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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What to buy - Breastfeeding

23 replies

MrsB2005 · 02/02/2024 09:13

Please be respectful in your replies - I'm feeling very "wobbly" at the moment partly due to pregnancy but more so other family issues.

I'm pregnant with #4, but my youngest is 11 so feel like I'm starting again and am at a total loss about what to buy in regards bottles / steriliser etc if intending to exclusively breastfeed.

With my others I brought bottles, formula etc but they all breastfed, this time around I dont want to "waste" money and if I'm able, would like to exclusively breastfeed for as long as needed.

What have others brought / wish they had /hadnt?

I have mentioned to a couple of mum friends and is seemed a mix of you must have everything incase it doesn't work out and dont buy anything you wont need / use and then just buy what you need as and when.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BabyMoonPie · 02/02/2024 09:27

If you are EBF you might not need anything. I think breastfeeding bras make life easier because of the clips and i needed breast pads because of leaking!

BabyMoonPie · 02/02/2024 09:28

24 hour supermarkets and Amazon Prime mean you don't need to stock up just in case - buy it if and when you need to

BabyMoonPie · 02/02/2024 09:28

And be kind to yourself - sounds like you've got a lot on your plate x

Alloveragain3 · 02/02/2024 09:33

I didn't buy anything at all initially.

At 3 weeks I needed a pump to increase my supply when baba was poorly. Got it on Amazon prime.

At 4 weeks I got some bottles so DH could do some feeds. Again, prime, so they came the next day.

I never leaked so didn't need pads.

I don't use nursing bras, I just use regular ones.

Zoomerang · 02/02/2024 09:34

I agree with others - not much.

I’m pancake flat so don’t bother with bras when BFing, and just wear normal tops I can hoik up. I only leaked in the very early days, so the reusable pads I bought were mostly a waste of money. I rate my haaka pump (small and cheap suction pump), but it’s not essential for me.

Good luck!

PurBal · 02/02/2024 09:39

What @BabyMoonPie said.

I rarely leaked so breastpads were a waste. did you have them with your older ones? If yes I’d get some otherwise don’t bother. Nipple balm was probably the only thing worth having in advance. Vitamin D drops for baby are also recommended (although I totally forgot with DC2 and he seems okay).

Alloveragain3 · 02/02/2024 09:40

Oh and we don't have a steriliser as we only use one bottle a day.
We wash bottles in warm soapy water and then boil on the hob for 5 mins.

NewYearResolutions · 02/02/2024 09:44

I got those pads to put in the bras because I leaked a lot. I also have nursing bras, tops and a shawl that covers me up.

I didn't buy any bottles.

NewYearResolutions · 02/02/2024 09:46

I didn't need any nipple balm. I think we are all different. I bought all the clothing because I find it much easier to breastfed in public if I had my shawl and tops that are easy to undo. Both my DCs were EBF.

RebeccaCloud9 · 02/02/2024 09:46

I love love love reusable breast pads. Nursing bras or any non underwired bras will help. Everything else you can get that day from a supermarket or next day Amazon prime. Supermarkets also sell the single use ready made formula with teats that can be useful in an emergency.

RebeccaCloud9 · 02/02/2024 09:47

I wear long vest tops and then any jumper or t shirt over the top. The vest and bra goes down and the top goes up so baby feeds in between - nothing is on show and no special nursing clothes required!

Aozora13 · 02/02/2024 09:54

The things I found invaluable were a boppy nursing pillow, soft nursing bras and nursing vest tops from H&M (which I still sleep in now as I like the shelf!) and reusable breast pads. I have a couple of pumps and bottles that I used a bit, but didn’t buy them until I needed them (thank you mr Amazon). But generally was pretty low maintenance, one of the things I really liked about breastfeeding!

BabyMoonPie · 02/02/2024 09:59

I forgot Lansinoh cream - really helped sore boobs in the early days

Also look up breastfeeding support in your area to see if there are any bistros / groups you can go to for support if you need it. They're run by HomeStart where I live

Flopsy145 · 02/02/2024 10:10

Breastfeeding bras and tops, and the pads that go in your bra to soak up milk especially for early days when you can leak a lot. Nipple balm incase it's a bit sore.

Original poster

MrsB2005 · 02/02/2024 10:14

Thanks Ladies,

Will stock up on bras / nursing tops and possibly a cover up (or is a large muslin just as good?).

I did use breastpads in the early days last time, so will get some again - stupid question but with reusable pads, did you just put them in with a normal wash load?

OP posts:

NewYearResolutions · 02/02/2024 10:26

@MrsB2005 I know some people just use a large muslin. But I can't get used to that. I had a shawl/cover designed for breasfeeding. It hooks around my neck so it didn't fall off. It's a while since I BF so I can't remember the brand I bought.

Olika · 02/02/2024 10:36

I was ebf and all I ended up using were loose tops, nursing bras with pads and dressing gowns.
My friend advised to take a box of ready to feed milk to the hospital just in case and it was a great advise as in the beginning I struggled once but you already know how to bf. I liked having the bottles as a back up at home so I didn't have to stress about feeding.

Richie23 · 02/02/2024 14:29

Loads of good stuff already mentioned. I’d also get the silver nipple covers for in between feeding sessions. I don’t know how they work but they really did help with nipple soreness.
The ready made bottles are definitely a lifesaver too. It took us a good few weeks to get breastfeeding established so we combi fed with the ready made bottles for a while.
You also may want to consider nipple shields - you’re not meant to use them all the time but they really do help with the pain for a bit when you really can’t handle any more pain (though I’ve been breastfeeding for nearly a year and used nipple shields for every feed and baby is fine)!

OopsieeDaisy · 02/02/2024 14:57

I couldn’t get on with actual breastfeeding tops, I preferred a nursing bra under a slightly baggy t-shirt and would usually wear higher waisted jeans so not too much on show, then cover with a large muslin as you mentioned above.
Lansinoh breast pads are the best disposable ones I’ve found, the cheap ones are naff, and the lansinoh nipple balm is amazing.
We didn’t buy any bottles, steriliser etc until weaning DC onto bottles (after cup was unsuccessful) at 6 months. As others have said, bottle feeding supplies are easy to pick up quickly and easily, and having them in already can make it easier to give up with BF during a bad night!

MrsTrue · 02/02/2024 20:27

The only essential in the early days for me were colostrum syringes (hospital gave me some though!), and lansinoh nipple cream.

I did get a nipple 'promoter' as I had flat nipples as well as a manual great pump, but ordered them in prime and that was quick enough.

I had a handful of ready made formulas on hand too, just for peace of mind and did use one carton in the middle of the night once, with the free MAM bottle I got in one of the free Emma goodie bags.

I used about 5-6 breast pads in total, definitely wait to see how you are as others have said.

Oh and PJs or a nightie with easy boob access!

MixedCouple · 02/02/2024 20:34

I didn't get anything. And said if needed I cam send a family member out to buy.
Thenonly thing I used for the first 3 days was the tiny syringes and a hand Haakaa pump which I did use later to make ice pops for my DS.

The only thing I wish I had done was colostrum harvest which I plan to so this time! The syringes are free from the hospital and they can then be frozen.
The first 48 hrs I was stressing so much as the Midwives said DS was too sleepy to nurse so I needed to express but was so damn hard when I was so tired. Had I stocked up for those first 3 days I would have been able to enjoy the time better.

MixedCouple · 02/02/2024 20:37

I never got nursing tops I wear baggy clothes and lounge things. But it was soooooo annoying. When I invested in some maternity nursing tops my life changed. Was so easy and they looked nice to. I found H&M great for nursing sets and tops.

I resisted a nursing pillow and i regret it as using pillows was hard especially as DS liked long nursing sessions 30-45mins.
So this time I am getting a nice flat nursing pillow.

bravotango · 02/02/2024 20:41

Maybe make an Amazon list with a handheld medella pump, some breast pads and the purple nipple cream that you can order when baby's here if you need to. Get a cheap nursing bra (I got a great cheap one from Matalan) and then if you're still breastfeeding after a few weeks get measured and get a couple more! And be kind to yourself - box of formula in the cupboard just in case can't hurt.

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