Should I buy a pump? Timing, etc questions...

[babyboots]

Hi All,

Not sure I've posted in the right place, but sure that you all will be better informed than me!

I'm due in August, and just trying to sort out bits of equipment I still need.

I plan on breastfeeding, and would eventually like to express so dad can help out with some feeds.

However, should I wait to buy an electric pump until I know bf'ing is possible/happening? I had heard that babies shouldn't have a bottle (even if its breast milk inside) until BFing is truly established.

So, should I buy a pump now? Or wait? Any idea about electric or manual???

thanks in advance

bb

I wouldn't be in any hurry if I were you. I wouldn't imagine you would want/need to give your baby a bottle within the first few weeks, waiting til bfing is established is certainly a good idea.

Having said that, you don't want to wait too long to introduce a bottle if that's your longterm plan. My dd had no issues with the bottle initially but when she was a couple of months old we stopped giving her a bottle for a few weeks (she wasn't very well so it was just easier to bf her) and after that she refused to take one again. We tried every type of bottle on the market to no avail (until she self-weaned at 13 months because I was newly pregnant with ds and she obviously didn't like the taste of my milk. Then she accepted a bottle like she'd been bottle fed from birth).

My ds, on the other hand, will take anything with food in however it's packaged!

I used a manual (avent I think) with dd and hated it. I then borrowed an electric (modela)from a friend for ds and couldn't believe how much easier/quicker it was. If you really think you're going to end up expressing for a long time (or multiple children!) it's worth investing in an electric one. Or see if you can borrow/rent one to try it out and see if you get on with it.

Congrats on the imminent arrival! Babies are fab!!

Hi,

I would probably wait before you buy. You shouldn't introduce a bottle until b'feeding is properly established. I waited for 6 weeks.

You'll have lots to buy just now anyway and there is no rush for the pump. I had bottles in the house though, just in case there were any probs with breastfeeding. Not everyone does this though.

I also use Modela electric pump and it is really good. Make sure you check reviews before buying one. Modela does tend to get good reveiws though. You can use a manual pump but it will take you more time to express and time is somthing you wont have alot of!

Congratulations and good luck!

I would wait... pumping is not much fun and can hurt (the only time I have had sore nipples is from using a pump). Get breastfeeding established first.

re: type - depends on how much you plan on using it - I have an avent hand pump - its cheap and ideal for occasional use.

I bought the Medela Mini on the advice of a friend. DS is almost 5 months and it's still in the box. I've just never felt the need to desire to express. The idea of it makes me feel a bit squeamish to be honest. I know they are a big help for a lot of people but beware of using them too early - the women in my NCT group all (bar one other, and myself) pumped like mad at the beginning - I could never understand why they were doing it (they seemed to be pouring it away!) and didn't like to ask - and none of them are still bfing now. One in particular blames this on expressing. But another had a c-secion and found it hard to position her baby so the pump was a lifesaver for her.

In conclusion, I would wait!

By the way, Dad won't need a bottle to help him bond with baby - it will happen like magic and is a wonderful thing!

Good luck

Ditto on the waiting,

I've had a manual pump, an electric (medela swing) and finally a rental (hospital grade, which is lush) now that I'm back at work.

You just can't predict what you'll get on with. I personally find not much difference between the manual and electric (had been using both at the same time, not much difference in quantity), though on average I'd say the electric is more reliable (sometimes the manual wouldn't get much out, it was a bit all or nothing) and it can make your hand hurt after a while. Also the electric is easier as you can just stick on it and watch telly. The electric is noisy though despite what they say (especially compared to the rental).

Really just depends on frequency of expressing, which you won't know until your doing it. Manuals are really cheap, so you may as well start with that and just grab it when out and about. Maybe find a friend who has an electric one you could trial and if you find the manual a faff then upgrade.

btw when its time, look up how to bottle feed a bf baby.

Oh and good luck

To the people that say "wait to buy one", isnt there a risk that if you try to establish breastfeeding and struggle, then you won't produce enough milk and then you'll effectively end up FF out of necessity, whereas if you could express from the word go, you'd buy yourself some time to sort the problems out?

Not sure if I'm totally misinformed on this one.

I bought a Medela Swing in advance on the recommendation of a few friends. Figured if I never use it I can just sell it on.

You can get rental companies to Fedex you a pump the next day, which if there's problems early days you'll be much better of using. That's also why I said suggested picking up a manual as and when, but not to stress about it (August is not that far away). If one is needed there and then, then there's always 24hour Tesco which do manual pumps.

IMHO it doesn't matter either way and just do what sets your mind at ease (also depends on money I guess), but its good to know the options either way. Personally I couldn't bring myself to have much bf equipment around before hand, as I didn't want pressure to successfully bf.

Also having a pump around in the first weeks, you might find yourself under pressure to express just so other people (DH and other family) can get in the on act of feeding, and not particularly for your benefit.

I expressed from the beginning as my DS was having real problems latching on - I just sent DP out to get one from John Lewis. I used the Medela Swing - expensive but excellent. Quick, efficient and easy to clean. However I dont think you need to buy one in advance - just see how you get on.

theBride

If you have sore nipples it will probably make them worse... and anyway if it became clear you did need one then you could send someone out to get one.

If your baby is having trouble latching on, much better IMO to just keep on trying (ask BFing friends to come round and help) rather than resort to pump which would mean baby gets a bottle which will make it harder for them to latch on.

What would help is timely advice - IMO pumping and then feeding it to your baby in a bottle is more likely to lead to FF, because pumps are much less efficient that babies for extracting milk and the baby gets used to drinking from a bottle.

If you are committed to BFing do not buy a pump, a steriliser, bottles or formula before the baby is born.

agree with mum (mum does know best after all)

Just to go against the grain, I bought and now recommend to friends to buy a pump and a bottle and a small carton of formula to have in the cupboard.

For me, rather than showing that I wasn't committed to bfeeding, it reassured me that there was no pressure for bfeeding to succeed - I had a back up plan.

It meant that when I experienced problems feeding I never panicked, I was calm knowing that if I choose to I could try a bottle. Because I then felt like staying with bfeeding was my choice (even when hard) I felt empowered to carry on.

I ended up bfeeding DD1 for 9 months and only stopped when sickness kicked in with second pregnancy it was too much and I'm now bfeeding DD2 - so I'm def committed to bfeeding!