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Danielle1024
LIF Infant
Member since 6/14 75 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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BF question
I apologize if this is a silly question but what I don't know about breastfeeding could fill the Grand Canyon lol..... What products would I need for BFing- obviously a pump but what kind of bottles are needed and anything else you might know of? TIA!
ETA- Maybe I should post this on the Parenting Board as well?
Message edited 9/13/2014 9:33:51 PM.
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Posted 9/13/14 9:32 PM  |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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BF question
I found the book Breastfeeding Made Simple so helpful to understand how everything works. As far as stuff, lanolin or some other nipple cream, breast pads, nursing bras and or tanks, vitamin d drops for the baby. If you're going to pump, storage bags (the lansinoh breast pads usually came with a pack of them). Other than that, dedication and the number for a great LC are most helpful in the first few weeks!
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| Posted 9/13/14 9:44 PM |
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Maybe-Baybe
My Sunshine
Member since 7/12 3415 total posts
Name:
My only Sunshine
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Re: BF question
Get into contact with a lactation consultant. They will be able to help a lot. You can also visit Kellymom.com for info.
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| Posted 9/14/14 3:25 AM |
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MrsS6510
2 girls?!?!?
Member since 9/10 3318 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: BF question
If you plan to pump, you'll want:
A good double electric pump
Storage bags
Nursing pads (disposable AND washable)
Lanolin
Nursing bra
Hands free pumping bra
Extra pump kits
Battery pack for your pump (in case you need to do it somewhere you don't have a power supply, i.e. car)
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| Posted 9/14/14 8:29 AM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: BF question
I'd actually say wait and see. I tried BFing for a couple of weeks but never produced enough milk and DS wasn't gaining weight. I had to supplement and then quickly just went to FF since DS was so much happier that way. I bought a whole bunch of stuff I never even needed.
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| Posted 9/15/14 3:57 PM |
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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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BF question
If you want to EBF (no pump) then you don't need anything. Well, maybe those anti-leak boob pads and a comfy bra.
If you want to pump, you'll need:
-- pump (def get the double pump)
-- pump parts (which are sold separately)
-- bottles / nipples
That's really it ... you can pump directly into the bottles and feed your LO with that.
If you want to freeze it, you will need the BM storage bags. I never got that far since I never produced enough.
Optional items:
-- nipple cream (I actually only used the sample sized one that the hospital gave - never needed any more than that)
-- if you need to carry your pump with you (ie: to work), you may want to get a bag for it (some come with one)
-- You'll probably want to buy extra pump parts at some point, but I wouldn't do that just yet
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| Posted 9/15/14 4:17 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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BF question
Nipple cream (lanolin)
Cooling pads
Double electric pump and hands free bra
Nursing bras
Persistence and perserverance
People who will support you
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| Posted 9/15/14 7:02 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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BF question
I ebf, but pump for when I'm at work
Things I've used:
Nursing pads (dd is 9 weeks and I still leak an insane amount)
I only used lanolin for less than a week
A pump
Nursing bras, but I've also just work a regular bra and pulled it down
Hands free nursing bra, although again I feel like pulling my bra cups down is just easier-the pump stays in place just fine
Bags for milk
If you're not pumping, pads would be my only real must have.
Eta, I know not everyone would agree with me, but I feel like a lot of it is mental. Formula was never an option for me. I went into assuming the baby would eat constantly around the clock. If I got a break, great. If not, I never expected one. I went into knowing it could be uncomfortable. If it wasn't, fantastic, but if it was, I expected it.
Message edited 9/15/2014 10:33:25 PM.
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| Posted 9/15/14 10:31 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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Re: BF question
Posted by NYCGirl80
I'd actually say wait and see. I tried BFing for a couple of weeks but never produced enough milk and DS wasn't gaining weight. I had to supplement and then quickly just went to FF since DS was so much happier that way. I bought a whole bunch of stuff I never even needed.
This. I bought a bunch of stuff I ended up not needing. Wait and see. Try breastfeeding the first few weeks anyway before helping to establish your supply. If you are only using the breast all you need are a few nursing bras or shirts, a blanket to cover up if guests are around (I thought I'd be embarrassed but baby had to eat!), and maybe a pillow. I like my breast friend. Otherwise you really don't need. If you start pumping, then there's a bunch of stuff you'll need. I ended up never really producing enough so I would nurse DS just to give him some breast milk but he is a mostly formula fed baby.
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| Posted 9/16/14 7:28 AM |
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EnV-McC
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/10 885 total posts
Name:
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Re: BF question
You can use any bottles that you'd like. I exclusively breastfeed DS whenever we're together but I pump bottles for him when I'm at work. I pump into the medela bottles but he drinks the milk from playtex drop in bottles.
The nipple cream was a lifesaver in the first few weeks when my nipples were tender, but I don't use it anymore.
Pads, pads, pads! I leak everywhere without them.
I wear nursing bras now since I'm back at work, but when I was home during maternity leave and even now at bed time I wear tube tops because I just find it so much more comfy for lounging in the house.
I have a double electric pump that I use at work, but the hospital gave me a handheld manual pump and I LOVE that little thing! Sometimes it's just easier to manually pump if I'm a little engorged and need to relieve one breast. Or sometimes if I'm going out and I think I may give DS a bottle out of convenience, I can quickly and manually pump him some milk. See if your hospital has them, I never thought I'd use that thing as much as I do!
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| Posted 9/16/14 5:17 PM |
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MrsG823
Just call me Mommy.
Member since 1/11 5570 total posts
Name:
S
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BF question
I waited to buy a pump and storage bags, etc until I was sure I was going to continue breastfeeding. The only things I bought before my DD was born were lanolin, a nursing bra and disposable breast pads. The only thing I regret was buying disposable pads instead of washable ones (I like bamboobies) because the disposable one are rough in comparison. I bought a package of bottles and DD used a bottle less than a dozen times.
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| Posted 9/16/14 8:25 PM |
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Maybe-Baybe
My Sunshine
Member since 7/12 3415 total posts
Name:
My only Sunshine
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Re: BF question
Posted by evrythng4areason
Eta, I know not everyone would agree with me, but I feel like a lot of it is mental. Formula was never an option for me. I went into assuming the baby would eat constantly around the clock. If I got a break, great. If not, I never expected one. I went into knowing it could be uncomfortable. If it wasn't, fantastic, but if it was, I expected it.
I most definitely agree with you. I used to supplement with DD in the first 3 months because I thought I wasn't making enough milk. She was nursing constantly and I thought I was doing something wrong.
What didn't help was my mom, MIL, and DH suggesting that I wasn't producing enough and so that was why DD was nursing so much.
I wish I knew ahead of time that BF would be hard work and that you have to be very dedicated and strong willed to be successful. That is really the most important thing!
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| Posted 9/18/14 5:27 AM |
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CL2012
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/13 374 total posts
Name:
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Re: BF question
Posted by Maybe-Baybe
Posted by evrythng4areason
Eta, I know not everyone would agree with me, but I feel like a lot of it is mental. Formula was never an option for me. I went into assuming the baby would eat constantly around the clock. If I got a break, great. If not, I never expected one. I went into knowing it could be uncomfortable. If it wasn't, fantastic, but if it was, I expected it.
I most definitely agree with you. I used to supplement with DD in the first 3 months because I thought I wasn't making enough milk. She was nursing constantly and I thought I was doing something wrong.
What didn't help was my mom, MIL, and DH suggesting that I wasn't producing enough and so that was why DD was nursing so much.
I wish I knew ahead of time that BF would be hard work and that you have to be very dedicated and strong willed to be successful. That is really the most important thing!
I agree with this also. You can get the supplies but mental preparation is so important too, if you don't want to use formula. Formula was not an option for me either. I did a lot of reading while pregnant and felt confident that since I got pregnant without intervention, my body was made to feed that baby without intervention. It was hard, exhausting emotional work to ebf. Lots of tears, periods of doubt and lack of sleep. You share your body when you're pregnant and you continue to share your body if you breastfeed. But I expected nothing less and the payoff months later now that it is easy is so worth it! It gets easier with every passing week. A home visit from a IBCLC was also a huge help and wish I had done it sooner.
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| Posted 9/18/14 4:45 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: BF question
Posted by evrythng4areason
Eta, I know not everyone would agree with me, but I feel like a lot of it is mental. Formula was never an option for me. I went into assuming the baby would eat constantly around the clock. If I got a break, great. If not, I never expected one. I went into knowing it could be uncomfortable. If it wasn't, fantastic, but if it was, I expected it.
I agree that a lot of it is mental, but no matter how much I mentally prepared, my body just never produced enough for DS. He was a HUNGRY baby and he wasn't gaining weight. So again, I'd say to wait and make sure you can bf. For me, EBF was never an option.
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| Posted 9/18/14 8:42 PM |
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Re: BF question
You technically don't NEED anything in the beginning when you're establishing your BF relationship. Nursing pads, and Lansinoh cream are about it. A few nursing tanks/ tops as well.
The most important thing I did before giving birth was reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I had it on the kindle app on my phone and referenced it constantly in the early days. I credit that book with helping me stuck with BFing even after my DD was diagnosed with a dairy sensitivity and her ped suggested I switch to formula. I went on to BF until my DD was 2! I'm now 6 months in with my DS.
Expect to nurse non-stop in the beginning, nurse on demand to establish supply and ignore anyone telling you to get the baby on a schedule. Just get comfy and nurse the baby. Follow your instincts, and ask for help from a lactation consultant in the hospital to make sure your LO has a good latch.
Some people do, but I would not pump or give a bottle unless you HAVE to early on, establish your supply and a good latch before pumping/bottles.
Good luck, momma!
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| Posted 9/19/14 11:52 PM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Re: BF question
Posted by NYCGirl80
Posted by evrythng4areason
Eta, I know not everyone would agree with me, but I feel like a lot of it is mental. Formula was never an option for me. I went into assuming the baby would eat constantly around the clock. If I got a break, great. If not, I never expected one. I went into knowing it could be uncomfortable. If it wasn't, fantastic, but if it was, I expected it.
I agree that a lot of it is mental, but no matter how much I mentally prepared, my body just never produced enough for DS. He was a HUNGRY baby and he wasn't gaining weight. So again, I'd say to wait and make sure you can bf. For me, EBF was never an option.
Agreed--I was fine EBF from the start, but once I relied on the pump (I'm away for 10-11 hrs a day) I wasn't able to pump enough. So yes, while you do need to be mentally prepared, you also need to be prepared to not be able to control every outcome.
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| Posted 9/20/14 8:44 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: BF question
Posted by Katareen
Agreed--I was fine EBF from the start, but once I relied on the pump (I'm away for 10-11 hrs a day) I wasn't able to pump enough. So yes, while you do need to be mentally prepared, you also need to be prepared to not be able to control every outcome.
So true. I EBF for over 4 months. I've been pumping for 4 weeks and am literally able to pump exactly what he consumes at daycare. I am attached to my pump most of the day... I literally start and end my day pumping. My old goal was 12 months - now I'm setting smaller goals and then evaluating how I am feeling.
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| Posted 9/20/14 8:31 PM |
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