Should I have a breast pump from birth?

[TellMeWhatToDo]

Hi ladies,

I'm due at the end of this week(!) and am wondering if I should buy a breast pump, just to have it ready. At the moment I have no bottles or steriliser either as am really hoping to BF.

To while away the hours, I have been reading childcare books, eg she-who-must-not-be-named among others... and she talks about expressing a little milk before a feed. Is this necessary? TBH I have chucked that particular book in a drawer as it freaked me out and am reading Tracey Hogg instead but, even so, I have read in quite a few places about expressing a little here and there if you have engorgement or to stimulate supply.

I am starting to panic as I really want BFing to work but there just seems to be so much conflicting information out there, I'm not sure I'll know where to start! I think I understand about feeding cues and latching on but the switching sides thing looks complicated... I read in one book yesterday that in the colostrum stage you should do 15 mins from each breast and only start feeding from one breast when the proper milk comes in. I never knew this - will someone tell me this after I've had the baby?

Ok, I'm calming down now.... my original question was, do I need a breast pump straightaway and if so, what's a good one?

Thanks

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Hello!

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MNHQ

I bought a pump when I was 3 days overdue, as I was told nipple stimulation could trigger labour and I wasn't too keen on sitting and twiddling them!
I managed to get colostrum out (and didn't have DD for another 9 days after that!)

I found mine an absolute life saver when I was really sore, but of course it is better to make sure that all is right with breastfeeding to avoid that. I did not have MN at the time, and only really crap HCP. However, I did manage to almost exclusively feed DD expressed milk for a week or so (before she was a month old) and not have my supply damaged. But this is only anecdotal.

It now generally sits in the sterliser stowed away, but does come in handy on occasion when DD sleeps through and I wake up engorged.
If you want to get one, I'd recommend the Tommee Tippee manual, (on offer in Asda for baby event!) It's cheap enough that it won't matter if it gets used twice

Tellme this question has an answer that falls into 2 camps. I am in the yes have one from birth camp. This is due to my personal experience.

DS1 took 6 days to latch and I had to express from birth to syringe feed him colostrum and to bring my milk in as he was not feeding direct. If I had waited to order a rental it would have been over 48hours (due to weekend) and that would have meant formula. I got a lactation consultant come to my home to help me bf so it was not all about just expressing.

I also had problems with DD and DS2 (I am still bf him, he is 7months) and definitely am glad to have my pump handy.

But it needs to be used properly and not deter your confidence in actual bf.

As for your other concerns, ditch the books. I wish I did with my 1st DC. Read up on bf on kellymom.com and go to bf groups from the start. That is the best way to understand bf from my experience. Hope this helps.