What to have on hand

CarissaA

I really want to try to bf this baby. My question is what should I have in hand when we get home from the hospital? All I have come up with so far is nipple cream and breast pads. Anything else come to mind?

ejb23

Nursing bra/tanks or easy access shirts, breast pump (call insurance for coverage of one), kellymom.com...I'm sure others will have more ideas.

Julieturner507

I recommend the "My Brest Friend" over the Boppy. I have both and I love, love, love the first over the Boppy. It's a stupid name, but it keeps baby in the perfect position for breastfeeding. Also, I would suggest earth mama angel baby nipple butter over lanolin. Just a preference. I am still new at breastfeeding, so I am no expert. Good luck with sticking with it, though! And for the record, I haven't used breast pads at all. I haven't needed them because I don't leak. So maybe see if you need them before you really stock up.

KrisM86

Boppy pillow

Nursing bras/tanks/shirts or easy to nurse in shirts

Lanolin or nipple butter

Breast pump (if you'll be a SAHM you may not need an electric, but having a manual is great.)

Nursing cover (if you'd like to be more discreet when NIP - I liked my Bebe Au Lait cover when I used one)

Breast pads - some women don't leak much and some do. I recommend the Lansinoh pads - the others I tried all sucked.

Mrs.AllyH

I too love the my breast friend pillow over the boppy. I can feed her pretty much hands free!

jennypenny*

high protein snacks you can eat with one hand ( kind bars are my fav)

a cup with a lid or a reusable water bottle. you will be thirsty and having a lid let me put it I the couch so I didn't have too reach far when nursing

soothies made by lanolin to help heal cracked / sore nipples

nursing tanks I like bravado

brideinsummer04

If you do end up leaking I recommend the milk saver by milkies. I leaked a lot so it helped me build a freezer stash. I would also have a good LC's # on hand just in case you have issues. I personally love the boppy. I don't think either my breast friend or boppy are superior - I think it is personal preference.

earlgreygirl

I highly recommend having some nursing bras/sports bras on hand--You won't want to go out shopping for those things when LO is really little...I also second the nursing pads.  One of the most useful things for me is the giant water jug thing you get from the hospital---snag that and see if you can get another one!  I am thirsty all..the....time...and it is a huge time saver to not have to refill my water every 5 minutes.  

CarissaA

Thanks everyone!

kujess1

I live in Bravado nursing tanks from Target. I also recommend My Brest Friend pillow, I use it constantly when I'm nursing at home. Snacks like granola bars, and a big water bottle. GL!

jesuisfatiguee

Honestly, I spent most of my time topless or in just an unbuttoned button-down shirt. What was best to have on hand was a boppy, lots of water and snacks (like trail mix and Clif bars).

CLLDLL

Lansinoh or other brand hydrogel smoothies

Nipple cream or lanolin

Nursing tanks or sleep bras

A copy of The Womanly Art of BF'ing

The phone number of a good IBCLC

The phone number of a friend or family member who BF the would be willing to commiserate, help with grocery shopping or cleaning, or just give you a hug if it gets tough.

A good a sense of humor

Protein bars, almonds, other healthy and easy to eat snacks.

Oatmeal and flaxseed for boosting/keeping your supply up.

A manual pump or double electric if you plan to go back to work.

Whitterpow

Sing2phins said:

For lanolin, I recommend the Medela brand over the Lansinoh.  The Lansinoh is 100% pure lanolin, while the Medela has a few additives, but that means the Lansinoh is SUPER sticky and hard to spread.  I don't know about you, but when my nipples were sore and cracked, that was NOT soothing.  The Medela goes on really easily.

Still safe for baby or does it have to be washed off?

Coconuthead

@Whitterpow the Medela stuff is safe for babies.

YellowLily2013

Everyone had great advice already.

I'd add a good water bottle and have DH keep it full! Lots of easy snacks like granola bars. Any maybe even make some lactation cookie dough ahead of time and freeze! Yum!

Oh and have a good tv show picked out for marathon nursing sessions!