Do I need a breast pump

[Pearsapiece]

I'm 32 weeks so a little while to go. But I really want to breastfeed this baby. I'll be having an elcs (if that makes a difference?).

Do I need to buy a breast pump before baby arrives? I don't want to be in a desperate state and not have one ready but also they are expensive.

Can anyone else me out, maybe recommend a cheaper one? There are just so many around!

I want to give myself the best cha ce of success so any advice is appreciated

Thanks

You may need a pump simply because it’s painful if your breasts are full of milk and you can’t empty them because the baby is asleep or not hungry. I had a hand pump, I never bought an electric pump at all because they cost too much.

Thank you for replying! Did you find a manual pump okay?

I wouldn’t bother. I bought one and barely used it as I found hand expressing much easier.

I had the Phillips Avent manual, cost about £25 and did the job for me. Though DD was a bottle refuser and i must have poured litres of breastmilk away over the 7 months we tried to get her to take a bottle.

I don't think you need a pump, tbh. The advice is to hand express if you're engorged when your milk comes in (which is much more comfortable than pumping) and not to pump at all til 6 weeks as it messes with your supply.

Side note - bio oil on your boobs straight after birth (not your nipples obvi) as the milk coming in can make them HUGE overnight. The only stretchmarks i got during pregnancy were on my boobs on day 3!

Expressing is really useful to give yourself a break and let your partner do a feed or two. I use a Haakaa pump - cheap and effective, and you can always upgrade to an electric one if you think you need it later.

With the haakaa just pop it on the other breast while you’re feeding and it’ll catch the let down from the other boob

I had an ELCS with #2 and was able to breastfeed fine within 60 minutes so that shouldn't make a difference.

Personally I never found pumps useful but I know others who did so it's down to whether you can afford it really. I had an Avent manual pump which was more productive than the Spectra electric pump I was recommended by a midwife friend as they use them in hospital but on the whole I never really got enough to make much of a difference.

Start with hand expressing then work up if that doesn't work.

I managed fine with a hand pump. I figured I could always buy an electric pump later if I needed one. I mostly used it to relieve the pressure if the baby didn’t want to feed. I was never successful with hand expressing, I needed a pump.

I used the Bella baby pump which I liked and it wasn’t that expensive. But I didn’t really need to use it until DD was 8 months and I went back to work. I personally never needed one in the early months. Probably from about 6 months I pumped a bit so DH could take DD out for the afternoon or something. For me it definitely wasn’t an essential that I needed as soon as DD was born.

I don't think you need to have one, but you can always pick up a cheap manual one and then buy an electric if you need it (they're expensive so you don't want to buy one and end up not needing it).

Personally I wouldn't bio oil your breasts, it's quite heavily perfumed and best to let baby smell your natural scents.

I got a Lansinoh (or however you spell it) one just in case, just the cheap manual one. I also planned to bf and did manage it fine, but wanted that as a back up.
I found it really useful as although my DD wouldn't drink expressed milk, the pump was great for when I had clogged ducts, or was away from her for any length of time and I needed to express for comfort, I didn't like hand expressing much at all.
I think it was less than £20 and I found it worth it for sure.
Good luck with your pregnancy/birth/baby/all that jazz!

I had an ELCS with DC2 and he latched on and fed no problem in recovery. I don't think you need one in advance, if you decide you want one later you can order next day delivery. Not everyone can express either, I barely got more than a dribble and I exclusively breast fed two big babies (one with tongue tie). I would suggest getting a good book on breastfeeding instead, so you know what to expect and how to troubleshoot the more usual problems. Good luck!

Personally, I couldn't of done without my electric pump (medela double swing) my LB took quite a long time to learn how to latch properly so expressing was great until he got the hang of it.
I actually bought mine second hand off of ebay. Bought new tubing and thoroughly washed and sterilised the rest. Have kept the pump for DS2 due early March. Although this time I don't want to pump as much but at least I will have the option too. Will resell again once done with it

This has been great advice, thank you all. You've saved me a bit of money by the sounds of it.
I'll get a manual pump as a 'just in case' and to catch some excess from the 'spare' boob while I'm feeding.
I've got everything crossed that I'll manage it, I just worry about tongue ties/bad latch/bleeding nipples and things!

Unless you will go back to work very soon I don’t think you need an electric one.
The great thing about breastfeeding is the lack of stuff.
However, it’s the machine that’s expensive. You can get that secondhand and buy a new set of tubes quite cheaply.

I bought one and wish I hadn't as I've had no need to use it. I just exclusively breastfeed and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

I would get one!
I originally used a suction cup but I have large breasts which are to heavy to keep it on! I developed mastitis on week 3 and used to hospitals electric pump to help unblock the ducts. I loved it and went and bought my own when I was dIscharged - the medela swing, think it was about £125. Quite expensive but get so much use out of it that I would say it was one of my best purchases.

Being able to express and give the baby a bottle means you will have some freedom and have a bit of time on your own which is an absolute god send! Plus if there's ever an emergency, you can have a back up supply of milk in the fridge or freezer meaning your partner wouldn't have to rush out to get formula if you were in hospital for example.

Another great use is that if you have a grumpy windy baby and can't get wind up.. they may refuse to get horizontal enough to feed at times but may take a bottle as they can be sat up. I don't do this a lot but is very handing for when she is screaming at my boob!

You do have to be careful with issues of increasing supply leading to engorgement, blocked ducts and possible mastitis, but you will soon get into your rhythm. It's best to wait a month or so before you start, just to make sure breast feeding is established properly.

This is just my experience and every baby is different, as is every woman's supply and feeding experience but being able to express has honestly made all the difference.

I found it essential right away with my c-section baby. It meant we got home from hospital a day earlier as well because even though he was struggling to latch I could pump and feed him.

I use this one and it’s brilliant: www.boots.com/mam-manual-breast-pump-10249873?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs--(GB:Whoop!)+MAM-_-(GB:Whoop!)+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Baby+-+High+Margin+-+Mobile&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpMLCvfPF7QIVcWHmCh0BQAp9EAQYAiABEgI3tPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I found a Hakka (and more recently the Elvie Curve, expensive but doesn’t get knocked off!) much less effort and easier to wash than an electric pump. Cheap too. It’s a good starting point.

I didn't bother with the first. I really wouldn't bother.

I had a manual one but only used it when I wasn't able to feed (out on the razz!)

My milk came in straightaway after ELCS. There were some latching issues but the clinic sorted those - I didn't use the pump.