Breast pump?

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Hi all,

If I am planning on breastfeeding, do you think I need to buy a breast pump now? I have been having a look online and they are really expensive, but I'm just not sure whether I need one or need to buy one right now.

I thought perhaps I could wait until the baby is settled on the breast before expressing or introducing the bottle, but my only worry is that I will be so drained from breastfeeding non-stop with no one able to help me.

I'm planning on breastfeeding but not going to buy a pump until I know I can breast feed and need one. Also I think the device is not to pumped for the first six weeks or so unless your baby is premie and you're expressing in order to tube/bottle feed.

I have chosen one and put it in my amazon wish list so it's ready and waiting. I've also made a note of where to hire a hospital grade one from if I decide I want that for a short period. Two of my friends did this as they had premies and needed to pump straight away, but only for a short period.

Great @ClareB83 sounds like i am on the same wave of thinking as you, I'll get in to the swing of it first and then buy one if/when I need to. Will also look into hiring. Thanks.

You really don't need one. In the first few weeks you need baby to feed round the clock to stimulate your supply and if you get someone to give a bottle you have to express at some point so you don't save much time!

Some people don't respond to breast pumps. Some babies won't take a bottle. Some women don't get on with breastfeeding, despite every intention.

I personally tried to give a bottle, I could hand express 3 Oz in less than 10minutes so did that initially. When I realized I expressed well I contacted my local milk bank and offered to donate- they gave me super powerful hospital pump for free for 9 months!

They recommend not expressing for the first 6 weeks while you establish supply. I've found I can't be arsed to express anyway, just breastfeeding is so much easier.

Wait and see how things go.

If you want to go down the expressing route start with the cheapest option (hand) and move on to manual then electric if needed as you might find you respond well to one of those without wasting so much money, personally I could express more from a manual pump than a hospital grade electric but I didn't get that much with either.