[MammaWannaBe]

Ok, when it comes to breast feeding, I am remedial. No, lower than that. My mom didn't breastfeed, I don't have any friends my age with children, so I am really at a loss with this natural way of feeding when it comes to what supplies I will need. I feel like there is an overwhelming amount of stuff I could get and just when I thought I figured it out, I looked at my SIL's registry (she's due a few months before me) and she had boobie stuff on there that I didn't even know existed!

So, what do I need and what is frivilous? Do I need a pump if I am going to be home with the child? If so, is there some special way I need to store the milk? GAH! Help!

[LilHerndon]

Great questions! I need these answers too lol! I plan on doing a breastfeeding class, but we'll be making our registry before then so I should put boobie stuff on there. Thanks for answers in advance ladies!

[michellelb]

I wish I could help but I'm a bottle feeder. I hope you get all your answers though!

[Lacey_619]

I breastfed my last two kiddo's and plan on BF this one. For my second baby I rented a symphony breast pump from the hospital just so I could pump and store extra if she needed to be left for any reason with my Mom or husband. With my second one I bought a medela pump just incase I needed to pump for any reason or to help raise my milk supply (not everyone needs to do this but mine was a little low).
My must haves were lanolin ointment helps with dry cracked nipples, breast pads I liked the washable ones (help to protect your clothes from milk leakage), a few nursing bras, and a coverup(if you don't want to use a blanket) for nursing in public.
If you plan on storing your breast milk you will need a pump and they have storage containers and bags you can fill and put in the freezer I think up until 6 months and in the fridge for a few days. I would just take mine out of the freezer and put the bag into a bowl of hot water until in melted.
I hope that answered some of your questions..

[Angel.Eyes4351]

Hmmm.... I think pumping is where the most "stuff" is needed. I did get a pump... I thought I was going back to work but I didn't... I've probably used it 5 times.... I didn't see much point in it, and I don't have a good output usually while pumping. I just stuck the baby on the boob.... I'm lazy like that.

-The Boppy pillow for me is a must have. (I like to have a spare in the van)
-Breast pads are a must have. I used disposable at first and then got washable because it got too expensive.
-Lanolin cream is a must have in the beginning.
-Burp cloths
-Nursing cover should you choose to need one. I used one for the first 4-5 mo and then ditched it.
-Ive heard good things about gel inserts (like cold packs I think) for Sore nipples in the beginning.... I never used them.
-nursing bras of course
-I like nursing tanks sometimes.... But while nursing I always where a spaghetti strap tank of some sort under my shirt and just pull it down with my bra. That way my back and belly are covered.
-I got fenugreek (its an herb good for milk production) and took 2 a day just for good measure. If I got a clogged duct or mastitis I upped my dose.

Really Breastfeeding is pretty much all inclusive. There's a lot less to pack when going out. Maybe some pumping moms can help on those supplies.

[Lucky Mama]

I have EBF both our kids. Here are my boobie essentials:

- GOOD nursing pads. I like the Johnson and Johnson brand best personally.

- Lansinoh Lanolin cream (great to prevent sore, chapped nips in the first couple of weeks, plus, you don't have to wash it off before your baby eats again).

- A few good nursing bras and/or tanks.

- Nursing cover (like Hooter Hiders) if you want to cover up while NIP. Hooter Hiders are nice because they have the opening at the top so you and baby can see each other and the strap around the neck so it's harder for baby to throw it completely off).

- Boppy (optionalish). I liked mine as a way to help take strain off my arms from holding a baby so frequently. You can also just use a pillow, though.

- A BIG cup for ice water. Nursing always made me super thirsty.

- Good breast pump (optionalish). This is probably more personal preference. I have one and hardly ever use it because I am a SAHM. I usually only use it pump milk if we are having someone watch the kids and they will need milk for the baby. I used it only a handful of times with both kids. Pumping can also increase milk production if you have supply issues, though. I have the Avent Isis IQ Uno and love it (though it looks like it has gone up in price since I bought it). Perfect for me!

- BreastFlow bottles (if you ever pump) - These were the only bottles I could find that my EFB babies would take. They mimic the mechanics of breastfeeding (sucking and compression) to minimize nipple confusion. It worked for my very picky, hated bottles kid like a dream (again, the handful of times we used them).

- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (book)

- A session or two with a good lactation consultant. I have a long story about this. To sum it up: the LC at where I delivered my first baby was super busy and I wanted to go home, so I figured, "Hey, it's just breastfeeding. How hard can it be?" Fast forward two weeks, I was shaking and crying through each feeding. The pain was excruciating. Finally, I had reached the end of my rope. I called the LC I barely knew at the hospital I was a receptionist at and left her a message when she didn't answer. I basically sobbed into her machine and said that I wanted to breastfeed so badly, but if she couldn't help me, I was going out and getting formula that day. She was amazing. She drove to my house, spent 15 minutes helping get DD latch on correctly and ta-da! No more pain. Ever. I loved BFing after that. I'm not trying to scare you with my story, but rather highlight just how much a difference an LC made! A good latch makes all the difference in the world! With my second daughter, my midwife stuck around for a few hours to make sure DD2 was latching on right. With her, I had a few days of mild soreness and that was it. Seriously. Night and day and all because of a good latch!

HTH! Everyone is different and will find that certain breastfeeding accessories benefit them more than others, but those are my favorites.

[marybeth76]

With my son, I had to pump because he would not latch. I actually enjoyed pumping and thought I would do a little of it when my daughter came along, to keep a stash, etc. But I really never did. I just stuck her on the boob and it was sooooo easy. I did use a little manual pump to get a few bottles of breastmilk here and there so hubby could feed her. Not often, though.

With my daughter, I really just needed/used the boob, a hand towel or something for leakage, and some lansinoh cream for sore nipples. It was just so, so easy. When she wanted to eat when we were out, I would find a quiet, private place (I am all for NIP, I just personally prefer privacy). So I didn't need the nursing covers. I didn't use a boppy but I did a lot of nursing lying down in bed or in a comfy chair.

[MammaWannaBe]

Wow all this advice has been great. I just get so overwhelmed with what you COULD buy. I will be a sort of SAHM but will have to pump sometimes, so I feel like having a few supplies on hand, but not going overboard and getting 200 storage bags or whatnot would be the best bet.

I didn't even realize there was a wrong way to latch (see I am so behind the curve here!). I think I am going to try and look into a breastfeeding class for tips and make sure at the hospital I wait for that lactation consultant no matter what!

[marybeth76]

I had a couple of really great nurses with my daughter. They just grabbed my nipple and showed me what to do, lol. Be very open about asking for some assistance.

Also, and this is VERY important. Maybe one of the most important things (IMO). If, in the hospital, they start giving you crap about baby losing too much weight, or being jaundiced, etc. and making you feel like you MUST supplement with formula (in most cases, it is NOT necessary) but if they scare you and you decide to, do it with a syringe. DO NOT give the baby a bottle for those first few weeks. My son was in the NICU for a week and of course he had to have bottles, and that is why he wanted nothing to do with the boob once he got home. So with my daughter I absolutely refused anything to do with bottles. She was so tiny (4.5 lbs when we left) that they would have kept her in the hospital if she had lost any more, so I DID supplement with a little formula, but I used a syringe and just slowly dripped a bit in her mouth a few times. It kept her from losing too much weight but did not hinder our bf-ing relationship at all.

[JennyBaby2013]

You've got great advice here! I bf'ed my daughter for 18 months (I breastfed my sons too but only for a few weeks each).

I did not get anything from pumping. I'd seriously get .5 oz from each breast (I tried manual and hosp grade electric). I'm hoping to have better luck this time with that but I'm doubtful. I did supplement w/formula for those times I needed to go out and I couldn't leave a BM bottle. She was fine switching back and fourth but she did prefer to nurse.

My daughter did lose a ton of weight and was severely jaundice as a newborn and we did the syringe thing. It was a syringe with a tiny tube off of it and they recommended my husband feed her that way w/the tube on his finger (finger feeding) until I was able to get a better supply going. I too took fenegreek and plan to take it again this time as I've always had supply issues.

My must haves were: Lanolin, breast pads, nursing bras, a cover for public and like Brittney suggested a BIG cup for water. I never had ever been so thirsty in my entire life like I am when I bfed especially the first few weeks! I was not a huge fan of the bobby for me but I was also much bigger and it didn't fit around me quite right then so I always used two pillows (one vertical and one horizontal in an "L" shape) under the baby and my arm supporting the baby.

[1stbaby]

I am a pumper. I have went back to work at 8 weeks PP with both of my girls. I exclusively breastfeed straight from the boob at home, but have to rely on bottles while my kids are at daycare.

Necessities for me:

-A Medela pump in style electric double pump. I have limited time to pump at work so I have to pump both sides at once and a hand pump is just too slow. You can get a used pump on Craigslist for not much and then buy all new tubing.

-Breast pads. I have to use the disposable ones in the beginning. I have a very fast and heavy letdown and I leak through washable ones until my milk supply levels out.

-Medela storage bags. There are lots to chose from, but these are my favorite.

-I like the My Brestfriend pillow better than the boppy. I use one in the beginning, but once the baby gets a little bigger I no longer need it.

[nursingmama]

I went back to work at three weeks so I needed a pump, breastflow bottles, and storage bags. If you dont need to pump then you really need very little. I used:

1) breast pads (the disposable ones because my letdown was very heavy and completely saturated the washable ones)

2) lanolin ointment (i only needed that for the first week or two and then all the soreness was gone)

thats all I used

[MammaWannaBe]

so it sounds like some of it really depends on your body (the let down for pads, your baby's ability to latch vs the bottle, etc).

This is all good to know and you've given some great brands to research!

[Angel.Eyes4351]

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a phenomenally good book. I totally suggest it. It gave me so much confidence the 2nd time around. There are pictures too! And I refer back to it if a friend ever has any issues and needs help!

[mal91011]

Originally Posted by Angel.Eyes4351

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a phenomenally good book. I totally suggest it. It gave me so much confidence the 2nd time around. There are pictures too! And I refer back to it if a friend ever has any issues and needs help!

Yay I'm so happy to hear this - I just bought it and I think it's the next baby book I'll be reading.

[LovelyMama]

Thanks for the lists posted! I added some of this stuff to the registry I am working on. You guys are awesome!!

[d_tops]

Great post! This is so helpful.

Another thing about pumps - I found out that my health insurance will cover a hospital pump rental, which will be handy since I plan to go back to work and will need to pump regularly.

[Jmcorso]

Definitely second the large glass of water.....every time you nurse you should be drinking 1-2 glasses of water.....also determination to succeed....I had to keep my eye on the prize the first few months nursing....until the milk supply is well established and baby gets on a routine, the first few months can be a little trying....almost forgot....a good support team...always have a few BTDT moms to rely on and ask questions of...or call your local LLL.

[joellejello]

You've gotten tons of great advice already. Here were my must-haves:

For breastfeeding
- lansinoh/nipple butter - you WILL be sore for the first few weeks, these help!
- absorbant breast pads - I didn't have a ton of leakage, so I didn't try many brands, but the one time I went without at work, yep, you guessed it, LEAK!
- boppy was nice - other somewhat firm pillows work also
- water, water, water - my hospital gave me a really large water bottle, I went through many every day.
- comfortable place to sit to nurse at night - DH moved the glider into my walk-in closet. Since DS was in our room for the first few months, it was nice to not have to walk all the way to his room many times a night to nurse. And I could turn the light on in the closet and not wake DH (and vice versa once we started doing one bottle overnight). We moved it back to baby's room when we moved him to his crib for nighttime.
- nursing bras - I didn't have enough at first, and well, regular ones don't work as well

for pumping once I went back to work:
- good pump
- bottles that baby likes - can take a few tries to figure it out, don't stock up on any one kind until you know what baby will like. I got one of a few different kinds at my baby showers, and I"m super glad I did it that way.
- good milk storage bags - I preferred the NUK ones, the plastic seems thicker (the lansinoh ones felt sooo thin and leaked), and they have a double ziplock (Medela only has one). And they were a bit cheaper than the other two I tried. I used probably 500 bags, and only had one leak the whole time.
- extra set of pump parts - Probably don't need this as a SAHM, but I loved it while pumping at work.

that's all I can think of right now. This ended up being longer than I meant it to be...