MS Tips for Breastfeeding 'stuff'

Sami_Bee

It is often said that the MS way is to Breastfeed because it's free, I'm not so sure so thought I'd share my tips so far.

• Tesco do nursing bras for just a few £s (but I found the sizing awful and cba to try and find which fitted )
• Tommee Tippee breast pads are the best disposable ones IMO, regularly on offer at 1/2 price in Tesco
• Tesco/Boots ultra slim breast pads are a decent cheaper alternative (but TT ones are cheaper when 1/2 price)
• EmmaJane sometimes advertise for Product Testers, I've had 2 bras and 2 feeding tops from them
• I joined the BizzieBaby testing panel (Annual Fee £5) no guarantee you'll get a BF related product but I've had a nursing bra to test and friends have had nursing clothing.
• Breast Shells can help save on pads (and catch precious white stuff when you want to express a bottle) I used them on my 'spare' side when bubs was feeding.
• You can use washable pads but I found them useless :undecided
• Lansinoh lanolin can be had for free on prescription (but you'll need a nice friendly GP or a wonderful MW to actually get one)

Anyone got anymore tips?

jennieshrew

Convert a regular bra into a nursing bra http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/braconvert.html or do what I did and just wear your maternity bras....

pigpen

I didn't buy maternity bras I wore my usual ones unti ltoo small.. then nursing bras in 10 different sizes and wore them on the way back down again.. Do not buy a nursing bra in the 2 months after having the baby!!

Washable breastpads.. homemade with hemp/towelling and a layer of waterproof stuff on the outside.. made from dead washable wraps.. or the waterproof sheet I'd had onthe bed when my waters broke!

HariboJunkie

Cabbage leaves are cheap and vital IMO (preferably chilled) :whistle: :D

neveranymoney

I bought EVERYTHING going when I was breastfeeding my first child, breast pads were a must or I found I woke up in swimming pool like conditions, however, with my second child, a few nursing bras and pads were all that was needed, or maybe I wasn't as fussy by that stage! Ohhhh, what I would suggest, if you are incredibly full of milk and finding it hard to get the baby to latch on would be nipple shields, they really were invaluable for the first while, now I think of it!

3onitsway

Oh yes, the cabbage leaves (but does it have to be savoy cabbage?) My auntie told me this one while she was making sunday dinner on the day my milk came in with my first. She chilled the outer leaves and I popped them in my bra - it was bliss. It really worked.

I always preferred the Johnsons pads, but always found them cheapest in Wilkinsons. :money:

And walking to school once I had a leakage problem and didn't have spare breast pads with me. My friend had a couple of sanitary towels in her bag and they worked as an emergency measure.

Krystaltips

Wear dark colours or highly patterned clothing to disguise leaks when out and about...

wendyphant

Sami_Bee wrote: »

• Lansinoh lanolin can be had for free on prescription (but you'll need a nice friendly GP or a wonderful MW to actually get one)

Anyone got anymore tips?

many of the nice midwives have free samples of these
they are only sachets but they are fab for the bottom of the changing bag. Also if you do get a tube of it you won't use the whole tube. I lost less than a quarter but have used the rest on my chapped fingers and lips and have used it on DS 's sore bum when teething

skintchick

I swear by the Emma Jane breastfeeding vests - I wear them under cardis and wrap tops/dresses and haven;t had to buy expensive breastfeeding tops (unless I want to of course!).

I second the tommy tippee breast pads, they are fab. THe Tesco basic ones are awful - really thick and rough.

You don't need a BFing swimsuit if going swimming - wear a normal one and just pull it aside to feed.

Don;t forget there are the numerous helplines available for advice on BFing - not exactly moneysaving but as this is a BFing thread it's worth putting them on here:

National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212

La Leche League helpline 0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding mothers 0870 401 7711

NCT 0870 444 8708

I think I've phoned them all!!

Krystaltips

Plain vaseline can be used in place of lansinoh... It's a bit cheaper...

My_Fathers_Daughter

Buy cheap vest tops to wear under normal clothes instead of buying expensive feeding clothes. Lift the outer top up and pull the vest top down to prevent any post-partum flesh on show!!

Primark did ace stretchy vest tops (seamless) for less than £2 each last summer and they are still going strong.






Still :rotfl: at 3 with sanitary pads down her bra :rotfl: