Do I need to buy a steriliser and breast pump? Which ones would you recommend?

[wondering7777]

I’m hoping to EBF and also express milk into bottles so DH can do some feeds if I’m not around. I assume this means that I will need to buy a steriliser to clean the bottles? If so, are there any that you’d particularly recommend?

Will I need a breast pump as well and again, does anyone have any recommendations?

Its not recommended to pump before 6 weeks unless advised by a healthcare professional. I pumped early on as my DS was ng fed for a few days and I kept it up maybe once a day when I got home from hospital and did the odd bottle while I was gaining confidence feeding out and about.

Steriliser wise I had both a electric and cold water milton both which were handy and got good use in the early days. Depends on budget, milton is much cheaper would be more than sufficient.

I was gifted a Lansinoh double pump which I would never have paid for myself (£130) I would have just used my Hakkaa to catch the letdown. Although you wouldnt think it the hakkaa is technically a pump as it draws the milk out under suction so be aware of mastitis/over supply if you choose to use one early on.

Its also advised not to use bottles while eatablishing BF, I made the decision to use a bottle maybe 2/3 times a week from birth, I heard stories of babies refusing bottles and being totally dependent on you for feeding. I did 95% of the feeding but my DS has always took a bottle when needed. Having said this I have heard of babies who take bottles initally then refuse later on.

Good luck in your BF journey!!

If you aren't planning on using bottles much I wouldn't buy a steriliser. You can use Milton in cold water and plastic box or boil for 5 minutes on the hob. Pumps are dependent on how you end up using it, I've got a double electric Medela one as I exclusively pumped for DD to start with but you don't need one like that for doing the occasional pump.

Its not recommended to pump before 6 weeks unless advised by a healthcare professional.

I didn’t know this! I’m feeling so overwhelmed by it all

@wondering7777 dont be overwhelmed, there is a lot to learn but the best advice I can give is to just go with the flow, dont overthink it too much and make sure you have a lot of support around you. The reason its advised not to pump is because your breasts produce milk based on what you baby demands, in the very early days your milk isnt regulated because it takes time (around 6 weeks) for your baby to tell your body how much to make, by pumping alongside feeding you are effectively telling your body to make twice of what it needs which is when the problems can start, ie mastitis. If you join some support groups and get as much info as possible before starting you will be in a better postion. Two I can think of are breastfeeding support UK on facebook and milkmakingmama on intagram. Obviously there are NHS support groups but given current siuation I doubt they will be running.

I used a Medela pump and just a cheap Avent microwave steriliser.

It's also not advised by the NHS to sterilise things that have only come in to contact with breast milk - so you likely don't need a steriliser

I just used an avent hand pump and while I could get decent amount of milk when I did pump, it was so much faff doing bottles (to me at least anyway) that I barely used it but it was good for when I decided to finally let my mum look after the baby for a few hours. I also had a tommee tippee electric steriliser but only because it was left from my first baby. I'm just getting a microwave one this time for my 3rd as its less bulky/just as easy to use. I have got a haaka like silicone pump for this time too as you literally just put it on and catch your let down from the other side when baby is feeding, I got the cheaper nature bond version. Hopefully it works okay as I've never used one but seen amazing reviews and also some not so amazing but not everyone likes the same things, it's just trial and error. I will say I'm a SAHM so a hand pump is fine for me but if you will be going to work or having babysitters more often than someone like me then maybe an electric pump would be a better option? I'm not sure. Hope your journey goes fabulously