Things to Borrow:

1. Newborn carseat: You will use this type of carseat only for a few months before having to transition to something larger. Infant carseats tend to be expensive and short-lived. If you are planning to buy one, we recommend Graco or Peg Perego. Newborn carseats typically last until infants are about 20-22 pounds.
2. Furniture, e.g. crib, cradle, etc: Furniture is expensive. If you can borrow the essentials, do so. Remember, as a new parent, you will want to buy things and have it ready before the baby arrives. However, try to resist the urge to completely furnish the nursery until you figure out what furniture you really need. It is much harder to get rid of things than to acquire.
   
3. Baby Care Books: Every new Mom has some type of book. Borrow these if you can. Also, most of the same information is available on the Web. One book that Thuy found indispensable initially was The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Higgins. Breastfeeding is not as easy and natural as one thinks it should be. (Note that Thuy also received an abridged copy of this book from her OB, courtesy of one of the baby formula companies.)
4. Nursing Pillow: Some people swear by the Boppy or My Breast Friend. Everyone's experience with nursing is different. Francesca used pillows when nursing both children, which worked fine. However, Thuy found nursing pillows to be helpful when clipping her son's nails. By putting him on the Boppy while nursing, she was able to have her hands free. A pillow is also great to use if you want to read while nursing.
   
5. Rocker or Glider: For newborns, it is wonderful to have a rocking chair or glider when nursing. However, before you know it, you have a 20 pound infant on your hands whose head and feet spill over the sides of the chair. Borrow this piece of furniture if you can. If you do decide to buy, ensure that the armrests are padded and that you purchase a wide model. (Your baby will quickly outgrow the normal sized model.) Thuy also found that once she mastered nursing on her side and in bed, she did not use the rocker consistently. In summary, evaluate how and where you would like to spend your time nursing before buying this piece of furniture. It takes up a bit of room.

-Francesca