Questions on breastfeeding

[lolo78]

I am due my first in April and slowly starting to purchase everything. Just wondering; I am planning on breastfeeding so what will I need? Obviously a breast pump and bottles for expressing... but would you recommend still buying the Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine just in case baby doesn't take to breast? Any recommendations would be much appreciated as I'm a bit lost in the world of milk!

I wouldn’t buy anything just in case. Not bottles, not a pump, not a prep machine. All can be bought in major stores or supermarkets same day or next day from Amazon.
Instead I’d buy lansinoh, breast pads, gel cooling pads, and in place of the perfect prep expense I’d book a lactation consultant for the day after birth

I agree with the above about not buying bottles and prep machine. Lansinoh, Breast pads and some feeding bras would be my recommendation. If you struggle ask for help, if it still doesn’t feel right, ask for some more help. Three out of my four children wouldn’t take a bottle, one would accept being cup fed and would occasionally take a bottle for Dad but it wasn’t worth the fussing or the cost.

I agree with the above too.

When I had my first I bought bottles, breast pump and steriliser. Everything went well with the feeding (second baby is five months now) and I never used any of it. I'll be lucky if I get half price for it all on Facebay!

I agree with above.

Plenty of lansinoh and breastpads. Get some feeding tops and bras too.

Although I was gifted some bottles and steriliser etc. My baby went from bottle to breast with no issues whatsoever. So I expressed from about 4 weeks so Dad did the evening feed and I could get to bed a few hours earlier.

Yes I also wouldn’t buy anything. Buy some clothes you’d be comfortable breastfeeding in, and a couple of soft sleep bras. Plenty of breast pads (Asda do washable ones) and little vest tops for underneath your normal clothes. Lift your top up and pull the vest down.
Maybe do a bit of research about which bottles you might use, and have an Amazon list set up just in case.

I also agree with everyone else! I've got four kids, breastfed them all. I stocked up on breast pads, nipple cream and muslin squares. I always thought if breastfeeding wasn't going to work for whatever reason I would cross that bridge when I came to it. Saved me an absolute fortune :)

I agree, buy nothing apart from Lanisoh and breast pads. Everything else can be amazon primed if needed.

Lansinoh
Breastpads
Feeding bras / tops (3 if each?)

Spend any extra money you have on batch cooking it good quality ready meals for after the birth

No need for bottles etc. You can get them pretty sharpish if you decide to switch to formula, so don't waste the money buying them just in case.

Agree with everyone above.

The only other thing I’d suggest is two water bottles! One within reach at either side when the baby falls asleep! Oh, and biscuits - all the biscuits!

I’d buy a decent nursing bra, breast pads and nipped cream. I definitely wouldn’t buy a prep machine as you may never use it and it’d be an expensive thing to buy then not use. I’d also wait until you’ve had baby to buy a pump as you’re unlikely to express straight away and you’ve got plenty of time to buy one.
I bought a little formula starter pack (includes bottle teats) as it made me feel calmer to know I had it but I other people I know have said that they prefer to not have any formula so they aren’t tempted to use it

I’d also recommend a secure lidded cup so you can still drink hot drinks

I agree with nipple cream. You don't need a breast pump and shouldn't use one for at least 6 weeks as it can effect your supply. Same with bottles and dummy.

I would add a breast feeding pillow, a small step or foot stool and a little reading light.

No pump. No bottles. They are completely unnecessary at first, and if you're like me, you'll never use them. The chances are excellent that breast feeding will go very well for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding pillow (boppy or similar)
Insulated lidded cup
Hydrogel breast pads (absolute miracle workers!)

Agree with everyone else and I’d add an extra charger for the room you’ll be doing night feeds in and an extra long cord if needed to reach the plug

I bought a nipple shield because I heard them talked about on TV shows. I ended up need it too which was handy bit that was because DS was prem and my nipple was too big. He was off the shield in 3 months so I skipped the bleeding/sore nipple phase which I'm happy about.
I think don't buy things you think you might fall back on if you have a difficult night, because it's so easy to just stop when it's 3am and you've had no sleep, your partner is snoring his head off and you feel like your face is swollen.

I wouldn't buy anything. I don't use a pump, or bottles. My understanding is that perfect prep machines don't prepare the formula safely. I have a starter newborn set of bottles and a packet of formula that has hardly been used, I use the bottles for water now dd is 11 months.

Oh get Netflix, that'll be what you need most!

A thermos mug, lanisoh, and some nursing vest tops (I got a three pack from amazon with pads in the cups and basically live in them on rotation). I wish I’d got more nursing friendly clothes before I had the baby and still had the time and headspace to shop.

You shouldn’t properly pump until breastfeeding is established because it can mess with your supply. I did (because my baby has/had reflux and a CMPA and was nursing every hour, 24 hours a day and I desperately needed sleep) and I now have an oversupply issue. I’d wait and see what happens before you shell out for a proper pump. But a silicone Haakaa style milk catcher and a pack of milk bags for the freezer will be helpful for the first few weeks so you don’t lose any precious bits of milk on let-down.

I would get the lanisoh, the cushion and the breast pads sorted. Also a good box set or two and some snacks are also good.

In all honestly, if you really want to breastfeed I wouldn't bother with the bottle feeding stuff yet as you can get it really quickly if needed. From my experience of mums who bought it all straight away, they didn't end up breastfeeding last a couple of days. Obviously fed is best but breastfeeding can be hard in the beginning, I know if i had bottles and formula right there waiting I probably would have given up after a couple of days.

What a great thread. I totally agree that setting aside money for specialist advice / support / tongue tie assessment if you need it is a brilliant idea. Find a La Leche League group or similar so you have a first port of call.

Don't underestimate how little some professionals know about breastfeeding, and how poor the advice you get from NHS services may be. (Obviously you could get lucky and find fab support in hospital and the community but it's a lottery).

Can you tell I'm a bit jaded? I'm a few weeks into breastfeeding DC2 and the amount of bad / incorrect advice I've been given has been absolutely shocking.

My daughter never took the bottle and I never pumped ever.
So pads, bra. Done.

Great thread, have read with interest. I am wondering how likely a problem with tongue tie is.

Great advice, and yes I'd keep the extra money to pay for a lactation consultant if needed.

@brightbird - I have no idea how common it is, but my DS was TT and was not noticed until about 6 weeks I think?