Congrats and welcome! I just want to say right off the bat that the picture in your icon always makes me laugh for some reason! :)
I think that in most cases, very little actual "stuff" is needed to breastfeed successfully -- though BRU probably wants it to seem like there's lots to buy!! You can definitely get by with very little, but there are a few things that might make it easier.
- a Boppy or other nursing pillow. Bed/couch pillows do work well to bring the baby up closer to the breast (never lean over, always bring the baby up to you) -- but the boppy-type pillow is firm and might be easier to position.
- nursing pads - some women find they don't need these at all, so don't stock up too much. Having a few washable cloth pads and a small box of disposable (I liked Lansinoh brand) will help if your milk comes in strong and you leak at first. A nursing tank or stretchy sleep bra will hold them in place in the first few days (or however long you need - I had a strong supply with my first son and needed them for a several weeks).
- Lanolin cream (Lansinoh) - one tube would probably be enough for all the babies you ever have, but it can be soothing if you have dry/cracked nipples in the beginning.
- burp cloths (or old rags, hand towels) - not only to catch any leaking milk (it's very common for one side to 'drip' as you're feeding on the other, since the milk 'lets down' on both sides at once) - but also for spitup, diaper blowouts, or even to mop your brow as your crazy regulating hormones make you suddenly a billion degrees. I cannot stress enough how important it is to leave these burp rags everywhere you can. :)
- a water bottle (or a few) - leave these wherever you might settle to nurse, it's hard to remember to stay hydrated but it's one of the best and easiest ways to take care of yourself too in those first few weeks.
I won't even get into the pumps/accessories. We can talk about that too at some point, but it's not crucial for the first few days (and if for any reason it is, the hospital will set you up with a double-electric pump as needed).
As for books, if I had to pick my top three right now, I'd say -
- "So That's What They're For" is a great humorous, no-nonsense basic breastfeeding book. I often give it as a baby shower gift.
- "The Baby Book" by Dr. Sears is a basic look at caring for a newborn through the first year or so of life. All the things like how to recognize an illness, how to introduce foods, etc. Good solid overview. I like his 'instinctive' approach to parenting.
- "The Happiest Baby on the Block" - Dr. Karp has developed five techniques to calm fussy newborns during what he calls the "fourth trimester" - when they're on the outside but really still too little to cope without a lot of help. If you can find/rent/borrow the video that goes with this book too, that might be helpful to see his techniques in action. It's a combination of the five S's - swaddle, sway, suck, shush and side-lying. (This is a great thing for dad to get good at, since he won't have the magic boobs to calm the baby!)
I think that in most cases, very little actual "stuff" is needed to breastfeed successfully -- though BRU probably wants it to seem like there's lots to buy!! You can definitely get by with very little, but there are a few things that might make it easier.
- a Boppy or other nursing pillow. Bed/couch pillows do work well to bring the baby up closer to the breast (never lean over, always bring the baby up to you) -- but the boppy-type pillow is firm and might be easier to position.
- nursing pads - some women find they don't need these at all, so don't stock up too much. Having a few washable cloth pads and a small box of disposable (I liked Lansinoh brand) will help if your milk comes in strong and you leak at first. A nursing tank or stretchy sleep bra will hold them in place in the first few days (or however long you need - I had a strong supply with my first son and needed them for a several weeks).
- Lanolin cream (Lansinoh) - one tube would probably be enough for all the babies you ever have, but it can be soothing if you have dry/cracked nipples in the beginning.
- burp cloths (or old rags, hand towels) - not only to catch any leaking milk (it's very common for one side to 'drip' as you're feeding on the other, since the milk 'lets down' on both sides at once) - but also for spitup, diaper blowouts, or even to mop your brow as your crazy regulating hormones make you suddenly a billion degrees. I cannot stress enough how important it is to leave these burp rags everywhere you can. :)
- a water bottle (or a few) - leave these wherever you might settle to nurse, it's hard to remember to stay hydrated but it's one of the best and easiest ways to take care of yourself too in those first few weeks.
I won't even get into the pumps/accessories. We can talk about that too at some point, but it's not crucial for the first few days (and if for any reason it is, the hospital will set you up with a double-electric pump as needed).
As for books, if I had to pick my top three right now, I'd say -
- "So That's What They're For" is a great humorous, no-nonsense basic breastfeeding book. I often give it as a baby shower gift.
- "The Baby Book" by Dr. Sears is a basic look at caring for a newborn through the first year or so of life. All the things like how to recognize an illness, how to introduce foods, etc. Good solid overview. I like his 'instinctive' approach to parenting.
- "The Happiest Baby on the Block" - Dr. Karp has developed five techniques to calm fussy newborns during what he calls the "fourth trimester" - when they're on the outside but really still too little to cope without a lot of help. If you can find/rent/borrow the video that goes with this book too, that might be helpful to see his techniques in action. It's a combination of the five S's - swaddle, sway, suck, shush and side-lying. (This is a great thing for dad to get good at, since he won't have the magic boobs to calm the baby!)
Reply
Leave a comment