Should I buy a pump before or after baby is born

[Kellym25]

Evening, just after some advice if possible please. We're expecting our first baby in October and I'm hoping to be able to breast feed and want to express so that my other half can help with feeding and experience that bond with our baby as well. Should I buy a pump before the baby is born or should I wait to see if I am successful at breast feeding first?

if you’re planning on bfeeding, I would focus on establishing that first to create your natural supply. Lots of ways for your partner to bond. Also, worth noting that some can breast feed but produce very little when pumping. I could barely fill a small container pumping but breastfed easily.

I bought a pump before my first was born but only because it was ridiculously cheap in the sale. I'd look for a cheap one marketplace maybe. Turns out she never accepted a bottle anyway so I only used it once or twice so I'm glad I didn't spend much on it! So even if you do breastfeed there's no guarantee they will accept a bottle 🤦🏼‍♀️

And also with the bidding thing, I wouldn't use that as a reason to bottle feed over breastfeed. I exclusively breastfed both mine and my husband bonded very well with both - through skin to skin, playing with etc.

*bonding!

After! I bought a pump before DD was born but she ended up in NICU, i had low supply due to circumstances of birth and the pump i had bought was nowhere near good enough. £200 wasted. We ended up hiring a hospital grade one that we just returned when i started to wind down the breastfeeding. So i think best to wait and see how you get on.

What I wish I’d done: Buy the pump before baby comes and start pumping and freezing colostrum from 38 weeks. My friend did this and was producing milk very well by the time her baby came. I didn’t do this, and tried to pump/bf only after baby came… but I produced virtually zero milk and had to top up with formula which she then became reliant upon

Pumping Is bloody hard work. Breastfeeding is easier once you get going. Dads can bond in lots of ways. They don’t have to feed the baby,

After 100%. Establish breastfeeding first and ensure it’s something that works for you and is something you want to do. The amount of people on here who get their supply in a pickle from trying to pump in the early days (and hence not directly breastfeeding, which is the best way to stimulate your supply) never fails to amaze me. If you need to pump in the early days for medical reasons you can rent hospital grade pumps from your maternity service. At the beginning, if you want to try and collect some BM you would be better just using a haakaa suction device (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haakaa-Breast-Manual-Silicone-Breastfeeding/dp/B07CWK4S5W/ref=asc_df_B07CWK4S5W/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=501251277066&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11532488143922735185&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045804&hvtargid=pla-571885675875&psc=1&th=1&psc=1) to catch the let down/milk from the none feeding breast.

I'd buy it after and even then I'd say 100% try the haakaa before buying anything pricey. I managed to collect loads of milk using it and because you do it while breastfeeding, it doesn't take up extra time. Easy!

I would add that I don't think this is necessary as like you, I didn't pump at all either before baby was born and I produced plenty of milk and had no problems breastfeeding.

I had the same experience as @Pumpkinbumkin200.

I don't think there is any need to pump early on.
I didn't, and didn't have any problems with supply with either child (they are both now in their 20s).

With my first, I started pumping when she was about 2-3 months old and feeding had settled down. I had to go back to work when she was 5 months and I wanted to start building up supplies. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise, because it was much easier just to feed her myself. I had a manual pump (current price £26) and it worked perfectly well.

I didn't pump at all with the second because I had longer off work.

You could buy a Hakka as these are handy to put on your other boob when baby is feeding from one to catch the spills, you'll get half a bottles worth per day without pumping. Pumping is such a hassle - I'm still doing it three times a day 5 months later as breastfeeding didn't work for us, as I want to give my baby the nutrients in breastmilk so am combinfeedimg, and it is such a boring chore. Only do it if you have to!

After. My lactation consultant advised against pumping for at least a month until supply was established.

I felt the same way as you before my baby was born but then I didn’t wind up pumping until I was back to work because it’s a chore. You can rent hospital grade pumps, it might be worth trying a couple of different types when the time comes before you buy to see how you get on with it.

After.

You might not need it or want it depending on how it all goes.

The midwives let me borrow one for a couple of weeks after having my baby because it was useful but I bought my own in the end. I didn’t end up using it as much as I thought I would. It’s a bit of a gamble so I wouldn’t get one yet.

I was coming on to say buy after but do get a Haaka but I see someone has got there first. I had one which I fitted on whichever breast wasn’t being used by baby. It was particularly helpful in those early days when you leak constantly from both when feeding. I recall a visiting midwife seeing mine and being so impressed she took details back to the team. Just don’t put it in the dishwasher like I did . . .