Breastfeeding?

Question

I am 32 weeks pregnant and I didn't breastfeed my first child but plan on trying to breast feed the baby I am currently carring. I am trying to bet prepared for my showers and need to know some of the most essential things that I need. What was the brands of the best pumps or did you use one? Storage systems for your milk, what is the best brand? What is the one thing that you couldn't of lived with out? I just need to know the best things that I need. None of MY family has breastfeed so I have no one to ask. My in-laws have breastfeed but it was not a long term thing for them it was jsut as long as they could do it and most didn't make it past week five or six. I play on working out of the home after my baby is born so I need to know exactly what I need for preparing for those days as well. Thank you and any suggestions would be very helpful.

I know alot of people may think that I am crazy for not breastfeeding my first one and then be full fledge devoted to it with my second but I am determined to breastfeed my son for as along as possible even if I have to pump and go from there. But I will give him the best from the start I was just younger and had no idea about breastfeeding when I had my first one. Thank you all for your great information.

Answer 1

first find a leache league support groups in your area or a reliable group of breastfeeding friends that can be supportive from the beginning. Lactation specialists are wonderful too..you need one or two well fitting breastfeeding bras which are best to purchase when you are around 37 or 38 weeks along....go to childbirth classes that offer a breastfeeding session....be prepared by reading, watching videos and boppys are great support pillows for breastfeeding, you should have a comfortable chair for feeding your baby and the co-sleeper bassinets that fit next to your bed like an extension work well with out having your baby right in bed with you at night.... adari bottles work well, Medela pumps are great (electric, dual pump with adjustable speed and suction are the best) you can use the freezer style bags made for breast milk storage but it is really advised the wait at least two weeks of breastfeeding befor you actually start pumping so that your milk is more established and when you do pump always try to offer both breasts to you baby first before you do any pumping unless you want to increase your milk supply then pump or breast feed more frequently....when you first start positioning your baby correctly is the key to avoiding sore nipples and the baby's only job for the first 3-4 days is to nurse on demand for as long as they need to and to sleep and pee and poop...if you introduce bottles or pacifiers during those 3-4 days you will delay your milk from coming in by a whole day.....if any one tells you that your baby is just using you for a pacifier during those days don't listen to them....your baby is just doing what they are suppose to they are HELPING YOU ESTABLISH YOUR MILK SUPPLY........and helping your uterus to shrink down and bleed less......there is so much I could write but space is limited....breastfeeding is a HUGH committement but is really the best for you and your baby....make sure you are informed and are willing to go the distance it will be a very positive experience for both of you good luck......(I am a lactation counselor)

Answer 2

I think it's great you are so committed to breastfeeding your next baby! Since you'll be working out of the home, I recommend the Medela Pump in Style double electric breastpump. I used that and it's the best there is out there. It's a little pricey at $300 to $350, but it pays for itself NUMEROUS times over when you consider all the money you'll be saving on formula.

One thing you'll find is that the chore of pumping gets old FAST. To stay motivated, try to come up with ways you can do other things while pumping... read a book or magazine, have a snack, give yourself a manicure, or even surf the net! Some women take an old bra, snip a small hole in the center of each cup, assemble the pump parts around the hole, and fashion a "hands-free" pumping bra. LOL, sounds really ridiculous, I know. But I did this and TRUST ME when I say your experience will be so much more pleasant if you can occupy that 15-20 minute time period with other things.

As for something I could not live without - the Boppy Pillow. I didn't use it much when my daughter was a newborn because she was such a little peanut, but as she got heavier AND HEAVIER, I find that I use it ALL THE TIME. It's a lifesaver.

One more tip... pump and freeze like a mad woman while you're on maternity leave. Once you go back to work and only have your break times to do it, you may find that you go though your frozen surplus really fast. And although it will be the LAST thing you want to do, make sure to pump on your days off and even in the evenings on the days you work. Always stay ahead of your baby's growing demand and you'll be just fine. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

What kind of Pump you get will depend on how much you want to pump. An occasional use pump is only good to use two or three times a week. These are usually the cheaper ones like the manual or the ones that plug into the wall. A daily use pump can be used two or three times a day. These are going to have bigger motors and will range in price from $250-$350. You want to choose one that will fit your lifestyle. If you don’t choose one with a strong enough motor, you could burn out the motor and have to go buy another one.

Other things that you'll want to have while breast feeding are A LOT of Breast pads, and lanolin. You may also want to get some nipple sheilds for when your nipples are cracked or if you have inverted nipples.

Just to warn you, breast feeding hurts! But it's the best thing for the baby and the longer you can do it the beter, but just be prepared.

I also saw somthing that said Babies "R" Us is having a nursing class or something on February 20th. If you have a store near you, I'd check that out. They usually have really good seminars and they're free!

Answer 4

I nursed each of my kids for just over a year. And I have a full-time job outside of our home.

I used a Medela "Pump in Style," which is a double electric breast pump with a power adapter and a battery pack. You can even plug it into a car, if you have to, which means you can pump just about anywhere. And some insurance will pay for it, or part of it, if you get a "prescription" from your doctor.

But it's big and bulky, so I mostly left it at work, and just brought the parts that needed washing back and forth from home.

I also had an Avent Isis hand pump that I used in emergencies at home or when traveling. It was a great pump, and I've recently heard that they now make a double electric Isis pump. You can get it at Target. You might give it a try.

I used the Medela and Avent bottles that came with the pumps to store milk in transit, and transferred everything to Gerber freezer bags at the end of every day.

Get a good magazine subscription, because pumping can be kind of slow, and it's hard to find work you can do while you're pumping.

Other than that, all you need is an attitude that you're just going to make it through TODAY. And maybe TOMORROW.

Nursing can be hard. Pumping can be harder. I know I had blocked ducts, thrush, nursing strikes, early teethers...you name it, we did it. And I thought about quitting almost every day. But I loved the cuddly-ness of nursing, and I know it's good for the kids, and good for me, and I just kept toughing it out for another day. Before I knew it, I'd made it to a year.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Good for you. Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Read and learn as much as you can about breastfeeding before the baby is born. Find out if your hospital offers a class on breastfeeding or ask you doctor for a list of Lactation specialist in your area. Find out if there is a La Leache League in your area and if possible go to a meeting before the baby is born.
As for stuff.. Medela is known for their pumps, but they are very expensive. Ameda pumps are also very good, although less well known. Electric pumps are really only worth the expensive if you are going to be pumping everyday. Avent makes a manuel called the ISIS that worked well for me. You can look into renting a pump from the hospital or getting one 2nd hand. Just make sure you replace the collection kit and tubing.
Lansinoh makes good storage bags and they also make a lanolin cream which is very soothing for sore nipples. (Don't worry, they do go away!)
Get yourself a few comfortable nursing bras!
The best advice I can give you is to stick with it. It can very hard in the beginning, especially if you don't have the support of your family.
Good luck.

Answer 6

You don;t need as much as you think!
I'm strictly breastfeeding... my can;t live with out item is a front zipped or button up sweater and athlectic support tank top ( one that fits snug around your breast) the tank top stops leaking and as soon as you are done feeding it drys your nipple so you don;t get any cracking.
Your nipples will be sore for the first couple days or weeks but it soon goes away. You don;t need to do anything to toughen your nipples. ( old wives tail) Just make sure the baby is latched on good... you can read on any breast feeding web site how to do that.. but what my midwife told me was to wait till the baby opened really wide then put the nipple in deep like you are trying to get it to the back of their throat (all though you aren;t) but the baby should have at least an inch of your breast in his mouth with the lips turned out around it so it shows the pink.
As for pump... Medela (sp) is supposed to be the best ..
and they make "milk cube trays" for storing your breast milk in the freezer.. each cube is an ounce so it make for easy feeding measurements. ... and the freezable bags are good too.

Hopefully you like breastfeeding as much as i do... Do what comes naturally for you it works so much better then relying on other peoples opinions.
Also try not to introduce the bottle too soon and if and when you do have your partner feed him .. this gives your partner the opportunity to bond with baby and the baby will be more receptive to taking a bottle from someone else for the first time. Also babies can sence their mothers from 20 feet away.. so would be a great time for you to go for a walk or take a bath.

Answer 7

Make sure you have lanolin, your nipples will get sore, and this is the best way to heal them fast. As for the breast pump, I have a Medela, and it is supposed to be one of the best brands. You can buy one at Target. They are kind of expensive, so make sure you are really devoted to breastfeeding your child. It is very easy to just give up because of the time it takes, and it can be painful in the begining. Good luck.

Answer 8

I breast fed my sons for 2 and a half years each.

I recommend any battery operated breast pump, not a manual...And I wouldn't pump or use it unless you absolutely have to so your baby does not have any nipple confusion.

Milk storage bags I definitely recommend Gerber.

And finally, nursing takes so much patience. I wish you all the best, it will hurt and be a little frustrating the first few weeks until you and your baby get use to it, and then it is wonderful.

Answer 9

Congratulations! I think it's great that you're so committed to breastfeeding! I loved my Ameda electric pump. If you have WIC, they offer free breastfeeding support. Find a La Leche League group as soon as you can, and buy yourself some nursing pads and Lansinoh. That's all you need for now. You can do it! (Almost) All mothers can!

Answer 10

I think what I used was Madella.