i have everything i can possibly imagine for baby...except for the essentials for feeding! please read on?

Question

I am 36 weeks along. I have pretty much everything you can imagine for baby so far, theres nothing else I can imagine that I need off the top of my head. However, I dont know what to do about the feeding essentials! I am going to *try* to breastfeed my baby, but I am not necessarily sure how successful I will be, how comfortable I will be with the idea etc. I have a few bottles (9) that are considered "suitable" when needing to switch between bottle and breast. But what do I need to prepare for feeding my baby? Should I buy formula just in case? If so, what kind? And I will be off work for at least the first month and a half (hopefully, at least double that amount of time anyways) so I will constantly be there to breastfeed, but what do I need?? I feel like my baby will starve if I don't figure this out!!

assuming I am successful at breastfeeding, is the breast really all i need to keep baby happy and full?? I feel like there are so many things you need to buy for baby, how can feeding be so simple and primal?

Answer 1

If youre breastfeeding you dont need a single thing! (Other than the 2 things you already have, haha)...

Just have some bibs (for boobie sprays and dribbles!) so you dont soil babys clothes and I used cloth diapers as burb/spitup cloths.

ps Breastfeeding really is that simple, if you can do it. you just have to be super patient and work at it. it really is a skill and you and baby both have to learn how! stick with it... its worth it just to avoid colic!!

I read where someone else mentioned breast pads, good thinking! get some of those! get good quality ones too, cheap ones will make your bras lumpy.

oh, and when i was breastfeeding I lived in tube tops and those tank tops with the built in bras... so i could just whip em out at any given time, rather than worry about lumpy frumpy nursing bras.

Answer 2

Yes, the breast really is all you need. How can millions of years of evolution be wrong? Do you think that two thousand years ago women walked down to the Piggly-Wiggly and bought formula, haha? Formula has been around for 60 years. Breasts have been around since the dawn of time.

I would, in addition to the other things the other answers suggested, recommend that you pick up a couple other things:

1. The Nursing Mother's Companion Guide. This is essential reading. It gives you the low down on nursing, how it works, what to expect, and troubleshooting/problem solving

2. A boppy, or other nursing pillow. Some moms don't need nursing pillows, but I have found mind to be indispensable. Positioning the baby in the beginning was so hard, but the nursing pillow supports and helps you breastfeed.

3. Attend a breastfeeding class along with your hospital/birthing class. You need to educate yourself about growth spurts, latching, etc.

4. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. You need to be determined to make it happen. Read up, educate yourself, make a commitment to your baby that you won't give up. The first three weeks are the hardest, if you can get through them, it will usually be smooth sailing.

Answer 3

If you are wanting to breastfeed, don't keep any formula in the house! Giving baby formula will keep him from nursing you and your milk supply will dwindle.

In our formula centered society, we assume that baby has to have x amount of milk to be happy and full. But, with breast feeding, you don't have to measure anything. A healthy growing baby is the measuring stick, not the amount he takes in.

When you are in the hospital, ask to meet with the lactation consultant. That will be a HUGE help in getting started!

A breastfed baby will typically eat every two to three hours. It is shorter than a formula fed baby, simply because the food is easier to digest. Since you will be feeding so often, you'll want to be comfortable! So have a nice place to be your "snuggle up" spot. A recliner, a rocking chair and footstool, the couch, your bed. Something that is your spot. Those first days and weeks having a special place that is just yours to get used to it is a big help.

A couple of other things that you may want:
1) lanolin- common brands are lansinoh and medela pure lan 100 both aviable at Target, babies r us, etc. This is great for sore nipples!!!

2) breast pads, you will leak! Especially the first months of nursing.

3) an easy access bra, some women buy nursing bras, but they annoyed me. So I got a regular bra that was easy to pull the cup down and then flip it back up when baby is done.

4) a boppy or similar nursing pillow. You will be holding baby a lot and the added support of a nursing pillow is a relief on your arms! It also helps to free up a hand to adjust baby's latch.

5) a book or good websites to read up on nursing and refer back to with questions. some websites are:
www.breastfeeding.com
www.lalecheleague.org
www.kellymom.com

6)a breast pump. you don't want to use bottles the first several weeks if possible. Baby will have a hard time switching between breast and bottle with nipple confusion. Bottles make the baby lazy when sucking. But a good pump will help give you freedom to go a few places without baby. And after a few weeks, you will enjoy a little break for a while.

You and baby will both be fine! It is a bit scary at first, and hard to make it through those first weeks. But, you CAN do this!

Answer 4

for breast feeding you'll want a good breast pump, get the double one it can take a lot of time to pump and you dont want to double it (especially when you're exhausted) by pumping each breast separately. Get a small pack of breast pads, don't get the big box until you know for sure breastfeeding will work for you. I wouldn't invest in too many bottles at first maybe 2 or three different kinds to see which your baby likes most and gives him or her the least about of gas. The hospital will usually give you a free diaper bag with a can or 2 of formula in it and so if you come to need it you'll have it. I don't really think it matters what brand of formula you use my son has used both enfamil and good start. similac is supposed to be good to, but don't use generic, they're cheaper for a reason. good luck to you and congratulations. By the way, breastfeeding can be really difficult but there is a lot of help out there La Leche League gives free breastfeeding classes. But if it doesn't work out for you don't take it too hard, your baby will be fine on formula (plus bottle feeding allows you the opportunity to let other people feed the baby when you're tired or just want a break).

Answer 5

I would HIGHLY recommend against keeping "emergency" formula in the house. There are many times those first few weeks when I was so exhausted that if there had been formula readily available I would have broken down and given my son some; even though I had already been through that once and KNOW how detrimental to a breastfeeding relationship even that first bottle of formula is. I took those times as a clue tha tI needed some me time. I would let my husband take the baby and shower, relax for a few minutes, and then go back to him. It's amazing how even 30 minutes will refresh you.

You will need nursing pads, whether or not you chose to continue breastfeeding. I am still exclusively breast feeding my 8 month old(he has never once had a drop of anything else, formula, water, or juice) and still need to use them at all times. Lansinoh are by far the best!

Answer 6

if you do have problems breast feeding, like i did, buy a breast pump, they work wonders. also, when your baby is born, if you really want to breastfeed, DO NOT let them bottle feed your baby. i told the doctors i wanted to breastfeed, and first thing, they handed her to my sister in law with a bottle. that is why i could not breastfeed, my daughter wanted the bottle. also, right after your baby is born, he or she will not HAVE to eat immediately, so try breastfeeding, and if it doesn't work, (your baby might be too tired to feed, mine was) wait a little while, and try again. don't let the doctors rule how you believe you should take care of your child. if you do realize that you cannot breastfeed, the hospital should give your samples of formula that will keep your baby going for a little bit. and if you can't breastfeed, you can do what i did. i pumped breast milk and gave my daughter formula. that way, she still got the immunities she needed from my milk, and all of the vitamins she needed from the formula because i wasn't pumping enough to give my daughter all if the breast milk she needed. and yes, as long as you are feeding your baby when he/she is hungry, and you're eating right, the breast milk will have everything your baby needs.

Answer 7

Almost every breastfeeding mom needs a pump, so get one.
Of course you will need bottles, nipples, and bottle brushes. Most hospitals give sample formulas, but just in case, buy some. You never know ur baby might be like mine and have dificulty at the breast, so a pump and/or formula is essential.
Those are really all the essentials you need.
Some people like to have bottle racks, bottle warmers, etc, but that is up to you.

Answer 8

When I was expecting my oldest, I purchased :

- a manual breast pump (you will probably want an electric one when you return to work as they are quicker)
- breast milk freezer bags
- four bottles (I was told NOT to introduce a bottle before the age of 6 weeks because it can cause "nipple confusion")

And that's it.

I intentionally didn't buy any formula because I didn't want to tempt myself the first few days when I was exhausted and my son was up every 45 mins for a feed lol.

I never needed to buy anything else or suppliment him in anyway until I started buying babyfood when we were introducing solids at 6 months :)

Make sure you request a lactation nurse when you are recovering in the hospital. Ask them every breastfeeding question you can think of and don't be afraid to call them after you bring your baby home if you have any concerns.

Answer 9

I breastfed all 3 of my children and I recommend a breast pump and storage bags that are suitable for the freezer, a permanant black marker to date the milk, pads for your bra, and comfortable bra. I would have formula on hand in case you need it. Having a store of breastmilk in the freezer, especially for a baby that won't take anything else (lol my second child though she wouldn't even drink it out of a bottle) can be very beneficial if you have errands to run and just need to get out by yourself. Plus then dad, or grandma and grandpa can have the opportunity to feed and bond with baby. Formula is ok too in these circumstances but can be disruptive to babies system if you go back and forth. Good luck and congrats!

Hang in there, all 3 of mine were different when it came to latching on and how long it took to get used to. I remember with my first I was so nervous about everything that it was at times frustrating when we were still learning. I am so glad I stuck it out because it really was a wonderful bonding experience for me and the children.

Another thing too, when you stop breastfeeding have some cabbage leaves on hand, put them in the freezer and them put them in your bra. It really does help relieve some of the discomfort associated with "drying up", although it doesn's smell all that great :)

Answer 10

If you really want to try breastfeeding... don't have any formula in the house... it will be too easy to give up when things get tough. If you need it that badly, you or your partner can run out to get it in a jiffy.

Go to a La Leche League or other breastfeeding group meeting or class at your hospital.
-The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding- by La Leche League International is a great book to get... even if you don't read it, have it as a reference book, the index in the back is great for any questions you want answered

No one really knows how successfull they'll be at breastfeeding. But committment and knowledge give you a huge head start. Be confident in your body's ability. There are many who try and don't continue past the first few weeks out of lack of information and support... not out of true inability. Unless you've had some breast surgery (bigger or smaller) - you should be fine with the right information.

book mark these sites now... read them as often as possible, and search them for things you want to know about!!
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html
http://lalecheleague.org/FAQ/FAQSubject.html?m=0,0,3
http://lalecheleague.org/nb.html?m=0,0,0