Breastfeeding?

[sammipher]

Just out of curiousity for all of you that have breast feed what was some of the things related to that...that you could not live without. Also did you prefer manual or automatic breast pump..what type of bottles did you use? I am wanting to breastfeed when the baby is here..but after looking at the stuff in walmart I was at a total loss of what to get ...I have a breastfeeding class tuesday so I can ask questions then..but, I still like to get opinions from others like different brands...things that helped them..cause sometimes word of mouth can be a timesaver...thanks guys!

 

[Katydid]

OH my definately Lanasil, I think is what it was called. It is a cream that is safe for you to leave on yourself when the baby nurses, and you put more on after each feeding. That stuff was a lifesaver.

Nursing pads, whether disposable or washable are a definate must.

Plenty of sheer yet opaque scarves for summertime nursing in public to use as cover ups, and of course blankets for winter.

Nursing bras are a must.

 

[yeshuaskid]

Oh...I used Lanosil, too. Great stuff! My daughter wanted to stay latched so long that I ended up with cracked nipples. We found out about nipple shields and they were a life saver. It's just a piece of silicone that you use when you are feeding the baby. The shiled doesn't affect the baby and how much they eat. My daughter didn't even seem bothered by it. When it comes to breast pumps...I went through three before I ended up with the best one. My husband bought me a Medella. They aren't cheap. They cost over a hundred dollars. You can check ebay, though. They can be steralized so a used one wouldn't hurt. I tried a manual pump but it hurt. I then tried two electric pumps but, they really hurt. All of them seemed to create a lot of unnecessary suction. The Medella was nice because it was adjustable. You are able to set it so that it feels like your actual baby feeding. You have options like pumping both breasts at the same time, car adapters, etc. My Medella came with three bottles, ice pacs, cooler section, milk collection bags, Battery pack (came in handy when we had no electricity one night), place for baby picture, and spare replacement parts. If I took it out in public...it looked like a leather shoulder bag. Nobody would know what I was carrying. I hope this helps.

God Bless...

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

The only thing I found essential were nursing bras and pads. The pads were essential to soak up any leaking or letdowns. My MIL got me an Evenflo pump and it was useless (I appreciated the thought though ). I had more luck hand expressing for the couple of occasions I was not around for a feeding and just used the cheap bottles from WalMart. I had sore breasts but it was not to the point where I needed any cream though I have heard Lanosil is good. I also didn't need anything to cover me while I was nursing in public. I found that the clothes that I was wearing provided enough cover.

 

[lucypevensie]

My kids had absolutely no interest in bottles at all. So I can't help you there. They did use sippy cups pretty early though, about 6 months.

Other than that I really liked the Johnson & Johnson brand of nursing pads the best. They absorbed very well. Don't buy any that have plastic on one side. Ick Ick Ick.

Oh, and as far as bras go, I'd not recommend an underwire nursing bra. OUCH.....

 

[lucypevensie]

Are you ladies talking about Lansinoh? I bought some of that too but didn't see the benefit of it. But it sounds like some ladies really love it!

 

[Katydid]

Are you ladies talking about Lansinoh? I bought some of that too but didn't see the benefit of it. But it sounds like some ladies really love it!

I can't remeber the exact name, but my nipples bled for the first couple weeks, so I used that stuff to ease the discomfort. It worked wonderfully for that, though it didn't manage to prevent much of it. I know it came in a purple tube, though. But, you don't need much of it because it lasts forever.

 

[katelyn]

I needed the lanolin (Lansinoh/Pure-Lan/etc...if you can't find it on the shelves, we found plain no-brand lanolin at the Wal-Mart pharmacy - ask the pharmacist) early on as my nipples adjusted to breastfeeding. Now I use it occasionally. As far as essentials go, just nursing bras & pads. Oh, and I really like the Boppy pillow, since using it leaves my hands free (especially nice during those growth spurts when you feel like all you do all day is feed!).

I have a Medela Harmony manual pump, but it makes me kind of sore. So if pumping is a must for you, it's probably a good idea to get a nice electric one.

Also, I like the tank tops/bras from Glamourmom.

 

[Neenie1]

The only things I found essential was lansinoh cream, and nursing bras. (get at least one fitted so you can see what size you need, then get a couple of cheaper ones)

I had a pump that was useless to me, I just found it really hard to express milk, some people do. Even hand expressing was hard. Don't know how I would have got on with an electric pump, but to be totally honest, there were only 4 or 5 occasions in the first year, where I had a babysitter and needed a bottle for baby (those times I used formula) The rest of the time baby came with me, and he fed wherever we were, at home, or out and about.

As someone else said, it's nice to have a scarf or something to use as a cover up, but after a while you get to the stage where you are pretty good at discreet breastfeeding anyway, and don't really need it (I found it was a nuisance and got in the way)

Also some women find they leak. Get at least one pack of pads, if you are a leaker you will need more than that. But not everyone leaks (I never did once) so I had heaps of packs of breast pads that never got used.

 

[bliz]

Nursed three babies - never used a pump, never had a cracked nipple. Nursing bras and nursing pads were all I ever needed. And a juice jar for the times I became engorged... Do9n't buy anything but the bras and pads until you know if you need it.

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Thank OP for the question. Now i dont have to ask it..lol....

 

[sara elizabeth]

Lanolin cream
I loved this stuff. At least get it so that you have it on hand the first few days. If you don't use it for that you can always use it for diaper rashes.

 

[sammipher]

Nursed three babies - never used a pump, never had a cracked nipple. Nursing bras and nursing pads were all I ever needed. And a juice jar for the times I became engorged... Do9n't buy anything but the bras and pads until you know if you need it.

Yeah...I am going to wait on purchasing items until she gets here...I have fibroid cyst disease in both my breasts. At times it can be painful..esp. during winter. I asked my doc. would this effect my being able to bf...he assures me it shouldn't..but you never can tell til she is here...also I worry if I will have too much pain.
Thank you all for your responses..now I have an idea of what brand breast pump to use..and what brand not to use..and see that pads and no underwire comes in handy. I always like to get feedback on products before I go out and spend alot on it..also I see the most popular brand for nipple cream..I am def. writing that down...I guess I was getting impatient the other night and was kind of jumping the gun and gonna buy everything then..but then I got to thinking we better wait. I am so glad the Lord blessed me with finding this forum..I get so much good advice

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

The best thing I got-- was the info and support from LaLeche League. I never could have made it without them! I highly recommend trying to get to a meeting or two before your baby is born!

 

[kellykelley]

I bf Sarah for 16 months then she self weaned. If you go back to work the best pumps are either the Medela Pump In Style or the Medela Symphony. The symphony costs more but has a chip that emables it to promote a better letdown. If you're not going back to work I small hand held pump would work of the rare occasions you need it.
I loved the Lansinoh Lanolin and their disposable nursing pads. They absorb great and I had an oversupply so I know they hold. As far as lanolin it needs to be hospital grade 100% pure like the Lansinoh or the Purelan. Lansinoh is available at Wal_mart but the other is at Babies R Us but they also sell Medela Pumps and Wal-Mart doesn't.

If you don't have any friends that breastfed then I would recommend finding a support group they help a lot and use the Lactation Consultants while you are in the hopital they are worth theur weight in gold. La Leche seems to be about the only large support system they can come on strong and insist on being non-sectarian but they have good info.

As far as bras getting one fitted is a good idea then you can buy some that cost less. If you go back to work they make pumping bras so your hands are free Medela sells one and motherwear.com has ont too. Underwires are bad for nursing bras. They can block ducts which can lead to cloged ducts or mastitis. No reason to wean with it it's just painful and mastitis usually needs anitbiotics to clear up.

If you have any questoins feel free to e-mail me on or off the forum. I am working to become a LLL leader because there is no bf help within an hour of my house and I help with the group my hospital sponsors too.

KK

 

[kellykelley]

I forgot. I also have Fibrocystic disease and I had no problems. It's actually been better since I did bf.

KK

 

[sammipher]

I forgot. I also have Fibrocystic disease and I had no problems. It's actually been better since I did bf.

KK

Thanks!!! You are the first person with the disease that I have met that has breast fed...my mom has it to and she didnt breast feed with me..and I haven't met anyone else that has had it..I have mentioned it once in a thread months and months ago that was on breastfeeding and no one ever commented on it..so I didnt push the issue...Your post gives me comfort..thank you alot! I will keep you in mind if I have questions....ALL YOU LADIES ON THE BOARD ARE AWESOME...trust me I am absorbing all this info like a sponge since its my first child and I dont know anyone that breast feeds...I do think we have a support group in our area.

 

[kellykelley]

You're welcome. I would recommend support. I didn't go for about 6 weeks and I wish I had gone sooner. I have to drive and hour to get to either of my groups but it is worth is. Btw the reason I decided to go was the day before the meeting my cat scratched me(accidentially) you know where and I thought I would have to wean Sarah b/c of it so I went ot group and they said no it was ok and to either nurse on that side as much as I could or pump if it hurt less to keep my supply up and to get glycerine patches called Soothies chill them and wear them for relief. A couple of weeks after going to meetings it got a lot easier I got her latched on better and wasn't sore any more and had friends in the same situation. No bf friends before we got pg, babies that were the same age etc... I still go and help now.

KK

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

I nursed 3 babies also! I would highly recommend it! I, too, only had the pads, and nursing bras. I nursed on demand & was never engorged. I did stay home when I was nursing, though

 

[MyLittleWonders]

If you are staying home (or even working but only needing to pump once a day or so) I'd highly recommend the Avent Isis hand pump. I have that pump and the Medela Pump in Style - I could get the same amount of milk from the Avent as from the Medela (and it's only about $50). For me, nursing pads are a must the first couple of weeks, but I always used cloth ones ... Medela makes some and another brand (I think Lansiloh). I too loved the lanolin the first week or so, but I got some in the hospital from the nurse (and have used it since for diaper rash and for lanolizing my wool diaper covers ). And most definitely get a couple good nursing bras without underwire ... you'll be wearing them for a while, so get nice ones. I've worn the Bravado bras for the better part of the last four years and they last a long time. They are more like a sport's bra, but they are comfy and can be snapped/unsnapped usually with only one hand.

And finally, more than any of the other stuff ... support was the most essential thing for me, especially with my first son. I was so unsure and the reinforcement I got from my lactation consultant (she had a twice-a-week mommy clinic for nursing too) was awesome.