How is your experience with breastfeeding?

I am almost 37 weeks and I want to breastfeed. I am not sure if it will work out though so I am waiting to buy a breast pump. Do you think a breast pump is needed when you breastfeed? And what kind would you say is good and what do I need for breastfeeding...like nursing bras pads etc?

my first baby refused to breast feed, absolutely wanted no part of it. so instead of fighting him all the time i just switched to formula, couldn't starve the baby!

my second loves breast feeding, however i can't do it all the time because of personal reasons.

breast pumps are necessary for a breast feeding mother, however some babies just will not take it no matter what... i would say save your money until you know for sure whether your baby will take breast feeding or not.

If you choose to buy one (and I would) make sure you get the automatic kind and not the manual kind. Also, if price is not too big of an issue, I would get a double pump, so you can get done twice as fast (it takes a little while and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a room for half an hour while everyone is gushing over your new baby). Is one needed? Probably not, but it makes things very convenient. You can bottle your breastmilk and others can join and help with feedings, and it makes it so much better in public, rather than pulling your boob out in a crowded restaurant. (I've only seen maybe one or two women ever who could pull this off without being conspicuous).

Regardless to whether you buy a pump or not, you will definitely need the nursing pads, because milk will leak out!

Medela Breast Pumps are some of the best on the market and the single design is fairly inexpensive. Having one is a good idea to a) increase your milk supply by pumping between feedings and b) be able to store milk to be bottle fed by another caretaker (most breastfed babies won't take bottles from mom).
Recommended breastfeeding equipment:
Nursing bras (1 sleeping bra and 2 "going out" bras)
Nursing pads (I recommend the Lansinoh brand)
a Boppy or a bunch of extra throw pillows
100% pure lanolin creme for your nipples (Lansinoh makes a great one)
a nursing cover (a blanket works too!)
Hot/cold breast packs to ease engorgement and soreness

Good Luck!!

I am breast feeding. First time mom. Its been about a week breastfeeding for me. My breasts are very sore. Im told it'll stop the more they get nursed on. Pads are a must! I didn't use them one night and had a pool of either milk or colostrum. lol. after that ive been wearing a bra and pads. I am going to get a breast pump. They are good to have just in case you need to go some where and cant or don't want to take baby, your husband or babysitter will be able to feed the baby. Just a thought. Hope I helped. My boobs hurt but i am determined to do this.

Nipple Shields help get the baby latch on. My hospitol gave me one and it helped get my son latched on. You should try getting one, plus i dont find it very painful when im using it, but when im not it hurts worse.

I think a breast pump is very useful to have. For starters I found it good in the beginning when my breast got engorged and needed to release some milk ... just enough to be comfortable. The other great uses are to express milk if you want to go out (it is helpful to have a bottle of milk if you don't want to feed in public etc.) Also I used to express milk so I could go to yoga classes in the evening and my husband could stay at home with bubs and have plenty supply of mummy milk. The other advantage is, if you would like your hubby to help out with night feeds, he has no excuse not to help cos you can express a bottle or two for the night/early morn feeds. In the beginning I had to get up every 2 hours to feed, so it was nice when my husband got up at 5am for work that he did feed and I got to sleep in. Your husband will enjoy spending time with bubs as well.

What you will need:
Lots of breast pads ( you will find you have a few accidents and have leaky boobs - I have been out and about and looked down and had big milk patches on my top - embarrassing!)

Avent express pump & bottles

Nursing bras and easy access tops.

A feeding pillow or something to prob bubs up on, it can get quite tiring feeding baby for long periods of time.

A comfy chair

An alert, healthy newborn infant can latch on to the mother's breast with little or no help. Babies are born knowing how to find the breast and suckle all by themselves. All they need is a chance to practice. The more milk your baby removes from the breasts the more milk you will make. Immediately after birth, ask the hospital to delay unnecessary procedures, if possible, and to allow you and your partner some quiet time to snuggle with your baby during the first hour or two.

Breast feeding was simple for us... it came naturally and if you are going to be with the baby the whole time then a breast pump isn't really need unless you are going to leave ur baby in someone elses care. if breastfeeding is being difficult while ur hospital stay u can ask the nurse for assistance and they will help the two of you fix the problem... you can wait for the breast pump I would... nursing pads are amazing because your breast do leak ALOT I would also invest in a sports bra for at night because if you were like me it might not take long for your breast to become engorged with milk... and well a regular bra just let my milk leak ALL over me in the middle of the night. i could've fed triplets with the amount of milk I produced. lol... but good luck and don't be afraid to ask for help...

I never used a breast pump, but if you plan to go to work or out a lot you may be glad you have one.If your baby doesn't latch on right away, or if your milk is slow coming in, do not become discouraged. It will happen and is so good for baby and also rewarding for the mom.
You'll definitely need the pads and the cream for your nipples....can't think of the name.

a breast pump is very necessary, if ur breasts get engorged it may be hard for ur baby to latch on properly and u will need to pump the milk out because engorged breasts are very painful
u will definitely need nursing pads, i forgot to wear them one day and both sides of my shirt was soaked

Breastfeeding is going to be a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it. Just know that for the first few months your baby is going to want to nurse constantly. As long as he/she is gaining weight do not worry about him/her getting enough milk. My doctor had me go in a few days after I came home to make sure my son was gaining weight.

Definitely buy a breast pump. If you are going back to work, make sure you get one specifically for frequent pumping. Medela makes a very good one, but it is a bit expensive. If you are not going back to work, a manual one will do. Pumps are nice if you are going to leave the baby with a sitter or with hubby to get some errands done. They are also nice when your breasts are uncomfortably engorged. For the first few weeks your breasts will get engorged pretty often, because your body is trying to adjust to how much your baby needs.

Nursing pads are a must. You will want to wear them at all times. Make sure you get large ones. I bought the Gerber ones and leaked through them in no time. I like the ones made by Lansinoh. They held quite a bit.

Nursing bras are nice when you are sitting around the house. I hated them because I couldn't wear them with a tank top. They cover a bit too much. I used mine while I was home and would put on a regular bra when I went out. As long as you can pull the bra down to show your breast, it will work. Tank tops are the best to wear, because you can just pull them down instead of having to lift your entire shirt.

As far as anything else you need...make sure you have something to store your pumped milk in. Most pumps come with some storage containers, but you'll need more if you will be working and pumping. You'll also want to buy a couple bottles so your babysitter or hubby can feed the baby. Try to buy some that have nipples shaped more like the breast. You will want slow flow nipples so baby doesn't start prefering the bottle to the breast, because they get fed faster.

That's really all I can think of right now, but good luck. Just remember it is normal for the baby to want to nurse almost on a constant basis for the first month or two. Try not to get too frustrated. It really is worth it.

Unless you plan to store your breast milk, don't buy a pump yet. A breast pump doesn't mimic the natural suckling of a baby, and hence will not increase milk production as much. I have a friend who is still breastfeeding her 2 1/2 yr old and has never used a pump or a bottle. Obviously not ideal for everyone's situation, but just remember that a pump isn't a good indicator of how much milk you are producing, and isn't as good as putting baby to breast.

The colostrum that comes out the first few days is enough to keep your baby full and healthy, at least until your milk comes in.

Put baby to breast as much as you can. The milk goes on supply and demand, the more your baby suckles, the more milk will be produced. It's important to remember this fact as you go into the growth spurts...it will seem like he/she is on the breast all the time, and that's very normal. By doing that, your baby is telling your breasts to make more milk.

Skin to skin contact is also very important. When possible, cuddle with your baby wearing very little (in private, of course) and having your baby just in diaper. This stimulates the production of oxytocin (the bonding hormone, which also stimulates milk production).

Also, get in contact with a lactation consultant, who can give you pointers to increase your chances of successful breastfeeding. La Leche League is a great resource.

By pumping and giving your baby a bottle of breastmilk, it can cause nipple confusion: since it is much easier to get milk out of the bottle, baby's latch essentially becomes very lazy, which can cause difficulties breastfeeding. Try to avoid giving bottles whenever possible.

All in all, be confident and persistent! A stressed out mother has more difficulty producing milk than one who is relaxed and confident in her ability to feed her child. It's a great bonding experience to have with your child, but you need to believe in your ability to breastfeed.