Planning on Breastfeeding... do i still need to buy bottles etc?

Hi,

I'm planning on breastfeeding our baby and hoping all goes well, won't be needing any bottles etc.... what do people do? Do I still buy a couple of bottles, teats, steriliser just incase i need it one day? As in, would I need to start expressing and needing a bottle for this?

I have no idea!! What did you girls do to be prepared?

Can anyone recommed a great breast expresser/pump??

I'm thinking I won't buy anything and just wait and see how the breastfeeding goes as i am determined to breastfeed and not use bottles.

Input from experienced mothers please? TIA :D

If your going to bf babe then get a decent expresser to help you out in the first 6 weeks. You'll get 2 bottles with it to start with and you'll need a steraliser for the breast pump anyway. Oh and I bought the new Tomme tipe bottles that have a teat that looks like a nipple....AWESOME babe! We had no confussion issues between nipple and bottle at all....god mateauz still latches on once week....I think he tries to remenise a bit lol

I got told at the Royal childrens that if I wanted to help build my supply up (which was pretty poor to start with) that I should express and hour after a feed and straight after a feed until we get our flow happening...just a little hint that i wanted to share that worked for us.

good luck with it chicki

I recomend that you do have a a couple bottles and teats.. plus sterilzer JIC.... you dont want to be running around at midnight stressed out searching local petrol stations for what you need.

I also keep a satchet of formula (just one or two in the cupboard). til you can get up a EBM stock

I have found this to be helpful when i just couldnt cope in the middle of the night .

Best of luck with your brest feeding jorney


ETA- having formula on hand is not recomended but i did it for my reasons ( i was unable to bf my older two children)... I have actually only used it once in 5mths. I just was just sharing what i did.

With DD1 it wasn't til I got a hand pump at about 3 weeks & got 2 bottles with it that I used them, but I had probs feeding & only got to 6 weeks.

With DD2 I had the bottles & formula jic. I didn't want to get caught out & stressed about my baby starving again.

With DS I had a heap of stuff given to me, including 8 Avent bottles & a steriliser. I've used them on occasion. They are handy to have.

(Mods i think this is in the wrong section sorry please move if need be)

Thanks Maz!

Ok, so the teats can mimic the nipple therefore the baby doesn't really know the difference? I'd be so scared to give our baby the bottle/teat only to find out that it doesnt' want to attach back to my nipple!! I've heard some stories of that happening so it kinda worried me.....so i just have to make sure i get the right 'teats'?

What breast pump can you recommend Maz?
I've read that in the first 2 weeks when my milk supply is regulating and coming in, that it's recommended you don't express milk (unless you have a premmie or other medical reason) is this correct??

Thanks Beatrix, i think i will make sure i keep couple of bottles and sterilisers on hand after reading this.

Ren- the breast pump i use is a medela swing!!! absolutly fantastic.. stringly endorsed by the ABA as well

not to sure about the expressing... sorry

Beatrix, can you get a discount if you buy one through ABA or do they only hire them out? I am subscribed to ABA. where did you buy yours? thanks chick
And are they good for beginners? :lol: haha

I bought a cheap one of ebay....its was electric and a brand name I had no idea of...but **** it saved my hands from pumping away for hours and it was small enough to take in my handbag..adaptor and all (it came to the mercy hospital with me) - I paid $30 including postage for it....will try and find it and PM you the details.

i highly recommend the tomme tippee bottles...chemist warehouse has them for $16 for 2 and the teats are $7. No trouble what so ever between nipple and teat...we had the same concerns as you did. We had Advent bottles and Mateauz hated them so we bought the tt ones.

just pmed you babe

Personally, I wouldn't buy any. If you need them you can get them then. I had to express in hossy for DS1, but they provided everything I needed anyway and then DH got what I needed for home. I can see that there is some use in having these things in advance, but I also think it a bit like setting yourself up to fail.

What I would do is join the ABA now and attend a bfing class. This is the best preparation you can do for bfing. Then you will be a member, so you can hire a pump if you need one (in the early days if you need one an electric one is going to be really handy). You will also know who to ask for help!

ETA- whoops just saw that you are an ABA member already. Great stuff.

Another swing user here too :)

With DS my hubby was in Iraq from 3 months so never expressed as there was only me to feed him anyhoo - but at 7 months I tried to express when he got back and was so hopeless, couldn't do it !!! I fed him until 12 months .......

With DD I expressed occasionally from about 4 weeks just so I knew I could, and so if I wanted to get my hair done wouldn't have to make sure I was running out of the salon with foils still in cos she needed to be fed :lol:

So, whilst I really understand you are hesitant to give bubs anything other than breast - IMO after the first 6 - 8 weeks if you need to get out, or have a break o/n - express and give it an occasional go.

We put so much pressure on ourselves - bubs will still have your milk hun!

Just wanted to add that my MCHN loaned me a pump when I had probs at 6 weeks. So that could be a back up.
I thought about the setting myself up to fail thing too, so I refused to buy formula til I needed it. I've had a tin in the cupboard since JIC, but usually have to throw half it out coz its open for too long without being used.

I agree with MR..

I personally wouldn't buy them unless you need them..

I was planning to only breast feed and not use bottles or formula at all. I wasn't going to buy any bottles but my mum said even if I don't use them, it's a good idea to have some on hand JIC. I'm glad I took her advice. When DD was 6 weeks old me & DH wanted to go to a friends engagement party without DD. Friends of ours babysat and we sent DD with bottles and formula. It was also great when I needed a break coz DH could feed her. She was breast fed about 99% of the time until she was about 4.5 months and started full time daycare because I went back to work.

I agree with MantaRay. I did not buy anything at all, nor did I need to (including an express pump). Later down the track (ie. few months) I borrowed a pump so that I could give an EBM feed on occasion. You really don't need anything if you intend to breastfeed in my opinion and you especially don't need any formula in the house, at least initially. Good luck and don't stress about being prepared.

Wow thank you all so much for your replies!! Sooooo helpful..

Daniellabella - so your DD didn't get turned off breastmilk after having formula a few times?? I hear stories and it worries me!!

Yep, i'm going to attend an ABA breastfeeding class early November in my area! So that should be good..... perhaps I should wait til then and talk to the ladies there and see what they recommend aswell? Before i go and start buying stuff....

I'm pretty keen to have a pump, bottle and steriliser on hand however not sure about having formula in the house (just yet) :redface:

I didn't get anything before hand. I planned to BF and I didn't want to spend $$ on stuff I may never use.

That said, once the BF'ing was established, I then went and got a Madela mini electric to express with. But that wasn't till Olivia was about 7 weeks old.

Eventually, after all 3 babies, plus sharing the thing around between friends between times, my Madela Mini Electric has been used for about 9 babies and is still going strong, LOL!

Bottles and teats for expressing are a funny one.....each of my 3 babies had a different "preference"...Olivia liked the NUK orthodontic ones, Charlie liked Pigeon Peristaltic and Lexie was content on the bog standard cheapies from Target.........go figure.......


Either way, they were exclusively BF for 6 months........the bottles were for EBM on occasion....Charlie more so for some reason. I purposefully didn't buy any formula.

GOOD LUCK!

I had an AVENT manual breast pump & I found it useless. I was later recommended by the baby health nurse that electric breast pumps are much easier to use (by the time I got this advice I no longer had any milk supply & bub was on formula at 5mths to my disappointment) ;)

I started with TWO little AVENT bottles !!

And i purchased a BigW brand (Dymples) microwave bottle steriliser (was clear lid & white plastic bottom) for about " $10 " in 2006 & it lasted me for ages & is now packed away in brilliant condition.

(Would have loved an electric sterisler but I didn't have the bench room (believe me you won't want to be pulling it out of the cupboard several times a day :rolleyes:

ALL THE BEST ... and don't let the subject of breastfeeding concern you - You can only do what you can do :hug:

i didnt get anything either til around 2 weeks when i really needed to express as DD was only having one side a feed!
i bought a medela pump and avent bottles, only two though, i used to sterilise things in a saucepan on the stove til i got a $5 microwave vegetable steamer from go-lo, worked a treat and cost next to nothing!!

DS has had FF here & there & he still prefers the BF.
He will still take both with no probs.

Ren - dont forget all babies are different and so too are our BB's. What has worked for some of the girls (not having to express ect) didnt work for me (I had to express to get my supply up).

I dont think it hurts to be prepared....you can always sell it on ebay or pass it on to another expectant mother

Good luck in your quest babe

I wouldn't be too worried about getting bottles and a steriliser. I agree with MantaRay, if you need them then you can get them later. If you are really worried though, maybe just get a few 'cheapies'.
I think sometimes if you have bottles, formula sitting there it can possibly be a bit tempting IYKWIM. I'm definitely not saying this goes for everyone, but sometimes in those moments where you feel under pressure from breastfeeding it's easy to think that giving bub a bottle if it's sitting in your house (EBM OR formula) is an easier solution when it's not. If you are keen to just have bub take the breast plan for that I say! :)

I agree with the other girls about the Medela Swing. I think it's a great little pump. But I don't think a pump is a neccessity either. But there has been a handful of times where my pump has given me a whole heap of relief when I was bursting! I think if you run into a few troubles, you can easily hire a pump then or decide that it's worth buying one. Depends on your money situation I guess.

Thanks girls for your help. It's great hearing everyone's different perspectives, views and what worked and what didnt' work for each of you.

I've decided I'm going to buy the Medela Swing electric pump! It seems like a great pump and i've heard alot of great feedback about it. I'll keep it in it's packaging and if it doesn't get used, like Maz said, i can just sell it on E-bay!

I'm looking forward to this breastfeeding class in Nov :D

Im getting myself a Swing this time....(how nice is it to get them cheap :P) i have millions of bottles already.

I to planned to BF with DD1....bought a few bottles...not a pump though...and BF failed.

DD2 came along....BF and hired a pump

This time regardless im getting a pump...and i know im not wasting my money, i know the products well...so im gunna go with the flow!

Like everyone has said, what works for some won't work for others and all bb's are different lol!

I felt like I needed to be prepared for anything and so I bought an Avent manual pump which came with 2 small bottles. I left it in the wrapper thinking I wouldn't need it but ended up using in on day 8 after DD was born because my nipples were so so sore and I couldn't handle DD sucking anymore. So in my case I was so glad I was prepared and I could just whip out the pump to gently express while my nipples healed! DD was fine going from nipple to teat and vice versa. I never had an issue with that pump (and 2 of my friends have since borrowed it and then bought one!) but have also heard great things about Medela.

Great that you are going to a breasfeeding class, I'm sure that will give you a head start. And don't worry about it all too much hun!

I had to pump to boost my supply and having already bought one would have been handy (cause it's also handy to just have in the house anyway even if you don't use EBM- I've pulled it out to get some milk for gunky eyes, express when a bit engorged). I wouldn't bother with many bottles or a steriliser though. As we just use it very infrequently I sterilise by boiling in a pot on the stove- no extra gadgets required.
Oh, and I wouldn't buy formula just in case. Having had very low supply and ending up needing some formula for a few days take it from me you get PLENTY of warning and working through it before you need to crack open formula if it comes to that.

Hey Renstar,
How ya going gf? I see you have plenty of feedback already and mine dosent seem a lot different either. As this is baby number 3 for me and my wonderful lil sis has just had baby number 1 I have experience at both ends of the spectrum.
I have just renewed my aba membership too. So many reasons why. There bras are great as far as sizing and pricing. They have a great range of pumps and parts that are discounted for aba members. The phone support line and of course the mag.
So you can hire a medela lactaset from most local pharmacies( i worked in pharmacies for over ten years;they usually require a deposit and are considerably dearer then aba),and of course at aba the hire rate is 50%off for members.
I [
purchased the medela swing for my sister and as a first time mum she loved it. She said very quiet,easy to use,lightweight and fast. Having watched her express i would definetley agree. Can't wait to use it now that she is no longer bf. You will probably pay around 260-300 retail, but a great investment.
I am planning to buy two bottles. I like the new mam ones they are also shaped like mothers breast(but my other babes had no problem with dummy/teat/nipple confusion) and they are BPA free.(you might want to read up on that) The bottles that come with the medela swing arent bpa free or a good shape,so they wont be used. Essentially the drift i got about bpa is that the polycarbonate plastic used in SOME bottles MAY leach chemicals into the heated baby milk.
As for the formula;still sitting on the fence with that one. I think for my sanity i will probably keep a couple of s26 gold box packs(like a little juice box-ready made) in the pantry. As I'm back in the domain of single mumdom i just want to try and anticipate problems rather than driving around at midnight with two cranky kids and a screaming baby with me at my witts end trying to find a chemist open. I will though try and get my supply up quickly so i can try and get an adequate store in the freezer,so add breast milk storage bags to that list. That way if i need to do a top up, or have a break or if my 11 year old wants to feed his lil bro then thats cool too. I imagine this post is quite lengthy but i hope it helps.
Love
Pauline

You know, I think I would take the money and buy a subscription to the Australian Breastfeeding Association and spend another $20 for you and your partner to attend a class.
The best think about breastfeeding is ...it's free. And the system works, usually really, really well.
Did you knw you don't have to sterilise your pump or bottles if you are using breastmilk? Just a rinse with cold water, a hot soapy wash, another rinse and you are set to go. No sterilising required.
I fed 2 or my children without bottles or pumps - it was probably the most relaxed time of my life.
If like throws up those circumstances where you do need bottles or a pumps, you can easily get them then.
Warm Regards
Barb

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Wow thank you all so much for your replies!! Sooooo helpful..

Daniellabella - so your DD didn't get turned off breastmilk after having formula a few times?? I hear stories and it worries me!!

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No she didn't at all. After she first got babysat, I decided to try 1 bottle a day so she was used to bottles which made it easier for being babysat. Then I got slack and didn't give her bottles for several weeks which made it really hard when I went back to work and she started daycare. Her first day of daycare she refused to take the bottle which is when I decided I had to do 50/50 for a while however after a short time that wound up in stopping breastfeeding.

I bought a couple of bottles & teat before DD was born JIC. I didnt buy a breast pump until 3 days ago (so she was over a month old) and I havent used it yet, Its more for if we are going out and we are leaving DD with the IL's for long enough that she'll need a feed, in saying that the midwives at the hospital taught me how to hand express.
I bought the madella(sp?) manual breast pump, it was about $40 because I didnt see the point in getting anything to fancy because it wouldnt get used very often.

I got a kit with a couple of the avent bottles in it as well as the microwave steriliser. I also brought a few of those S26 readymade tetra packs of formula to keep in the cupboard jic. I found the bottles were also handy for cooled boiled water, esp seeing as we were heading into summer. I was adament that I was going to breastfeed but didn't want to be running all over town to get formula and bottles in case of emergency.
My DD never had a problem with going between teats and my nipples, I put it down to giving her the water in a bottle as well as the occasional formula feed when I had to go out. (Had huge troubles expressing).
I have found the Avent bottles and teats great. And my sister used the Avent manual pump and has had no problems. I would say an electric one would be better due to it being quicker and easier on the old arm muscles. ;)

Good luck

While I understand where many of the posters are coming from in saying leave getting a pump and bottle unless it comes to a point when you need it. In our experience, however, it was half 11 on a sat night when I needed a pump so wouldn't have been able to get one at that time. Luckily I had picked up a steriliser and pump set (AVent manual) which had bottles and heaps of other stuff in it on offer. When it came to it, on day 4, we had to start feeding our little one every three hours, due to her juandice making her really sleepy so she didn't want to wake up for a feed, we had to feed her this often to get the juandice through, but at 7pm, she decided that she did not want to attach, and by 11 had still not had a feed, even though we had tried everything that the midwife recommend, we ended up getting out the pump and gently spoon feeding her, until we saw the midwife the next day who gave us a syringe - there was nothing wrong with the way i was attaching, she was just too tired to attach and stay on. Anyway, we carried on doing that for another 48 hours, so I am so glad I had the pump already, or else it would have been formula for us i think.

I wouldnt get the small size bottles. Although, they are cute, you may not need them if you are BF and then end up not using them and wasting money.

If you want, get bigger bottles so you can use them after you decide to stop BF.

Good luck!

Hi
With bf, I think that it's important that you plan for success and doing the ABA bf classes is probably a great way to start - I wish I'd done one.
I see you've already decided to buy the pump, which will probably come in handy, but as for bottles and sterlizers etc, I personally wouldn't buy anything like that for now - just wait and see how you go. As someone else mentioned, having bottles etc can be a temptation to use ebm or ff. There will be times when your baby is really fussy and wanting to feed all the time and you're tired and just want a break, but in those early weeks when you're getting bf established it's best to stick to bf.
I know sometimes ff etc is necessary - but you should get some warning of that and will be able to go get what you need if and when it happens.
Good luck

I didn't buy anything till I was home. I had loads of milk (multiple let downs galore) and hand expressing to take the edge off was taking too much time.
I got the avent manual pump. It came with 2 bottles and to sterilise I boiled what I needed in a big saucepan on the stove.
As it was I went back to TAFE p/t when Mason was 6 weeks old so would have needed to get one anyway.

I never bought bottles for any of my 4 kids beforehand. Bottles, like most things, can be bought when you need them. If you need them at 6 weeks because you need to go out, buy them then. Why would you buy something you don't know if you'll ever need? It's like buying crutches in case you break your leg. And I think having bottles or formula in the house can be self-defeating, psychologically. It's easy to reach for it when it's all hurting and you're tired, and then thinking you did the best thing, when often, like most things, once you're over that hurdle you're glad to have persisted.

I was only 19 when I was pg to my first, and was just sure that I was going to BF (didn't occur to me that I mightn't be able to) and we were very poor so I did not have the money or the resources to buy bottles and formula 'just to be on the safe side'. It was the best thing for me and for my DD, because the fact that I honestly had not one expectation of not succeeding at BF was in fact the biggest motivator to actually succeed!

On the weekend we bought 4 pack of bottles (Tommee Tippee) for mothers breastfeeding & bottlefeeding. The teat is very similar to the nipple (it says anyway). This is so i can feed our baby expressed breastmilk only. I don't want to use formula.
I spoke to a mother of two in Target at the time who was very helpful and recommended them to me. She said those and Avent were great (for her kids anyway).
And they were on special! :lol:

We are not buying formula (unless medically i can't breastfeed but i should be able to) and will buy the breast pump probably once the baby is born.

I won't buy a bottle steriliser (as I don't intend to use bottles all the time anyway, mainly breast!!) and just use the stove with boiling water.

I've decided I will get the midwives at the hospital to teach me how to 'hand express' first before i even try to use an electric pump.

Thanks everyone.

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Do I still buy a couple of bottles, teats, steriliser just incase i need it one day? As in, would I need to start expressing and needing a bottle for this?

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...DONT !. IF you plan on breastfeeding, dont have that mentality of 'just incase'....coz once you come across one hiccup during breastfeeding, esp in the first few days, believe me, you will resort to that 'just incase bottle' you bought.

Great advice by other ladies, no need to repeat myself.

If you intend to be with baby for its first few weeks of life....then IMO i dont think you need a sterilizer, bottle etc. Your boobs will do just fine.

BTW, there is no need to sterilise bottles, teats, breast pump etc for breast milk. The health guidelines now state that this is not necessary. Even in hossy with a nb nothing was sterilised (it was for our first use as it would have been used for other babies first, but not in between uses IYKWIM).

Good idea about learning to hand express - I've heard it's the best way but havn't been able to get the knack myself.