What to buy if I’m going to attempt breastfeeding

[Alanares89]

Hello :)

I’m due my baby in November and I’m going to attempt to breastfeed, I understand it doesn’t always work out and the baby might need to go to bottles, but what did yous do in this situation? Did you buy the big sterleliser sets with bottles and things aswell?

I’m on mothercares site and I see they do the big tommee tippee sets half price just now (there always half price actually lol)

Really unsure on what to buy, what did yous guys do if yous plan on breastfeeding??

Any help would be great

Alana x

For breastfeeding I'd recommend a nursing pillow and bras , lansinoh nipple cream and a water bottle for yourself (or, as I relied on for the first 2 weeks, a huge pack of straws and someone to continually fetch water 😆)... In case it doesn't work out I'd get a mam bottle that you can sterilise in the microwave and a starter pack of formula bottles with teats, plus maybe a few small bottles. You may want a breast pump but I'd wait and see how it goes as they're expensive. Good luck! X

1st DS due in Sept, not BF’d before but really hoping to! I’ve so far prepared by buying: a nursing pillow (currently sleeping with it between my legs: so comfy!), nursing crop tops (Emma Jane brand - one size supports cups B-F, as boobs tend to change size a fair bit) nursing vests from H&M, nipple cream (had to do my research as I’m allergic to lanolin), disposable boob pads, a Camleback ‘Eddy’ waterbottle (w. inbuilt straw). Oh, and I’ve started saving stuff to watch on Netflix! I can’t speak from experience OP, but I hope that’s useful as a list from someone in a similar position :)

Loads of snack food that doesn't go off cereal bars that kind of thing!

I'm due next month and I'm determined to breast feed but do have a few health problems which may prevent. I've bought nipple cream, compress soothing pads, reusable breast pads, 1 nursing bra (to begin with and see how I get on). I have bought a manual Medela pump for once we are over 6weeks to express so partner can do a feed.

I've not bought an electric steriliser, but have gone for a cold water steriliser. I have also picked up 2 x free self sterilising MAM bottles from boots.

I've also bought loads of muslins!!

I found my v-shaped pillow really handy, used lots of breast pads (I had washable ones) and lanosil cream plus I had lavender oil for my bath (mainly for my c-section scar, but also to splash on my boobs, nice smell if nothing else). I'd also check out how comfy your chairs and bed are for sitting and feeding. I had a perfect chair already so didn't buy anything new but you might want some extra cushions.

“Loads of snack food that doesn't go off cereal bars that kind of thing!”

I’ve just had a flashback to the newborn days with DS, I would take snacks to bed with me every night - cereal bars, bananas etc. (Plus a large water bottle.) I was always ravenous as DS fed constantly, night and day. (Normal for newborns to some extent but he also had tongue tie.) DH used to bring me snacks during the day but at night I had to be more organised!

I would wait until closer to your due date and buy some things then and if it works out for you which I hope it does you can return the sterilizer and bottles within the 28 day. I agree with a pp the ready made bottles of aptamil with the teet would be handy to buy and also have a look at the haaka pump which collects any milk that leaks from the other breast during feeding. I have had two babies one was successfully breast fed and the other was breast fed and then I struggled when I was home so switched to formula and had nothing in the house.

Obvs I don’t know how big your boobs are, but if not too massive - H&M do some lovely clip down vest tops. (2 pack - I bought about 6of them! Go for next size up for comfort) I found with breast pads I never needed a nursing bra (win!) plus easy access. I didn’t buy anything else before as we live next to a 24hr Asda.

Oh I did buy snack- so many snacks, one handed stuff nothing to ‘crumby’ that drops on babies head. Capri sun (the full sugar ones) amazing in the night, kept boxes of them under the bed

Flapjacks! And a pump. Definitely buy a pump beforehand.

You know when you're pregnant and research every purchase in immense detail, weighing up the pros and cons? As soon as the baby was here that all went out the window! I was sooooo engorged and needed a pump IMMEDIATELY! Any pump! And it's always as the shops are just about to close, my poor mum went racing to the nearest Boots, begged to be let in and just grabbed a pump and I didn't care that it didn't work very well, leaked milk and was awkward as hell.

I'd say but the Medela, expensive, but you can always keep it unopened and return it. It'll still be cheaper than panicking buying one and investing in a decent one later!

Good luck!

Ps. Don't be shy to use a bottle of formula here and there if needed. It literally saved my sanity being able to delegate the odd feed!

I'm due in October, and I plan on giving breastfeeding a crack.
I've picked up a Munchkin Latch steriliser kit currently going for £10.50 from Amazon (instead of £29.99) which includes two stage 1 teats and two 4 oz bottles.
I went for Munchkin latch as their teats are supposed to help mimic the breast.
I have a manual breastpump as well so the steriliser has room for cleaning that (it was only £8.99 and had good reviews; www.amazon.co.uk/Mother-Sucker%C2%AE-Breastfeeding-Silicone-Included/dp/B073THGR3L/ref=sr_1_17?s=baby&keywords=manual+breast+pump)&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1532699060&sr=1-17.

I'm hoping to express enough milk so that my partner can bottle feed if necessary to give me a bit more freedom. If the bottles don't work out we'll have only spent just under £20

I plan on also picking up some breast pads and lansinoh. I have a few muslin clothes already. Another posters suggestion of getting some ready made formula seems a good idea as well, so I shall get some of that to add to my hospital bag just in case!

We're all different so I wouldn't buy much in advance. A few soft BF bras and pads and Lansinoh is the basics. A good bf pillow is worth it though you can easily start without (a sofa cushion is a good substitute as they are thick and firm). Then see what you need and how it goes.

Actually the best money I spent was on a private BF counsellor. She came when I was having terrible trouble and diagnosed tongue tie and fast let down. Sorting those is what made BF possible, no amount of kit would have helped. So I'd advise to keep some £ in reserve for that if you can. (You might get lucky and get good free advice via HV or midwife or BF group locally, but it's hit and miss).