Should I buy a pump now or wait?

[NotSoFitFlop]

currently 36 weeks pregnant and want to try breastfeeding when baby arrives.

Do I need to get a pump now or should I wait incase I have problems with my milk etc?

I'm thinking I'll need a pump so that DH can eventually take part in feeding and incase I need the relief of engorgement?

What do you think? Buy now or wait? And why please? Thanks.

[lilac3033]

I just got a cheap manual pump to start, which was useful. I ended up getting an electric one later. I was glad to have the manual one, as I had latch issues. It help maintain my supply until I got a better pump, but it was cheap enough that I wouldn't have minded if it was never used. I think it was £25 vs £100+ for a good electric.

[NotSoFitFlop]

That's an option I suppose, although I'd still like to avoid getting 2 pumps. Did you get the manual one before birth or after?

[lilac3033]

Before and I was really glad I did. I wasn't going to but some one said something that made me think I better. If you live near a place that sells pumps you could just wait, then hand express if needed before getting it.

[Tanito279]

Find somewhere to hire one from! Speak to your midwife and any breastfeeding support groups. I bought an innosense electric one which I hated so then an avent manual one which was better but took much longer and then borrowed a medela swing. In the end my favourite was the innosense one lol. But hiring gives you the chance to try before you spend £100s. And be warned: pumping is sore to start with. Nobody warned me!

[NotSoFitFlop]

I'm seeing my midwife this week, I'll ask about hiring, that's a good idea! Thanks.

[jbee1979]

I got a Tommee Tippee manual one in a Tesco offer before DD was born and I really like it. It's a life saver when she occasionally does through the night or a really long nap. she slept 11 to 8 last night. I got 5oz off one breast in 10 mins this morning - and I was still in agony waiting for another bottle to sterilise when she event woke up!

[FusionChefGeoff]

Buy or hire something now. You can always keep it in the box and return it in the event you don't use it but mine was opened in a mild panic at 3am due to latch issues etc and really helped us to keep breast feeding. If I'd have had to research, decide and then actually buy one at that point, it would have been way too much to think about!

Look for the boots baby events as the 3 for 2 offers apply on big ticket stuff (best online) as well as nappies / wipes. I bought a cot mattress, fancy monitor and then got a £100 electric Avent pump free - plus about a squillion advantage points.