Is an expensive breast pump absolutely necessary?

[Maybemaybenot76]

Due baby number 2 next month and looking at breast pumps.

I never managed to breastfeed DS1 due to the NHS complete failure to help me or identify my child’s lip tie. I pumped and fed him breast milk for the first few weeks before I combi fed and eventually moved to exclusively formula by around 2 months.

This time I have more knowledge, information, and access to help re breastfeeding, however Im unsure as to whether I will need a breast pump if we are successful. The most recommended (Medela swing maxi) is almost £200.

I used an Elvie with my first but no idea where I even put it now. Should I buy a pump beforehand or wait until we see if baby latches? Do mums who exclusively breastfeed still pump? I’m guessing with how full and sore my breasts were last time, yes?

Not at all. I found a manual breast pump best which is about £20.

I’ve had a tommee tippee hand pump (the real basic one) an Elvie and a mid-range electric one.

The hand pump got the most milk by a long way, if you hold the trigger for a few seconds you get a really good draw and it only took 10 mins a session.

And whilst it might be slightly more faff, you’ve not got tubes dangling around, so I’ve covered my hand with a scarf and expressed at a conference, on planes, on the side of a ski slope - it’s definitely doable and nice and small.

Ideally you shouldn't be pumping for the first 6 weeks anyway as it can create an oversupply whilst your body is adjusting to the amount of milk baby needs. I had a Lansinoh double breast pump and a manual Elvie one, I did find the electric one better but I had a single cheap breast pump from Amazon (DD had a 100% tongue tie and couldn't latch when my milk came in so bought it as an emergency) and that worked just as well really, just preferred a double.

I had a manual one which was fine

Keep it simple

Not at all! I would definitely recommend an electric one rather than manual though. I got mine on amazing for around £45.

Wait and see how you get on BFing first. If you can do it then fab, get a pump so you can in theory leave the baby with some expressed milk.

The in theory bit is their is no guarantee that baby will touch a bottle with a barge pole.
One of mine had the occasional bottle. The other refused. Breast straight to tippy cup.

I've also had friends with issues with bottles, one baby was having a top up of expressed in the evening until they decided they didn't want it.

So my advice is make sure you can BF, before buying and possibly look on the second hand market and give it a good clean, maybe replace the tubes.
Or go cheap and get a manual pump for the odd occasion you want to express.

And yes I still pumped even though ds only had breast milk, (he had bottled breast milk at around 6 months) just meant DP could do a night feed and I could get him used to a bottle before returning to work.

If you are planning to BF you don't need anything but that makes the bottle manufacturers nothing so they push pumps and accessories. If you decide to pump you can buy one after the baby comes, but if you intend to BF don't get anything yet.

Amazon cheap one. Was great.

Op something else to consider, when are you planning on returning to work?
If you are UK and unlikely to return before 9mths then you might never really need to express.

But if you are returning at 6 weeks then I'd get for the best you could afford.

Just wait until you've given birth and see how it's going? Breast pumps aren't going to disappear from sale.

I didn't really pump with my second until I returned to work at 8 months. He was something of a bottle refuser anyway. I had a small Medela single, but I'd got damn good with the basic Tommee Tippee hand pump also. I'd try and find the Elvie if I were you, though - that thing's expensive and could be resold.

I had a medela which was my favourite pump.

I bought an elvie but didn’t get on with it so sold it.

I also used a Hakka to collect from the side that wasn’t feeding.

With my second I barely expressed anything. I just couldn’t find the time to pump, store it, sterilise everything. With my first I could sit and pump but didn’t have that luxury with a toddler in tow!

Hi @Maybemaybenot76 thanks for your thread! If you're still looking for recommendations, you might like our guide to Mumsnetters' best breast pumps. If you have any feedback on the article, do let us know 💐

My expensive breast pump was a waste of money. I did try pumping but it was usually not very productive and neither of my babies took a bottle. I did use it when I had a blocked duct but I think hand-expressing may have worked on it's own.

I would look at a silicone pump like the haakaa in advanced and see if you find yourself wanting express and give bottles.
I started with the haakaa which got us through week 3 to 8. We were just getting in a good place when reflux and allergies caused a bottle aversion. She was on and off bottle but at 7months I managed to get her back on the bottle but only with fresh milk. I never expressed more than a bottle every few days as needed to drink it within a few hours due to high lipase making it taste bad. I had a fast letdown so could quite quickly get a bottle even with a manual pump. So yes start with lowest outlay then figure out what your needs

I started with an expensive tommee tippee electric pump but it had wires and was really cumbersome. Then tried a cheapy wire free amazon one which was only about £30 and muuuuuuch more effective.

I had exactly the one you're looking at and it was amazing - but I pumped after returning to work with my first, and then for the milk bank with my second.
[Cough] I now have it up for sale on vinted [\cough]