breast feeding essentials?!

Question

Any recommendations on things I will need?

Answer

Nipple cream x10000!!! Honestly I have a boppy and I never use it. I put abnormal pillow or blanket on my lap. I never got a nursing bra I just use my normal bra and pull it over. Also my bra is a memory foam full coverage (from lane Bryant) and it's pretty thick so I don't even use pads I never have a leak problem my bra sucks it up. Oh an for sure get a breast pump. They tell you not to pump and bottle feed for the first 3-4 weeks but it's exhausting to be on call 24/7 to feed. I started pumping at 4 days pp so my husband could take a shift once a day and allow me to sleep for a few hours, also it's easier when we go places to bring a bottle of pumped milk rather than try and find a comfortable place to sit and feed him. My son goes between bottle and breast easily and was never picky with what bottle he took. No latch issue at all. I would also suggest reading about cluster feeding as well as pace feeding(if you do bottle and breast). Cluster feeding is a nightmare and I wish I had more time to mentally prepare especially since it happens at 2 days old when you're still in the hospital. Most importantly, stick through the pain and exhausting parts! It gets better eventually!

Answer

Nipple pads - Get bamboo ones. They're a little more expensive, but I had a lot of nipple damage right away and the disposable and cotton ones both stuck to my skin. Ouch! Bamboo pads never stuck. Totally worth it. (Any generic bamboo is fine, don't waste money on the Bamboobies)

Nipple cream - Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. Lanolin is fine unless you have open sores, in which case you want a lighter cream so the skin can breathe and heal faster. The EMAB stuff is wonderful. Also Google how to make a saline wash in case you do have nipple damage.

If you're pumping, get a hands-free pumping bra. Also at least 1 extra set of pump parts once you know what size you need, because you will be washing those suckers all the time.

I never wore a nursing bra or tank, just plain sleep bras. Much softer and more comfortable. They're not very supportive though, so if you're well-endowed or planning to nurse in public, you'll probably want an actual nursing bra.

Everybody has a different opinion about nursing pillows, and you probably won't know what you prefer until you try it. But I love my Boppy. My baby is 8.5 months old and I have literally used that thing every day of her life.

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Yes definitely a lot of nursing pads ! You could also cut out old t shirts and use them as nursing "pads", it's a lot cheaper too.

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I also prefer the My Brest Friend feeding pillow because of the strap and back support over the boppy.  I mostly use my boppy for the baby vs feeding.  In addition to what has already been mentioned, nipple shields helped me get through the hardest days in the beginning.  I only used them when I was in extreme pain but they helped me keep going.  I strongly recommend having them as a "just in case."      Also, a couple of nice cover ups.  I got one that is a Boppy brand with a strap that goes around your neck and a scarf like one which is fashionable from Covered Goods.  Best of luck to you!

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My baby is 12 months and I'm still nursing on demand.

Pump & milk bags
Nursing bra (no wire unless professionally fitted )
Lanolin
Nipple pads for when you go out

Those are the essentials!

Hopefully you'll get a good latch and won't have to worry about nipple shields and what not. You'll find out soon if you need that stuff. 😎

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Nipple cream! Nipple cream! NIPPLE CREAM!!!!!

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I had to pump asap, I didn't produce milk for two weeks. So definitely get a pump, I got mine through insurance and had to wait for her to be born so I got a manual pump (medela) and it really came in handy. I have extremely large breast so just pulling my bra down didn't work, I had two nursing bras, and I needed nursing pads for about 6 weeks after I had her. I never used my boppy because I couldn't comfortably use it I just sat her on my lap. I only needed nipple cream on and off for about 4 weeks, it wasn't that bad really. I had GREAT success getting my supply going and keeping it up by drinking one 32 oz Gatorade a day, one 8 oz cup of malt ovaltine in the morning and one at night, power pumping (seriously google it), I did end up an over supplier but I was ok with that I was able to quickly build a stash and donate over 16 gallons locally, also helped my nephew get to 8 months of nothing but breast milk.

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For me, a good breast pump and all the things that go with it were essential. Nursing pads, nursing bras and my handy dandy nursing tank top were great too. Oh and a boppy pillow!

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I would find a lactation consultant that you can contact if you need. One less thing to research when you are a sleep deprived mom with a new baby. Don't hesitate to contact them for help. Breastfeeding can be so hard! In addition to what's been shared, I would get a few pairs of soothie pads for the early nursing days. You can put them in the fridge and they feel so good when you put them on after nursing.

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Definitely pads! I leaked pretty badly while nursing my son and also until I dried up after I decided to switch to formula. Creams, a good pump, pretty much what everyone else is saying.