What You DON'T Need For Breastfeeding.

 

Breast pumps, nursing vests, "closet to boob" bottles and even a test to check you breast milk is up to standard (yes - really!!). So much for cheap & easy! Like most things in life however, companies have caught on to the potential money to be made and started producing various breast feeding 'essentials'. The reality? You're really just throwing your money away on the majority of these products. So, to help save you from buying even more baby products that will gather dust (because most end up doing that anyway), here's my guide on what not to spend your money on...

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Breast Pumps. I couldn't be without mine. In fact, without a breast pump I doubt we would have established breast feeding during those awful first weeks with John. Plus it's a must-have in terms of being a Milk Donor. However, it's by no means an essential for breast feeding. Expressing is great...if you can actually do it. Many woman can't. And that is by no means a measure of the amount of milk you produce for your baby. The thing with boobs is that babies are designed to empty them, not a plastic device, so you'll find that a baby will always be more efficient in feeding than your breast pump. Obviously, if you're returning to work or becoming a milk donor, a breast pump can be invaluable but there's still to option to hand express in these situations which some women find is even more effective than said piece of plastic. Basically, don't buy unless you know you're going to need one.

Breast Pads. Ok, so when your milk first comes in, these are pretty essential but that's not to say you'll need them the entire duration for your breast feeding experience. Some woman are lucky enough to never really need them. But for when you do, it pays to know your options. There's the obvious disposable option but you can also invest in some reusable ones which like cloth nappies will last you more than one baby. But if you do decide on disposables, do a little research on the best brands first so you don't find yourself throwing money away! Here's my guide to the best disposable breast pads on the market.

Nursing Vests. Time for a comparison! A standard spaghetti strap vest costs a mere £3.99, add a couple of clips to it and we're miraculously up to £18! Mad, isn't it? Especially when you can buy said clips for just a few pounds. But fear not, if your sewing skills are not up to converting a normal vest into a nursing one, it doesn't really matter. You see that first vest? Well, the straps on it stretch and they stretch more than enough to let you pop your in & out. At first you might convince yourself you need a whole new wardrobe full of nursing friendly clothes but you'll soon find yourself back in your usual clothes & being a master of the one boob escape.

Bottles & Sterilisers. There seems to be this common misbelief that you need to give a breastfed baby a bottle, whether that be to share feeds or avoid future refusal. But unless you're going back to work early or need to spend considerable time away from your baby, this is entirely avoidable. And the thing with bottles is that there is literally hundreds of different ones to choose from; "closest to the boob, the most natural, breast-like flow"... How do you even begin to choose? Well, from my experiences there seems to be a divide of two camps - babies that will take a bottle & babies that won't. And generally, the bottle choice will be irrelevant. So don't spend a fortune on buying one of each bottle; instead give one a go & persevere; or hold out until 4 months & skip bottles completely, instead opting for sippy cups [which are also better long-term]. As for sterilisers; boiling water is free or a Tupperware with some Milton Solution is a long-tried & tested method of keeping your bottles in tip-top shape.

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Now, as for what you actually need - which isn't very much! First & foremost is boobs. And technically, that's it. But I always recommend having some Lansinoh Nipple Cream for sore & cracked nipples in the beginning (plus it the best cream for teething rash when the time comes). Next is a a great support system, which I'll be talking about tomorrow. And finally is a good nursing bra.
Seeing as you'll be likely to be living in said nursing bra for the duration of your breastfeeding journey, it pays to get yourself fitted with a really good one. BoobieMilk is a Mummy run business providing in-home nursing bra fittings in and around Sevenoaks, Kent, as well as stocking nursing bras and accessories for purchase at www.boobiemilk.co.uk to be delivered to the whole of the UK. Having purchased a Hotmilk bra from BoobieMilk earlier this year, I can say with confidence you will not be disappointed with the products or customer service that BoobkieMilk has to offer. And today, as part of the Keep Britian Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt, Diddle Diddle Dumpling has teamed up with Boobiemilk to offer one lucky reader £10 towards purchase at Boobiemilk.co.uk. All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below.

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See what these other lovely ladies have to say in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.
Sorry About The Mess // Belle Du Brighton // A Baby On Board // Baking Betsy // Mummy To Boyz

Happy breastfeeding,