Hellobee Boards

My survival kit included:
Boppy with a water proof liner
A supporting and easy nursing bra
A sleep nursing bra
Nursing tanks or other tops that have easy access
A water bottle (the kind you can operate with one hand without having to tip it up) - I was ALWAYS thirsty when breastfeeding.

I bought breast pads but ended up not needing them. Also the hospital gave me a ton of nipple cream which lasted me the entire time (although again, I ended up not really needing it that much.)

@Meowkers: Oh, gosh, yes, the nursing tanks were my best friend. I liked the Target ones.

For me the essentials were:
My Brest Friend (I liked this over the Boppy, personally. Only had one cover but I just put one of the 8 million flannels receiving blankets over it)
Nipple cream (alternated between the earth angel mama one, and regular lansinoh lanolin)
Breast pads- I definitely leaked a fair amount early on, especially at night
Nursing tanks and a couple of comfy nursing bras- though initially I just wore the tanks a ton since it was so easy. Cheap stretchy target ones were fine in the beginning

And I whole heartedly agree on the water bottle. I have a contigo straw one that's perfect, doesn't leak or break if it falls, pops open one handed, easy to drink from. I was using an iced coffee type straw cup and broke three kids from dropping it.

Hydrogel pads (like those from Ameda) were 100% essential for me. I had cracked nipples for about a week or two and those helped me heal way better than nipple cream and breast pads.

I got a couple pairs in the hospital but ended up needing about four pairs (you wear them for about three to five days and then toss them).

I also needed breast shells while I was dealing with engorgement because they helped draw out my nipple. But my LC said to only use them about an hour before a feeding because they could potentially put too much pressure on the breast and cause a clog. I only used them for about two weeks but I felt like they were so so so helpful.

You got great advice already - but I'd like to add bring nipple cream to hospital and use it immediately every time after your babe nurses.... It will truly help!

Also for water bottle, I liked the CamelBack ones because I could just lift and drink (didn't have to unscrew a lid).

In the early days, BFing required 2 hands. So if I could even get one hand free to take a drink it was a luxury!

I preferred the MyBrestFriend to the boppy

i wore a nursing bra for NIP and my brest friend pillow was essential at home the first few months.

I had bought nipple cream, but ended up returning it as i never used it. And i used breast pads for a few weeks max.

Don't forget about snacks. Breastfeeding makes you more hungry than you've ever been, even when pregnant! You need high-energy and high-protein snacks you can easily grab and scarf down, like string cheese and yogurt and energy bars.

Also, infant Vitamin D drops. Breastfed infants require supplemental D every day. Get the super concentrated kind so you only have to give them a drop a day.

Prenatal vitamins too! You have to keep taking them as long as you are breastfeeding. Stock up.

Lastly, find out allll the detailed info you can about where to access a good lactation consultant. It's possible you'll need to see one immediately and you will thank yourself later if you already know where they are, how to get there, whether there is a copay, if you can get someone to visit you in-home, etc.

@MrsF: OMG yes!!! This is a must have!! We have 3 now!

@hellobeeboston: Haha - we have two in our room and one in each of the kids' rooms. I should start giving them out at baby showers!

@oliviaoblivia: I did too. I think it really helped.

I'm 2 weeks in and so far these are the things I use the most:
-nursing tanks
-coconut oil as nipple cream
-breast pads
-boppy (I use this half the time. I could get by without it).
-burp cloths (DD likes to pop off so I have one nearby to prevent milk from spraying everywhere).

"nothing" in a pinch I would use my knees to prop up baby in the middle of the night, forget where balm was, and sleep on a towel.
Daytime I used burp cloths, boppy, sometimes lanolin, and a good nursing bra. Low cut shirt or dress, or shirt I could pull up--- I didn't need to shop for clothes besides bras.
Definitely second the water bottle for you.