"newborn essentials" that you would recommend

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you are delivering but if Sibley, don't worry about getting RTF formula (if you're planning to BF)! They will provide it if you need it for any reason, or if you ask for it. They sent us home with more than we even ended up needing.

All that said, this is not an essential item but even if you're planning to BF, spend some time researching and becoming comfortable with formula because you may end up needing it or needing to switch to it suddenly. I was planning to EBF and had to start supplementing around 6 weeks, and was so glad I'd already researched "just in case" before the baby was here because I had no time at that point, and knew exactly what options I wanted to try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good list given by all. I am going to add a few of mine.

I would add 2 caps and some socks. A baby hair brush and comb.
Also nosefrieda and temporal thermometer
Desitin original. (stinks but saves)

Baby bath tub, no tears shampoo, bath towel with hood.

Furniture - I never bought a changing table. I had a waterproof rubber sheet and that was used on the floor or my bed to change. I did buy a crib and a glider for sitting while breastfeeding.

DH bought me frozen sanitary pads, donut pillow and sitz bath from a medical supply store.

For breastfeeding - lanonin for nipples and "mybrestfriend" pillow

You will need appropriate weather accessories if it is cold- caps, coveralls, blankets etc.

These were all provided to me at the hospital (INOVA Fairfax) except for the donut pillow, which I didn't need. I never used the sitz bath either. I did use the "padcicles" and the little squirt bottle though. You can get most of the post-partum must haves from the hospital. Things I remember the hospital giving me:

- large basin for sponge bath (I use it now to wash bottles and pump parts)
- pump parts for hospital grade pump
- feeding syringes and cups
- baby shampoo
- baby comb
- digital thermometer (although I didn't get one with baby #2)
- lanolin cream (ask lactation consultant)
- gel nipple pads (ask lactation consultant)
- bulbous syringe
- soothie pacifiers
- 2 or 3 knit hats
- nb diapers (whatever was open and they also gave us a fresh pack of 20)
- pack of wipes (whatever was open)
- RTF formula (whatever was open plus fresh pack of 4)
- witch hazel pads
- ice pads
- sanitary pads
- mesh underwear
- perineal anti itch/cooling spray
- squeeze bottle
- wet wipes
- sitz bath

For post-natal stuff, I'd get a few nursing bras/tops. I bought a ton of reusable breast pads, but I never leaked, so they were a waste. I'd get a pack of disposable breast pads to hold you over and then get reusable (bamboobies) if you actually need them.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Still taking notes, so glad i posted this question here! Thank you all

[Anonymous]

OP, as soon as you have the baby make an appointment with a lactation consultant (I used the Breastfeeding Center in DC and they were good, and didn't try to sell me anything - I heard some horror stories about that with other places).

It's completely, completely fine to supplement with formula. BUT, breastfeeding is a demand-based system, and babies cry and nurse a lot in the beginning even if your supply is fine - that's how you get supply. You really need someone knowledgable to help you figure out if you're on track in what can be a difficult but normal process, or if your baby needs more food and supplementing would be best.

Of course, you can also decide to supplement for a lot of reasons not related to your milk supply. But if that's what you're worried about, I'd recommend you get at least one expert opinion. I know everything is harder with covid, of course.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and a big bottle of advil for postpartum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, as soon as you have the baby make an appointment with a lactation consultant (I used the Breastfeeding Center in DC and they were good, and didn't try to sell me anything - I heard some horror stories about that with other places).

It's completely, completely fine to supplement with formula. BUT, breastfeeding is a demand-based system, and babies cry and nurse a lot in the beginning even if your supply is fine - that's how you get supply. You really need someone knowledgable to help you figure out if you're on track in what can be a difficult but normal process, or if your baby needs more food and supplementing would be best.

Of course, you can also decide to supplement for a lot of reasons not related to your milk supply. But if that's what you're worried about, I'd recommend you get at least one expert opinion. I know everything is harder with covid, of course.

I used Metropolitan Breastfeeding but I agree. To he clear, the lactation consultant from there helped me formula supplement in the first week (my son's weight had dipped too much). Not all lactation consultants are anti-formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good list given by all. I am going to add a few of mine.

I would add 2 caps and some socks. A baby hair brush and comb.
Also nosefrieda and temporal thermometer
Desitin original. (stinks but saves)

Baby bath tub, no tears shampoo, bath towel with hood.

Furniture - I never bought a changing table. I had a waterproof rubber sheet and that was used on the floor or my bed to change. I did buy a crib and a glider for sitting while breastfeeding.

DH bought me frozen sanitary pads, donut pillow and sitz bath from a medical supply store.

For breastfeeding - lanonin for nipples and "mybrestfriend" pillow

You will need appropriate weather accessories if it is cold- caps, coveralls, blankets etc.

+1 on the baby hats. Newborns are hard to find so don't expect you can cross them off at walmart

I would say the change table was essential for me because my back was killing me and that didnt immediately fix itself after baby came, so this is an example of using your common sense. It gave us a place to pile 500lbs of baby gear

If you don't have a bath tub I would say a sitz bath is essential. If your husband is taking off (i.e. you will actually get 20 minutes a day to yourself) and you have a bath tub you can put epsom salts in the bath

A rubber sheet on our bed saved our mattress from post partum blood stains and I assume some day in the future there will be a "mommy my tummy hurts BLEEEEEE" event

There are baby sleeping bag things for strollers. Don't forget the rain shield thing esp with covid (although I think someone mentioned it)

Humidifier. A fan in baby's room supposedly lowers SIDS. A light that you can use to change diapers without waking the whole house up.

Underwireless nursing bra and a black nursing gown for the hospital

Also, poke around for freebies. Ask your mom friends. Some maternity stores have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as soon as you have the baby make an appointment with a lactation consultant (I used the Breastfeeding Center in DC and they were good, and didn't try to sell me anything - I heard some horror stories about that with other places).

It's completely, completely fine to supplement with formula. BUT, breastfeeding is a demand-based system, and babies cry and nurse a lot in the beginning even if your supply is fine - that's how you get supply. You really need someone knowledgable to help you figure out if you're on track in what can be a difficult but normal process, or if your baby needs more food and supplementing would be best.

Of course, you can also decide to supplement for a lot of reasons not related to your milk supply. But if that's what you're worried about, I'd recommend you get at least one expert opinion. I know everything is harder with covid, of course.

I used Metropolitan Breastfeeding but I agree. To he clear, the lactation consultant from there helped me formula supplement in the first week (my son's weight had dipped too much). Not all lactation consultants are anti-formula.

I like to give a little formula the first few days to get the meconium out to keep ahead of jaundice. You can give formula in a little medicine cup or a 5ml syringe if you are worried about nipple confusion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and a big bottle of advil for postpartum.

My hospital had me on ibuprofen and acetaminophen but a weird dose so try to find pills w/ the smallest amount possible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as soon as you have the baby make an appointment with a lactation consultant (I used the Breastfeeding Center in DC and they were good, and didn't try to sell me anything - I heard some horror stories about that with other places).

It's completely, completely fine to supplement with formula. BUT, breastfeeding is a demand-based system, and babies cry and nurse a lot in the beginning even if your supply is fine - that's how you get supply. You really need someone knowledgable to help you figure out if you're on track in what can be a difficult but normal process, or if your baby needs more food and supplementing would be best.

Of course, you can also decide to supplement for a lot of reasons not related to your milk supply. But if that's what you're worried about, I'd recommend you get at least one expert opinion. I know everything is harder with covid, of course.

I used Metropolitan Breastfeeding but I agree. To he clear, the lactation consultant from there helped me formula supplement in the first week (my son's weight had dipped too much). Not all lactation consultants are anti-formula.

I like to give a little formula the first few days to get the meconium out to keep ahead of jaundice. You can give formula in a little medicine cup or a 5ml syringe if you are worried about nipple confusion

We used the little syringe for formula the first few days, because the nipple that came with the RTF bottle was too big. The hospital gives a stack of medicine cups and 1ml syringes for hand expressing colostrum, but I gave up on that after about 5 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and a big bottle of advil for postpartum.

My hospital had me on ibuprofen and acetaminophen but a weird dose so try to find pills w/ the smallest amount possible

They sent me home with a week's worth of ibuprofen 600 for vaginal delivery.

[Anonymous]

Have both Ibuprofen and Tylenol/acetaminophen so you can alternate. Ibuprofen will bother my stomach on high doses after a few days but of course you have to be careful with tylenol (if you're taking an opiod post c section it might have tylenol mixed in so be careful)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought a ton of reusable breast pads, but I never leaked, so they were a waste. I'd get a pack of disposable breast pads to hold you over and then get reusable (bamboobies) if you actually need them.

I didn't leak either and I overbought menstrual pads both times. I gave the extra menstrual pads away to a food pantry. They accept them if they're not open.