Breastfeeding help!

I found a lot of the posts on this blog helpful when I was picking a pump https://www.karingforpostpartum.com/blog/portable-pump-comparison

You can buy sterilizing bags for the microwave. Makes it easier if you don't want to buy a sterilizer or boil everything. Sterilizing tabs don't work...youre sterilizing everything including your pump gear.
Momcozy is popular but it destroys people's nipples so be wary. They're sold as singles and doubles because some people want to pump both breasts at the same time and some people don't want to.

I predominantly nurse, and occasionally will pump and bottle feed. And I bought a 3 pack of bottles, and that was more than sufficient.

Single pumps are usually cheaper and you can always pump a side and feed baby on the other. Double pumps make it faster and easier to pump when you are doing it between baby feeds. Just remember that your body adjusts to baby’s needs so if you want to pump extra you need to consistently do that even if it’s only once a day.

Your pump may come with bottles that screw straight into the pump, so with a double pump you probably would get 3-4 bottles so you may not have to buy any additional bottles which saves money. If you need to buy then get larger sized bottles you will not need to upgrade as baby starts to need more (you just need to get larger teat sizes)

I had a steriliser machine for baby 1 then with baby 2 I just used the microwave bags. Each bag usually can be used 20 times. You can also sterilise other things in there like dummies. I use Milton bottle cleaner for everything. Try not to use normal washing liquid.

You can always sterilise on the stove if you're short on cash

Also, with a pump, you will need to know your nipple size to use it properly. I had no idea I have smaller than normal nipples and needed to buy extra parts just to use the pump!

Good luck!

Not sure about the breast pumps but for bottles MAM have anti-colic self sterilising bottles, I had them and they are great. You put water in the base and stack them up correctly and then they go in the microwave, i honestly loved these bottles especially because I didn’t have space to get a steriliser!x

I have momcozy S9 pro. I wouldn’t say they’re amazing but I have nothing to compare them to. They get the job done 🤷🏻‍♀️. My LO is a year now and i mostly breastfed the first year. Using my pump more now when trying to wean and mixing with whole milk etc. We bought six MAM bottles but she refused a bottle anyway we never offered often enough. I just bought a spare basin and used a cold water steriliser for my breast pump. But also had a microwave steriliser that I just kept in there as we don’t have a lot of space. I also had a haaka which comes in handy when your other breast is leaking. It’s a lot to learn when starting to breastfeed but you’ll get there 😊

There is bottles called Tommy tippee and they are actually self sterilizing. You put water in them and then into the microwave and then they sit for about 15 minutes.
For the breast pump I used the hands free mom cozy pump and it worked well enough for me for twins lol.
Hands free pump is the way to go honestly tho.