What equipment do I need to express? Confused by choice!

[Fagin99]

I'm a soon to be first time Mum, and I'm hoping to buy a pump beforehand in case there are any problems with BF'ing, and also so hubby can help with the odd feed.

My question is: what equipment do I actually need?? I'm so bamboozled by the large choice on offer.

The Medela electric pump (single) seems a good choice, but to go with it, do I just need bottles and a steriliser?

Also, can I use a Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser with Medela bottles??

Sorry for sounding like an idiot. I'm hoping to just get a basic kit together! (Any recommendations appreciated.)

Thanks so much!!

I bought all the kit and never used any of it. Perhaps wait and see if you need it.

I rented a hospital grade pump initially as I couldn't breastfeed the first couple of months due to waiting for tongue tie revision. You can rent one from Ardo.

Alternatively then just ensure whatever bottles you buy are suitable for microwave rather than cold water sterilising if you don't intend to do that. Some babies do better if you wait until your supply is fully established before trying bottles, but I appreciate you're saying you may express if you struggle with breastfeeding.

I really recommend Kelly Mom website and La Leche League plus the free NCT breastfeeding helpline. As well as Kathryn Stagg on Instagram who does a what to expect week by week.

Best of luck. I absolutely love breastfeeding now but it genuinely took three months to sort all the issues out and get there.

I used a Bella baby and it works, but I almost never used it tbh. It wasn't too expensive but I kind of wish I'd waited until baby was here before buying it.

If you want to collect colostrum before baby gets here you need to get some syringes (you can get them on Amazon) and watch some videos about hand expressing, I wish so much I had collected colostrum because it really would have taken the pressure off!

There are some great accounts of Instagram with videos on how to hand express and loads of other info, some accounts that I follow are Lucy Webber (lmj.infantfeedingsupport) and Olivia Hinge (olivialactationconsultant) I also found Breastfeeding and Lactation Support UK on Facebook sooooo helpful in the early days, I joined before I had my daughter so there was certain behaviour I knew was normal and it basically saved me a lot of anxiety.

I use a Pippetta, barely ever use it now though, he's 4 months. I used it every day in the first 8 weeks or so though and gradually lessened over time. I'd recommend it for casual, occasional pumping. I also have a Hakka which I only got a few weeks ago and haven't found to be useful now but it would have been in the early weeks, perhaps even a better option than the Pippetta pump tbh but that's hindsight for you. With my eldest I had a Medela manual pump and it was ok for the first few weeks suppose for occasional use but it was annoying having to do it manually and I found it faffy and uncomfortable. Pipetta and/or Hakka both much easier and less faffy. I wouldn't spend too much on a pump before baby arrives as you may never even use one. I've used a Tommee Tippee electric steam steriliser with both kids, Phillips Avent Natural bottles with my eldest and Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles with this baby.

Thanks ever so much everyone for your replies. I'll do some more thinking and will consider whether I wait until baby is here. (It was only because my midwife recommended getting one beforehand that I thought I should - but it makes more sense to wait.)

Do you think it's worth buying a cheapish manual pump in the meantime just in case I get uncomfortable with full breasts in the early days or anything?

Thanks again x

I’d get a Hakka pump (they’re about £10) which will help if you get too full, and not bother with anything expensive unless you know you need one.

In the early days it doesn’t give you a break at all, because you need to pump whenever the baby feeds to maintain your supply and stop engorgement.

Later on, either your baby might point blank refuse a bottle, or you might decide it’s not worth the faff and expense and just give some formula if you want and can.

You can get them for same day delivery on Prime if you do actually decide you want one.

I’m 2.5yrs into BFing, and I’ve hardly ever pumped.

Some people might find it handy, but it’s certainly not a necessary expense.

Thank you @MartinMartinMarti that's really helpful advice x