Breast pump: pointless buying in advance?

[squizita]

Just doing my pre-baby shopping.

I would like to be able to express milk (not exclusively I hasten to add, but I have a mild sleep disorder so sometimes need to catch up sleep, DH being able to give the odd feed would be helpful). Please don't hoik any judgy pants at me! :(

Is there any point in buying one 'in advance' as I have heard they're so personal you won't know until your milk comes in? And if so, which type - will a manual be OK for the 'once a day' or 'once every few days' expresser?

[Toadsrevisited]

I have a tommee tippee manual one for this kind of thing- wanted toi be able to express the odd bottle so DH could do a night feed. I didn't get in advance, and by the time I did try DS with it at 8 weeks, he wouldn't take it. Next time I would definitely have one in advance and try at 2 weeks. Friends who did have been able to express sometimes whereas I have had to do every single feed for 5 months.

[DreamOfMeBaby]

Hello! Sorry to hear about your sleep disorder, it's brill you are wanting to feed though!! I am still feeding my DD and only expressed occasionally, so my DH could feel part of it! I bought my pump in advance...purely because it was on offer. I got a medela, quite expensive, but read it mimicked baby's sucking motion...I also have a manual (tomee tippee) as it's almost silent and my DH had to have surgery (he wanted me there for afterwards) so I needed to express on the ward when I got too full. I haven't heard about pumps being specific for certain people though. I think hospital grade ones are the best for expressing milk exclusively, but if you are just thinking of occasionally like I was, I don't see any harm in buying in advance. I found I got a lot more milk off with the electric one...but the manual one was good for relieving when my boobs were really full. It's worth doing a bit of simple research into brands etc, but don't get too hung up on it all. Good luck with your pump purchase and your LO when he/she arrives!

[squizita]

Thanks for the advice! :) Will check out the reviews.

[stargirl1701]

I think it's worth doing some research so you know which one you want it I wouldn't buy it until you know you will need it. What if your child is a bottle refuser?

I would recommend the Medela Freestyle.

[squizita]

What if your child is a bottle refuser?

Then there might be some medical problems ... as I said this isn't a 'lifestyle' thing... I already know what it is like not to sleep for several days. :( When I crash I crash.

What does happen if a baby refuses bottles but they're needed?

[Edgarallan]

Think it is very unlikely baby would refuse bottle if given early enough. Don't worry too much! Would also recommend waiting to see how much you want to express first as the best pumps are expensive. I had medela freestyle too but pricey.

[DebH1975]

I bought a Philips Avent electric after reading the mumsnet reviews .. It's around £95. I've used this and the hospital grade medela electric and found the Philips just as good if not better

[Andcake]

I would wait and see - do your research but order online or get DH to pop to shops when baby is here. I have a few friends who totally intended to BF but due to tongue tie's etc bf went awry and they had wasted nearly £100 on pumps.
Me on the other hand - intended to BF - was v nervous of buying anything in advance and jinxing babies safe arrival didn't buy one.
Due to BF feeding difficulties (DS refused to feed lost weight was hospitalized) ended up giving exclusive pumping a go (for 6 horrible months) anyway I had pre researched knew what was available and a lot of shops sell them if you are in a town. Also Kiddicare.com deliver the next day. Although I had a £100 medela and did most of my pumping with a avent hand pump as it was easier and I got more!

If i had my time again ( apart form being less stressy about bm and just formula feeding without feeling like i was a bad mother) I would have bought the avent one which has both electric and hand pump modes.

But really wait and see - research and then buy

[Imeg]

I'm sure it's true that different pumps suit different people but I'm not sure how you would know any better after baby arrives than before - I think you would have to try them, which of course isn't possible! I am an occasional expresser for similar reasons - definitely don't feel guilty about needing a break - I haven't got any medical sleep difficulties and have definitely appreciated someone else being able to take the baby for a bit while I have a nap.
I have an electric pump which I do find more efficient - I got a manual one when the valve failed on the electric one and it does work but takes longer and I find it more easily disrupted by positioning. More flexible though in terms of not having to sit next to an electric socket (though I think the electric one has a battery pack, just haven't tried it yet).
I found expressing took a while to get the hang of - didn't get much out to start with - so I would start well before you need to.

[Writerwannabe83]

I bought one in advance but had no plans to use it long term so didn't see the point in paying out for an expensive one. The one I have is manual and made by Lasinoh - I think it cost about £20. It's really, really good, I can get about 4oz from each breast in about 10 minutes.

If expressing was something I planned to do on a regular basis everyday then I would probably buy an electric one but as I do it so irregularly (DS is 10 weeks olds and I've probably used it a maximum of 10 times) then my cheap and cheerful manual one suits me just fine

[TiredandGrumpy2014]

My dd is bf but has always taken a bottle ok so hopefully your dc will too. We started an occasional bottle at around 4 weeks as I had read it is worth starting fairly early if you want to do occasional bottles.

However my boobs are pump refusers! I have an avent manual which I only ever managed to get a few drips out with. I borrowed then bought an avent electric pump which is better- but some daysi can still hardly get anything out with it- and even on a good day I can only get a couple of oz. And i have never had supply problems- quite the opposite if anything! So I have given up expressing except for my own comfort if I get a bit full and if i need to be away from dd at feed times we give formula which I'm happy with.

[Hazchem]

You can rent them from the NCT. It might be better renting one and seeing if you can express (some women can't) with a machine before buying one. You also might find hand expressing easier and more effective.

[squizita]

Hazchem thanks, I didn't realise that. I'm an NCT member so will try that! :)

[Artistic]

Am hoping to do the same as OP but from memory I remember that in the early months if there was too long a gap between feeds I'd be full to bursting point & in agony! So am not sure how do I manage to 'skip' a feed by expressing & bottle feeding. Won't it be painful or alter the milk supply? Would love to have the option though.

[Alixion]

My sister gave me her TT manual before I have birth and it was nice to know it was in the house if I needed it. But I didn't get on with it very well, I found it pinched and I couldn't get very much out.
When I decided I was going to express a bit more ( around week 2) I hired a medela symphony and I would totally recommend it.
Now I have a medela swing as I couldn't keep paying a monthly fee for the symphony.

[Hazchem]

Oh and they also sell a thing called a doidy cup which can be used to feed babies from birth (in case you have a bottle refuser).

[squizita]

Again thanks for the info Hazchem I knew doidy cups exist but had no idea tinies could be fed with them of needed. :)

[usualnamechanger]

For some reason I can't express anything with a breastpump, I thought I was weird but I have heard other people have the same problem.

I am glad I didn't buy it, mine was a gift.