If I'm going to breast feed.....

What are some of the essentials I would need to get? TIA

If I'm going to breast feed.....

Nursing bras and clothes, nipple cream and lots of it, nipple shield maybe, pump if you will also pump, hands free bra for pump, nursing pads

Did I mention nipple cream?!?!?!

Re: If I'm going to breast feed.....

A breast feeding pillow. I preferred the My Breast Friend pillow. Nursing pads...I preferred the reusable/washable ones to the disposable kind. Nursing bras, I find the wireless sports bra fit kind to be the most comfortable.

The great thing about BFing is that you don't need much.

I was told not to pump for at least 4-6 weeks to allow the baby to get used to the breast and establish my supply. (Pumping is less efficient). So you could wait on the pump/pumping supplies if you wanted to.

I couldn't have enough burp cloths. The thick white cloth diapers worked best. They helped with spit up and leaking!!

If I'm going to breast feed.....

Lansinoh nipple cream, nursing pads, nursing tops and bras
I wasn't brave enough to nurse in public til 2-3 months but when I did I used a nursing cover
I never used my nursing pillow

Message edited 1/12/2014 9:29:31 PM.

Re: If I'm going to breast feed.....

You should definitely have a nursing pillow. I tried 3 before I found the one I really liked - the My Brest Friend pillow. Love it! Really helped me position the baby and be comfortable.

A couple of nursing bras. Some nursing pads to help with leaking. Lanisoh cream.

I also had a breast pump and bottles and these were actually KEY in helping me succesfully BF. Initially my DS did not have a good latch and BF was incredibly stressful. DS was crying bc he was hungry and I was stressed out that he wasn't getting enough. He was a big baby, almost 9 lbs and he dropped to 8 lbs 1 oz in 2 days. I actually stopped BF and started just pumping and bottle feeding for peace of mind while trying to get an apptmt with a lactation consultatant (which took days). She wasn't too helpful so I kept pumping and finally saw Dr. Lauren Macaluso when DS was 4 weeks old (!) and she got him to latch right away and we have been EBF ever since Had I not had a pump and bottles I would have given up and ultimately not been successful but bc I could pump until we got DS' latch issues resolved, I was able to keep my supply up (I was pumping 30-37 oz a day), feed DS breast milk and eventually just BF. DS had no issues going from breast to bottle and vice versa and now if I'm away from him, he easily takes a bottle.