What to buy when breastfeeding

[Dominos21]

I’ve decided on breastfeeding when baby gets here, although I’m not sure on what to buy. Anyone recommend anything ? There seems to be an awful lot to buy for breastfeeding but is there any ESSENTIALS I really need Thank you x

A comfy nursing bra, I liked the bravado ones as they are reasonably supportive yet stretchy and comfy but not specifically sized so being as you have no idea what size your boobs will be that’s handy to start with.

Button up pjs (not special nursing ones - just some night attire or lounge about clothes where you can quickly and easily access).

Lansinoh purple cream.

I didn’t buy anything else until a few weeks later when I was sure it worked for me, then a bought a pump (from eBay).

I reality all you need is your own body and comfy clothes that allow access without too much hassle. Box sets are helpful, as is a DH who helpfully provides food and drink when you are stuck on the sofa feeding all evening during cluster feeds.

I like giant muslins to cover up with and to catch the sick, but I suspect that’s needed for any type of feeding!

Best of luck. Xx

A good box set to watch and always make sure everything is in your reach. Also second the purple cream.

If you are thinking about expressing/mixed feeding in the future, i found sterilising with milton much easier for small amounts of bottles/ equipment rather than a large bulky steriliser

Breast pads to absorb leakage, I personally like reusable ones.

Lansinoh nipple cream in the purple tube

Some healthy snacks and a water bottle to keep by your bedside or wherever you are likely to be feeding.

I personally also got a milkies milk catcher and a hakaa breast pump because I had an awful lot of leakage. I wouldn't bother getting them beforehand though, I would only get them after your supply establishes so you know if you will have much leakage.

Lansinoh purple cream is a must you can start using it straight away even before it starts to get a little sore. A comfy feeding bra for when out feeding but you can wear sports bras at home as you don’t need to be discreet. I like large vest tops under all my tops so I don’t have to get my stomach out and can just pull them down. Breast pads as leaking is annoying. You don’t need much really.

I don't think you need to buy much for breastfeeding at all. As PP have said comfy and accessible clothes, big muslins and lanisoh nipple cream. Other than that a nursing pillow might useful. It really helped me with holding my DS when in bed and for long periods of time because he was a long feeder.

A comfy nursing bra, and a feeding pillow are my must haves!

14 months into feeding my ds. Here's what I bought:

• 4 nursing bras (2 for day wear from new look and a couple of night ones from mothercare)

• nipple cream but use sparingly and only if skin is cracked or very sore as the skin needs to breathe. This was advice I heard from an experienced breastfeeding counsellor.

• boots reusable breast pads

• a big water bottle as staying hydrated is key

• a mountain of snacks as staying well fed yourself is key! I kept a stash in my bedside drawer and a stash by the sofa for ease of access in newborn days

• painkillers (not specifically bf related but an essential imo)

• a book or research online. I read breastfeeding for dummies and attended a breastfeeding class for mums to be. Is there such a class in your area? Try and suss our your area in general before baby is born e.g is there a breastfeeding support group etc.

I think that was it. Didn't really bother with a special nursing pillow but some people swear by them. Also not a thing to buy but watch Emily Norris breastfeeding tips on YouTube!

Lanisoh! It's the best.

I found nipple shields really good for getting past the initial painful phase. I used the medela ones.

I was already wearing nursing bras while pregnant but to be honest, I just went braless and lived in loose vest tops for the first little while.

Breast pads I found uncomfortable and useless. I did use an electric pump (medela swing) but not until I was sure that I was in it for the long haul. I just used a cheap hand pump before that.

Also once you're out and about, a good sling makes it easy to hands-free breastfeed on the go. You can feed baby while walking around the shops, museums etc without having to stop and sit down and the sling makes it very discrete.

I really recommend the baba sling or similar for easiest breastfeeding (i think they don't sell them in shops anymore but you can get them on ebay).

Also if you just wear cheap vests under your existing tops you don't need to splash out on special clothes.

Nursing bra, breast pump, cover 😊

Nursing bras, washable breast pads, cream,

For clothes I recommend right fitting vest tops then a looser top over the top, you can pull the looser top back for modesty

50 million Muslims. Some shit novels to read and or Netflix or amazon. Some primark stretchy strapped vests to wear under everything. That's all

Washable breast pads. Nursing bras. Stretchy vests. Lansinoh. Dairy Milk. Flapjacks. Battery pack for your phone. Jelly Babies. Sports water bottle. Suction pump thing (Hakaa? Don't quote me on the name) for your other boob. Brownies.

Hydrogel breast pads, honestly they're fantastic and help with the initial bit where it can be quite sore.

A feeding pillow (I got a boppy but there are lots out there)

An insulated mug with a secure lid or no spill - vital when you want a warm cuppa and you're stuck cluster feeding

Once we were established and everything settled, I got underwired feeding bras from Hot Milk

I bought strappy vests and wore them under baggy t shirts instead of buying feeding tops. Found that way easier to navigate!

Best of luck, it's hard so be kind to yourself - don't forget persevere as long as you're ok, if you're not ok remember formula is not poison so don't feel like you've failed if you use that.

Thank you all. This is all really useful

Nursing bra, vest tops under t-shirts, nipple cream, a lidded insulated cup (and make sure DP fills it before leaving for work!), a mountain of snacks and a water bottle. I tried reusable pads but they really irritated me, cheap ones didn't catch the leaks but the lansinoh ones, although expensive, were great. I also made good use of my nursing pillow and when I didn't need it anymore it was great for tummy time for the little one.

I second seeing if there are any support groups near you (I went to one 3 days before having my DS).

Bamboo washable pads were lovely. You can buy a y shaped pillow with pillowcases in dunhelm - worlds perfectly as a nursing pillow and is cheap. Less than a tenner I reckon.

The other thing you need most on a bf journey is knowledge. Around 6 weeks is the hardest but once you get past that you feel like superwoman I promise.

Comfy bras and breast pads are all you really need to buy! I had large muslins for feeding in public as I feel more comfortable covered but that is not a necessity for everyone.

Nursing bra and reusable breast pads. You don't need anything else special, that's part of the beauty of it.

Another vote for the purple cream here, miracle stuff.
Also just what a lot of others have said in comfy easy access tops and everything within reach when you settle down to feed.
I was often left with the remote control on the other side of the room and coronation street on the TV, worse nightmare!
Good luck with your little one

A comfy nursing bra (doesn't have to be expensive, Asda do a pack of 2 for £10 which are very comfy!)

A flask or water bottle is useful, especially when cluster feeding! Something like a Chilly bottle which keeps drinks hot or cold is fab, and can obviously use it when out and about too.

A dressing gown if you don't have one already, not directly BF related I guess, but during night feeds it's so cosy.

Breast pads and nipple cream, I would just get a few to start with as you don't know if you'll need to use them for long.

Pick some box sets and films you have been wanting to watch and make a list, I was so tired at the time I never knew what to watch.

Prep some meals or get some easy to cook freezer food beforehand, it will make life so much easier in the early days! Plus some oatcakes, oats (if you like porridge) as theyre handy snacks and also supposedly help with supply.

Muslin cloths for cleaning up milk/spit up are so handy.

Anything else you can buy as and when you need it, if you find you do need/want a pump a lot of hospitals rent them out for cheap (here you just pay £5 for the sterile parts); and if you decide you want to use a Hakka or some bottles etc can order for next day delivery. A comfy cushion is also useful, although I found one I already had was fine.

Nursing bras, a pump - I got one from amazon called real bubee. It was like 22 quid or something and as good as the medela that I used in hospital, I am considering getting the elvie wireless pump now DS is older and more mobile because I can't stay attached to a wall, nursing pads for the early days, A HAAKAA- you will squirt milk from your other boob when feeding and it's great to collect it. Milk bags or bottles. I wouldn't worry over feeding bottles till LO is here because they're choosy for sure and you probably won't even use one for a good month or so, maybe even longer. We bought everything from Dr browns, to Tommy tippee to NUK natural ergonomic glass bottles, but if you do get bottles you'll need either microwave sterilising bags or a steriliser that plugs in.

Any cream with lanolin in is good. I got an N. Spa one gifted to me. You can also get those gel pads you put in the freezer which will cool your sore nipples because they may get sore.

Also before your baby is here do find your local breastfeeding support group. I love mine. Would have given up on day 5 because of the pain. Cried through every feed and even pushed DS away a few times till I went to this group and it was like my chakras were realigned and there was suddenly no pain. Great resource to use. They're being closed because not as many people are using them so please do go.

And like Tippety says, get freezer meals. It's next to impossible to cook when you might be called to for feeding.

That or make sure your DH is on the ball with cooking. If he has any days off, be sure to meal prep together. Makes such a difference to your quality of life.

I would recommend the long sleeved B-shirts and also bf tops from JoJo man Bebe. I have big boobs so normal tops would have left me very exposed in public.

Multimam compresses for cracked nipples. But don't use them according to instructions (leave them on for at least half a day each time until you put on a new one, do this for several days)
Go to a bf group locally before you give birth. I don't consider myself a group type person but their support will see you through any issues.
Good sources of info- kellymom website, anything by Dr Jack Newman.
I would also look at any books by Professor Amy Browne, her book on starting solids is a sanity saver. Her new book"Informed is best" looks really interesting.