Another Nursing Question...

You can always go to a La Leche meeting or two before you have the baby. If you hit a snag at least you will know who to call for advice.

Clothing--I didn't have specific nursing tops the first time around--just loose enough clothing
Nursing bras--a must--I had cheap ones that I did not like. I would definitely get quality ones the second time around.

I liked Lasinoh cream and just good old fashioned breastmilk for sore nipples--breastmilk and air drying helped alot.

At home at first I just went topless...it was easier. Then I purchased a bunch of T-shirts from Old Navy in different colors that I could just pull up and feed. Nothing super special except a good nursing bra (well several).

Disposable nursing pads worked better for me than cloth ones you rewash. you will want them...I didn't realize this until i was soaked to the waist at our first pediatrician appointment as my milk let down and i had nothing in there to absorb it. lol

I was always thirsty and hungry when nursing, especially at first...so a big plastic mug or cup with a lid and straw were essential...I could not drink enough water. I could eat between bites, so I always had graham crackers, bananas, etc easy to grab and eat foods.

good luck...

There are already some great suggestions on here. I just weaned my 17 month old and really treasured our time nursing!

- I tried a boppy and eventually found that just a regular pillow was perfectly fine if not better.
-I tried a hooter hider type thing and eventually foud that loose fitting clothing was just easier.
- I tried the reusable nursing pads but wound up with thrush (dont know if it was from those things, but...) you definitely need to get some pads.
-Nursing bras for day and softer ones for night. I was fine with the cheap ones from Target.
-Lansinoh is handy.
-Setting up a cozy place at homw for you to sit with your feet up and water and a snack nearby is important.
-All this being said, it takes a little while for you, your baby and your body to get the hang of nursing. This surprised me!

Congrats!

I love the nursing tank tops from Target. I wear them all the time and just wear my regular clothes when I go out, that way if I have to nurse in public I can pull my shirt up and the tank top stays down so my middle and back are still covered. I also like the disposable nursing pads rather than the cloth ones. And I have one of the hooter hider things but that was just a waste of money in my opinion. I hate trying to cover up to nurse so I don't anymore. I figure if it bothers someone they don't have to look and in fact no one has ever said anything and I don't think people really even notice.

Lisa

I found that the disposable nursing pads were itchy on my more sensitive breasts when feeding. The cloth reusable ones really were more comfortable, but since they do start smelling bad, you need to wash them a lot. I agree with the boppy being helpful, but found that it was too hot for my summer baby. You really just need to try things and then go with what works best for you. Like someone else posted all those fancy nursing things are nice, but not really necessary. I never did use a pump (just felt like a cow using it the one time I tried) so that would have been a huge waste of money for me. If you are working, that might be something you really need though.

Nursing tanks!!! In those early days of nursing when you're doing it every 30 minutes or so, it's nice to have a nursing tank so you're not always having to take your shirt off. Target has good ones for decent prices. I think I paid about $14 for each one.

Good luck! I LOVE breastfeeding my daughter! It's such a special time that we get to spend together. You will have an amazing experience ahead of you!

My only nursing must-haves are a nursing bra or tank top. I just bought the ones at Target, and they are fine. I think they're in the $20 range. The bra offers more support but a tank top offers more coverage, because it covers your stomach when you pull up your shirt. I usually let the top I'm wearing determine which I wear underneath. I also have two nursing covers. One is a Bebe Au Lait, which I got for $15. The other one was made for me by a friend.

I never leaked that much, so I never bothered with the nursing pads. Breast milk is best if you need to rub anything in to soothe your nipples, but the hospital will also give you some Lansinoh. I never bought it.

I had both a Boppy and a MyBrestFriend nursing pillow. They were both useful when I first had the baby. I felt the BrestFriend was better for after a c-section, but generally speaking, a Boppy is more versatile, because it can be used for tummy time after you no longer need it for nursing.

My favorite items are my nursing cover (Udder Cover), Lansinoh, and My Brest friend nursing pillow. They certainly were not MUSTS but made the experience more enjoyable. I would wait on bras, pads etc because you don't really know what you will need until you start. You might want to get fitted for a bra once your milk comes in. As well, I am not personally a "leaker" and I bought a ton of nursing pads I didn't end up needing. Depending if you go back to work or not, you may not even end up needing a pump and you can rent one if it's just for short term.

You need two things - a breast and a baby!

For clothing, just wear whatever you have that you can easily undo or stretch to expose a breast.

There are a lot of variations in nursing bras, so you'll have to try them on, or go by what styles work for you already. I wore a cotton bra that was styled like a sports bra, and later wore what is called a "sleep bra" that was comfortable and stretchy. Nothing I wore had cups, really, as I can't stand anything digging into me.

I really did like my Boppy pillow and used it a lot the first several months. Didn't ever use pads or such. I occasionally used Lansinoh Lanolin cream.

Oh, and burp rags! - a pack of large cotton diapers works very well for this. they are bigger than most fancier burp rags and wash up easily. My daughter spit up so much that I had 2 dozen of these just so we wouldn't run out (and I did laundry almost daily).

The only "must have" is a pair of breasts, and I'm assuming you come equipped with those. :-)

Nursing bras are rather handy, and if you're generously built, it is worth paying for good ones that provide real support ($50-$60 approx.). I used to envy my more petite girlfriends who were able to wear the light cotton ones (comfy-looking and much easier on the wallet), but as a 40DDD, those were not an option for me. Title Nine catalog used to offer a well-constructed, seriously supportive nursing sports bra that was great. I haven't seen it in the catalog in awhile, but if you call them, they can probably tell you where to get one if they don't still have it. You might need bra pads if you leak much, but personally, I did not. The nursing tops, while nice, are not necessary. I did find having a one-piece swimsuit that was adapted to nursing useful. I didn't use the creams and lotions, but for some women whose skin cracks, I've been told they are a lifesaver. My babies and I both loved the Boppy nursing pillow for the support it provided - took a little of the strain off my arms for times when I nursed sitting up. (We often lay down to nurse - it was more relaxing for me and my babies.) It doubled as a handy support for them when they started being able to sit.

I love my Hooter Hider for bfeeding on public. My favorite pads were the Johnson and Johnson (blue box found at target). Bravado nursing bras were most comfortable for me and lasinoh was a lifesaver for sore nipples. Cloth diapers for burp clothes or if you spring a leak. I just wore loose fitting shirts, never bought special nursing tops and it worked fine for me. I had 2 sports like nursing bras for sleeping in and two regular nursing bras for daytime. Most important is if your comfotable then baby will be as well. :) Huggs

The ONLY few things I had during my almost 5 year nursing relationship with my child - it was all needed the first year only.

1) Boppy Pillow
2) Dual electric breast pump with car adapter
3) milk storage bags to freeze.
4) patience and perserverence

Hi--
I've been nursing for 6 1/2 years straight now, so I've gotten pretty good at it! I love my boppy--it saves your back! I never used nursing pads because I didn't let down milk too much except for the first few weeks. I love Earth Mama nipple butter (go to www.earthmamaangelbaby.com) for when nipples get dry or crack ( it happened with my first, not my second). DO NOT use lanolin--it has to be wiped off before nursing, lots of babies are allergic to it, and frankly, it's the oil that comes off sheep's wool--yuck!! You can also use coconut oil on your nipples if necessary. If you get sore when you first start nursing, steep a regular tea bag for a few minutes and put it on your nipple (it stains, so I usually did this in the bathtub). The tannins in the tea will help shrink the blood vessels in the nipple and it really works to stop any discomfort. I love my "hooter hider" for nursing in public. It works better than a blanket over baby's head because baby can see you and you can see baby, but no one else is the wiser. A few good nursing bras are a must! Go for quality--it's no fun wearing an uncomfortable bra. Wait for about a month to spend a lot of money, as your ribs will start going back in place, which changes the back size you need. Initially , get a sleeping nursing bra to get you through the beginning--I like the medela one. DO NOT pump to release engorgement. Your body will self-adjust within 48 hours. If you pump the milk, your body keeps making that much milk and it's a pain! If you need to go back to work and want to keep nursing then you'll need a good breast pump--I am a SAHM so I didn't need one. I didn't even use it for night feedings or anything because I really hate pumping! Besides, it's easier to fall back asleep after night feedings if you breast feed because of the release of the hormone oxytocin. There's probably more I could say, but that's all I can think of now :-)
Congrats on your coming arrival and good luck!
J.

What people have said here is right. There is very little that is MUST have. There are lots of things that are nice and make things easier. I could go on and on about all of those fun little things.

If you are choosing where to spend your money to start, start with some good nursing bras and/or tanks. If you have a specialty shop locally that can help with fitting, great. Or, we can help you out online. We have "fit" people all over the world. You want to be sure your nursing bra fits well so you are getting to best support you can, and not wasting your money on good bras that don't fit well.

And if you are returning to work or plan on pumping much, don't skimp on the breastpump. A good one will make a huge difference in your comfort, production, and overall success with pumping when away from your baby.

R.
Bosom Buddies
www.bosombuddies.com

So here is my list-boppy pillow (it is great for positioning and also I used it to sit on because I tore a little with my second son and it helped with my derrier (plus makes a great support when the baby is learning to sit up)!

Lanolin cream/ointment (Linsol)-someone said it had to be wiped off before nursing-it does not-and my sons never had any problems with it (most wore off onto the bra or pads before I nursed next-it is greasy so you might want to use nursing pads to save your bras) and it saved my sore nipples-use it after each time!

Just a large light weight blanket to cover when you are out and about and need to nurse (practice at home first)-if you can't find a good blanket and can sew a litle, get 4 of those useless receiving blankets everyone gets you and sew them together!

Cheap pump-I found an inexpensive battery/plug in pump at Target (about $20) and it was great for when I needed to leave the kids with someone occassionally (I am a SAHM-if you are going back to work, invest in a good pump though).

Something to eat and drink-have granola bars and water or something right by you because when I nursed, it was like I suddenly became so starved that I had to yell for my hubby to get me food and drink!

Patience and persistence-Not gonna lie- it hurts for about 2 weeks as your nipples toughen up. My kiddos were both barracudas (meaning they latched on and did their job in 5 minutes and didn't linger) and so my nipples hurt long after but I got used to it! And you both have to learn to do it-so don't be afraid to call the lactation consultants after you get home if you are still having/start having troubles!

Good nursing bras-if you are big chested like I am, try to find ones that circle the entire breast and not just the outer side when unhooked to nurse-walmart had cheap ones-like $7ish-that ended up being my favorites-I hated the expensive ones I ended up getting from Motherhood, so don't rule them out because they are cheap!

Button up pjs-forget the nursing pjs-they don't close well-the button up ones are nice at night!