In the first few weeks I would say I went through about 5/6 pairs of breastpads in 24 hours until my supply settled down. Now I use one pair and change them each evening after a shower, although tbh they would probably do another day if needed. I dont leak so much now, but do have the odd day where we miss a feed or after a growth spurt and have excess milk, so wouldnt dare go without them yet.
As regards the breastpump, it depends really on its use. If you intend to express a lot, then I would say get an electric pump as the manual ones can be hard work on your hands/wrists. If it is just for the occassional feed then a manual will work fine or you might even be able to hand express enough for the odd feed. I used a manual pump with my first baby, which worked just fine but hardly ever used it tbh. This time I havent needed to express yet, but I know I could hand express a good feed if I needed to so havent bothered with a pump.
Nipple cream...hmmm, if this is your first attempt at fully breastfeeding then I would say defo get some. The first few days especially can be really tough on your nips, even if you crack the latch straight away your nips will be tender until they toughen up and lansinoh will work wonders to ease them. However if you have fed before and are confident in it, then you will prob manage without it. I went through 2 tubes of lansinoh when feeding my son, but this time bought a tube in preparation and havent even touched it. Your nipples are definitely tougher second time around!
When out in public I usually breastfeed. Havent expressed a drop this time, although with my first I was a little more bashful about it and sometimes took a bottle of EBM. Once you have fed in public the first few times you lose your inhibitions and find it quite liberating almost!
Doesnt bother me at all now, although I do always try to be discreet about it. Most people dont even notice, or if they do they dont make it known, but you do get the odd one who feels a bit awkward or embarrased by it, as if they have seen something extremely intimate. I can understand this so always try to minimise the view iykwim!
For bottles I would suggest getting some that are supposed to mimic the breast, so probably the tommee tippee ctn or NUK ones. I have bought a couple of the CTN bottles this time in case we ever need them, but at the moment are still in the boxes. With my first baby though, we used the Avent bottles which were one of the better ones at the time. There is much more choice now though.
As for the dummies, I dont think you can generalise all babies into one category. Both of my babies have been breastfed to start with, my son never had a dummy and never showed any signs of wanting one, but my daughter has had one from about 6 weeks or so. We only use it occassionally though, sometimes at night as a soother or otherwise to pacify her for ten minutes whilst I am cooking dinner or something until I am free to feed her. I hate them tbh, but she is a very suckly baby and always wants something in her mouth. She uses it less and less now she can find her own hands though, thankfully. We hope to bin it completely within the next few weeks before she gets too old and will miss it!
Hope this helps. Good luck with the BF! x
Thanx Ladies.
I find it more hassle than its worth to express to feed when out. Having to sterilse bottles etc and then warm them up. Its never been a problem for us anywhere. Plus I never gave LO expressed feeds as it confused him, so was always OH's thing. 
did you now 
