing it. Other people can help with bath time, anppies, cuddles, taking baby for walks, doing your washing, making you dinner. REally, if you want to bf then it is better for oyu and baby to support you to feed rather than take over the feeding.

If later on down the line you want to introduce a bottle then generally speaking the ones that come with sterilisers etc are a pile of cack as they are very stiff. Plus they are expensive. You don't need all that stuff. Cheap bottles like oyu get int eh chemist with latex teats are jsut fine. YOu can sterilise in an ice cream tub and a milton tablet,cold water sterilising is great. fill the tub, stick the bottle in, ready in 20 min and can stay int he water for 24hrs until needed.

As for pumps etc, it varies. Hand expressing is great too and many peope find it much better than a pump. You should be shown how ot hand express before discharge so make sure you ask.

What I'm trying to say is don't go out and buy a load of stuff. Unless you are really isolated then you can get it as and when you need it. All you need to bf is one breast. You don't even need 2! Some comfy crop top style bras are a good idea until your supply and therefore size has settled and some breast pads for leaking, though not everyone leaks so don't go mad, again, you can always buy more if you need them. People will say you need lansinoh but you only need it if you have trouble with positioning and attachment and get sore,with good support then you shouldn't and if you do then your MW should be able to give you some samples!

applecatchers36 · 24/04/2015 12:33

The national childbirth book of breast feeding was very helpful

PotteringAlong · 24/04/2015 12:35

Don't buy anything - supermarkets are open 24 hours. You will never be stuck if you need it.

Buy lasionah cream - purple tube, expensive but genius and you are good to go!

PotteringAlong · 24/04/2015 12:36

If you're expressing milk then you don't need to sterilize - it's only formula you need to sterilize for.

PotteringAlong · 24/04/2015 12:37

And yes about positioning and lasionah - 1 tube lasted me 2 children and being used as lip balm!

Passionwagon · 24/04/2015 12:42

Lasionah. Great stuff, expensive but worth having. And a breast. Everything else you can buy very quickly and easily if you need it.

gallicgirl · 24/04/2015 12:49

Get a night light so you can see to feed during the night without turning a lamp on.
Comfy cushions or pillows as you will be spending hours sitting down to feed.

EdYouKateShaun · 24/04/2015 12:51

Boobs.
Lansinoh.
Breast pads.
A lidded, insulated coffee cup.
A new box set to watch.
Nursing bras.

SweepTheHalls · 24/04/2015 12:52

I would suggest Muslins to tuck under your boob and mop up any spilt milk, and a decent on demand service for box sets, a kindle with light and decent data plan for your phone!

ApplesTheHare · 24/04/2015 12:59

Second (or is it third?) lansinoh, and I wouldn't bother buying anything in advance, you can get formula and bottles anywhere almost any time if you need them. I'd also say that for getting baby to take to a bottle, one of the best things you can do is get Dad to persevere with it rather than buying fancy equipment.

The only thing I'd add is that expressing is a pain. The time you think you'll gain by others feeding the baby is more than taken up by expressing, and if you don't express when you'd usually feed your boobs end up like rocks... It's all fun and games Grin Good luck with it all Thanks

PennyJennyPie · 24/04/2015 13:07

BF is one of the most difficult and the most wonderful things I have done. You need patience and perseverance. I agree with the people above, you don't need anything besides your boobs, however I would recommend the following:

Nipple shields
Lansinoh
Couple of cheap vest tops to wear under your normal tops, I got Primark and still use them 2 years later.
Breast feeding bra

If you have the budget I would recommend the "Mybreastfriend" breastfeeding pillow.

knittingirl · 24/04/2015 13:07

Best thing I got was a kindle so I could read as many books as I wanted one handed :) it has a backlight too, so could read during night feeds.

I second (third?) the people who have said don't rush to buy lots of stuff now. If you can't feed for some reason in hospital, they will give you some formula. After that, supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. The chances are though, that you'll be fine :) there are many many women who have their babies, and feed them, with no or only easily resolvable issues - we just tend to hear more about those who have struggled.

If you choose to express in the future, I would look for a pump at that point rather than splashing out now - you may find hand expressing the easiest, especially if you are only expressing the odd feed, or change your mind about expressing, and not need a pump at all.

YesILikeItToo · 24/04/2015 13:18

My top tip is that you need to keep the advice line phone numbers they give you in a safe place.

I think you should do the research on a breast pump, steriliser, brands of bottle or formula etc, but not buy them. While it is true that shops are open 24 hours, the early days with your precious first born are no time to be trying to read consumer reviews if you find you have an urgent need of something. Smile

LastOneDancing · 24/04/2015 13:33

I was one of the unfortunate ones that struggled.
So while I agree there's no need to go and buy loads of stuff I'd really recommend being prepared. Have a think in advance about what pump you will/might buy in future and where you can get one at short notice at a decent price. Same with nipple shields, decide what make will you try first if you need them, and make a nice clear DP-proof list.

Then if you do have a need for them quickly (my DS wouldnt latch - a shield fixed it on day 4) DP can hoof it to the shop or you can order overnight on amazon.

But fx your baby will latch like a dream and you will just need muslins, lasinoh, a good wifi signal and a travel mug for your drinks! Good luck!

LastOneDancing · 24/04/2015 13:35

Yesilikeit

Total cross post. I really should RTFT..!

Micah · 24/04/2015 13:44

boobs and a baby :) And an iPhone/tablet loaded with video/music/books/tv.

Hospital will have formula if you get stuck (or in my case, will offer everytime they walk past and see you breastfeeding "again"). Unless you're in the middle of nowhere there'll always be a 24 hr shop somewhere.

Don't worry about expressing etc until you're settled with breastfeeding- by then you'll be out and about so can go to the shop.

If I'd have had formula/bottles/pump in the house in the first few weeks there's a high chance I might have given in. Not because it wasn't going well, but because every man and his dog keep telling me I should give a bottle to give myself a break/so DH, grandma, or the dog could feed/to get the baby used to it/as my milk wasn't good enough if I was feeding again/to get the baby to sleep through/so I could see how much she'd had/bf is unhygienic/she needed a top up...honestly the reasons were endless. Much easier to just tell them I didn't have any.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 24/04/2015 16:47

I would make sure you have a pump. The tommee tippee one I had came with a sterilizer and a spare bottle and little pots.

In the beginning I was engorged quite a lot, especially in the night. Sometimes DS was asleep and I wouldn't want to wake him or I was so full he couldn't latch so being able to quickly pump was very handy!

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 24/04/2015 16:53

Oh and breast pads and lanisol

missmillimentscardigan · 24/04/2015 16:57

A mamascarf or a big shawl so you can easily bf when out and about.
.

spiderlight · 24/04/2015 17:09

Lansinoh and a nice breastfeeding pillow. I got a lovely crescent-shaped one with a washable fleece cover from a lady on ebay, miles cheaper than the branded ones from Mothercare etc., and it was worth the world and was used day in day out for years for BF, for sitting him up in and as a snuggly comfort pillow for naps when he was a toddler.

A pump to take off a tiny bit of excess if you're very engorged is useful, as that will make it easier for your baby to latch on. You can hand-express if need be, though.

Also lots of books/DVDs, muslins (lots!) and most importantly quiet time to get the hang of it! Fennel tea, fenugreek and oats are all handy to have in the house in case you feel that your supply needs a boost.

Christelle2207 · 24/04/2015 18:57

I would suggest getting small bottles of ready made formula- you can get little kits made up of 6 newborn sized
Bottles and pre-sterilised teats that are good to go. We had a big panic at about 3 am on day 3 when my son was desperate for milk yet I didn't have enough.

And our nearest 24h tesco is half an hour away. That's quite a long way when your newborn is screaming.
Don't bother getting a Steriliser yet-
Bulky annoying things.
Get milton tablets and maybe one or two bottles. You may not need a pump so would not get one of those in advance either.

ChocolateIsMySleep · 24/04/2015 19:15

I would seek out your local breastfeeding support group and go along in your last few weeks of pregnancy. Mine was amazing! I struggled to get my first to latch but I got so much help and support that I ended up training as a peer supporter as I really wanted to give something back. I ended up EBFing and feeding until 18 months and I wouldn't have done it without support Smile

They can usually lend you a breast pump if needed (for a week or two but will help you decide if you need to buy one) and will have loads of books to borrow. It's also a good place to get used to getting your boobs out in public for the first few times!!

Gr33dyeggs · 24/04/2015 19:45

I was advised by the midwife not to buy any formula if I wanted to give bf a good go. But I understand your preparedness.

Other things to add - I just bought a couple of cheap vest tops that I could wear underneath other tops so one came up and the other down. Preferable to expensive tops in my opinion.

Also I was told to just squeeze some milk on the nipples and let them air dry to prevent soreness (window cleaner and posty had some interesting views).

Good luck. If successful bf is an amazing achievement.

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