Fantastic tips!!! Thankyou.

Hi Mize - I'm afraid I don't know, it was the community midwife who told me but I'd already bought some, so it might be worth asking your midwife - she should know.

xx

great tips ladies!

I agree re: the lansinoh nipple cream, definitely buy a tube to begin with as it's such a lifesaver particularly the first 3-4 days

I also bought the lansinoh "latch assist", my nipples were really flat towards the end of my pregnancy and again, i used it most in the first couple of days to draw my nipples out before offering Toby the breast and it made it easier for him to latch on straight away. By about the fourth day i didn't need it anymore as my nipples were well and truly 'out" and even responded to him crying (!) , but i'd still say it was worth the £8 for how useful it was in those early days.

And definitely buy more maternity pads than you think you'll need. I ended up being in hospital 5 days and went through 3 packs in that time alone (as well as the hospital ones which were given to me during labour and straight after) I prefered the proper maternity pads to sanitary towels at first as they were comfier for my stitches. I didn't switch to sanitary towels until after the first week. Again i'd buy more than you think you'll need as well, i had to go buy a truck load more again yesterday Its easier and less stressful if you already have everything to hand.

And when it comes to labour and birth my number one top tip would just to be keep an open mind, as you never know how things are going to go or how you might feel

Hope that helps!