When you're planning to breastfeed, you get a million things to be told that you have to buy in order for you to breastfeed... a pump, nipple cream, nipple shields, nursing pillow?! People tell you that breastfeeding is cheaper than formula feeding but not when you're told to buy all this stuff!
As a breastfeeding counsellor and antenatal teacher, I like to properly prepare you in pregnancy to breastfeed without spending stupid amounts of money.
So what are the things that you actually need to breastfeed and what doesn't need to be added to you amazon basket or baby shower list (baby shower stuff by the way.. ask for more practical stuff like Cook vouchers or a postnatal doula rather than clothes! Check out my blog for what you need for a baby for baby shower gift idea)
What you need to breastfeed
Nursing bras - some lovely, comfortable nursing bras are great for the ease of feeding.
Good quality breast pads - for the first 4 months, I had to change my pads twice a day because I leaked so much milk. I'm a year postpartum now and still wear them day and night, but they last a little longer.
Boobs - pretty essential to breastfeed aren't they?
Knowledge of breastfeeding during pregnancy - honestly, an incredibly important one. It can make a huge difference to feeding.
What could you have that *may* be helpful but don't need
Breast pump - pumping is absolutely not essential in terms of breastfeeding. It seems to be expected that if you breastfeed, at some point, you're going to need to pump milk.
Pop some money to the side if its something you might consider, then if you choose not to pump, you've got some spare money for a nice treat!
Caveat - I have NEVER pumped in either of my journeys and the first lasted 4.5 years and my second is now one year old.
Nursing clothes - might seem strange that I've not put this in essentials but you don't need it. The majority of normal clothes are breastfeeding friendly - button shirts, dungarees, normal tops are all easily boob accessible. Nursing clothes are really blooming expensive as well! What I prefer and suggest is the 'one up one down' method. Which is basically, you wear a stretchy vest top under a normal top, you lift up the normal top and pull down the vest top and this gives you a great makeshift nursing clothes. However, a few clothes might be helpful and I absolutely love Holleo for all nursing clothes as they're so much more affordable and I love supporting small businesses.
Storage bags - again, you don't have to pump but if you choose to, breastmilk storage bags will probably be really helpful.
Breast shells - during the early weeks, you're likely to be leaking a lot of milk and I do not recommend a Haakaa pump (more on that further down). But a breast shell might be more helpful if you want to save that leakage. They are small containers that sit inside your bra and you might find that more leaks when you're feeding from the other breast. People may like this as it feels like less wastage of breastmilk.
Breastfeeding cover - some people may find this helpful if you're anxious about feeding out and about. Although, I do have to say, they're a big faff, and babies don't tend to like it anyway. What I would like to say is that breastfeeding in public is protected by law in the UK (Equality Act 2010). You cannot be asked to cover up, move or stop breastfeeding.
What you really don't need
Nipple shields - whilst nipple shields have their place, they absolutely should not be a first port of call if a baby is struggling to latch or you're experiencing pain.
Nipple cream - controversial? Nipple cream is usually the top of the list of things to get when preparing to breastfeed, so why not bother? So, if you're experiencing soreness, pain, or damage to your nipple when feeding, get support!
Feeding pillow - unless you are feeding twins, I don't personally recommend a feeding pillow. I've seen many times where mum's struggle to get a good latch and end up with mastitis a lot because the pillow just brings the baby up far too high.
Haakaa pump - another really controversial one as people seem to LOVE these. But in my experience, they cause more problems.
Dummies - they can cause many issues with feeding but I'll focus on one mainly. How it masks early feeding cues.
So, you can see, there's not really that much that you actually NEED to breastfeed. A lot of the extras are your own personal preference.
But, to start with, just have bras, pads, boobs and knowledge/support are everything that you need to breastfeed - you can always get the extras at a later date
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