Breast Feeding discussion

iwanttosave_2

alternatively you can hand express, if you place a warm flannel on your breast and first just gently massage the breast to stimulate the milk flow then just gently squeeze and push down towards the nipple, you could also do it in the bath as the warmth makes it so much easier, just make sure you have something with a wide brim, and you may need some practice and it can squirt far. I found that one breast expressed really well where as the other needed hand expressing.

D&DD

Comfy bras are a must I found some really cheap in the sales at BHS I got on better with the ones that unclipped but as finc said do remember to put yourself away :rotfl: I soo remember that one! I did have the avent steam steriliser and bottles from no2 son so these came in handy all I got was the avent hand pump which I found awkward at first but soon got the hang of.I was 'blessed' with enough milk to feed a small army my boobs entered the room around a minute before I did at first :rotfl: this coming from someone who is generally a petite 36A :eek: so I did have a few probs at first with leaking etc.I found best way on a real heavy day was cheapie nappies cut into chunks inside my bra..not very flattering but better than wet patches..it soon settles down though thankfully.I did have the painful boob bit too but fortunately not for long and found the best way to ease the discomfort was to feed him more often and use that camomile cream stuff.Cant remember what its called...Must just add well done for at least wanting to give it a go there are a lot more places out and about now where you can feed so its not as hard as some would lead you to believe although its not for everyone..I bottlefed my first two as neither would take to it yet with no3 he struggled to give it up at nearly 2!!!!!!! :eek: (yes with very sharp teeth :rolleyes: )Good luck and dont feel bad if its not for you (or baby)

randy_4

I bought this 'kit' a few weeks ago. It was £10 less then but still a good deal at this price:
http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/BruOrFindUsing/BruAZOfBrands/BruFeedingAvent/139904?ref=Search

getcarter

I found that breast pads were invaluable as i leaked so much espeacially when my baby was on the other breast, at first I bought disposal pads but wised up a bought washable ones.

jellyhead

my milk supply was poor so every drop was important. baby wouldn't sck so i was using the pump all the time and putting it into bottles. i bought something a bit like the breast shells but i can't find them online. they had 2 parts and came apart, with a pouring spout at the top. they were like drip trays, saving the milk that came out of one breast while i was using a pump on the other breast. using the milk from the drip trays meant baby got a bit of extra milk. most of the women i spoke to had lots of milk and didn't need to save drips from trays, i think they used a breast pad to soak up leaks. nursing bras are a must have.

i bought my pump second hand from ebay. it was new, but i would have bought a used one if there had been one for sale at the time, they can be sterilised so would be perfectly hygienic. at first i used a hand pump but i found the electric one worked much better, again that's due to a poor milk supply. some women don't need a pump at all, they can use their hands to express milk. the one i bought is only £42 new. i looked at the very expensive one and it seemed like a good idea for working mums but i wasn't going to work so didn't really need it.

i bought washable breast pads, 3 pairs for about a fiver from boots, i tried avent and also the mothercare ones. the mothercare ones kept moving about in my bra though, and falling out lol!

if you want to express mik and use bottles for feeding sometimes you'll need a steriliser, some bottles and a bottle/teat brush. i picked up a tommy tippee steriliser for my sister from wilkinsons for £11.99 last week. it can be used with milton tablets in cold water if you don't have a microwave. it includes a bottle brush and some bottles.

Crispy_Ambulance

You don't actually NEED anything. Remember, Mothercare are a business and they make profits by convincing you that you need tons of equipment. You need boobs to breastfeed and lots of support and encouragement and that is all free.

You don't need a breastpump and if you decide you want to express later on, you can hire electric pumps through the NCT, or get one then. It is best not to give bottles until your baby is about 12 weeks old as they can get confused as breastfeeding and bottlefeeding are completely different techniques. Don't be scared by people saying if you don't give a bottle by X weeks, then your baby will never take one - it is different for all babies and is that really the end of the world? You can feed expressed milk with a cup and by 6months old, your baby may well prefer a cup.

You can get nursing bras through the NCT as well and they will fit them, often at home for you.

£100 for items you may never need sounds like a lot of money to me. Remember that women have been having babies since time began and our ancient ancestors managed perfectly well without any of the stuff we are told we must have.

mancitychick

I didn't need anything other than breast pads and nursing bras. I did buy a Avent breast pump which came with two bottles for approx £25 from mothercare (last jan). I did try using it and found it easy and painless but a little slow, but I only really used it 2 times, but that was more to me not going anywhere with out my baby! Fortunately for me a didn't really suffer with sore nipples etc so didn't need to buy any gels, sprays or cooling pads. Cost aside I think it is much easier than bottle feeding .

Poppy9

Am I the only person who never leaked milk? My breast pads stayed in the drawer and I eventually passed them onto a friend. I gave up on trying to express (borrowed battery and electric pumps from friends) and if on the odd occassion I did go out along I just left a formula bottle for DD. I bought a microwave steriliser with 4 bottles from Boots for about £12. The steriliser is still being used by friends 11 years on.

I had a sore nipple in the first few days and a friend brought me some silicon nipple shields. Midwife in hospital berated me for using them but it meant I continued BF. Midwife at home was much more helpful and said to use them for first few minutes of feed. Tried this and sore nipple gone within 2 days so didn't need them again.

Never needed a bottle warmer even after finished BF. I would warm milk in microwave. So much quicker.

Gingham_Ribbon

I shared a breast pump with another mum. (I had it first now she has it and fingers crossed I'll need it back again...) I bought a steriliser and some bottles and they were useful when he was being babysat by granny but he never really took to them.

I didn't need nipple pads or shields. A bit of tissue in my bra did the trick on cold days...

I had some lanolin based cream for my chapped, bleeding nipples though and that was a godsend.

Only thing you really really need is determination and perseverance.

black-saturn

You can buy washable nipple pads if you dont want to keep forking out for them. Also don't think that breastfeeding is the be all and end all. If it doesnt work out for you don't feel guilty about putting the baby on the bottle. Breastfeeding can be very tiring and extremely painful at first.