Can we talk breast pumps?

[fitforflight]

I had a c section with my first and my milk took a while to come in. I had zero support from my (now) ex and felt breastfeeding quite overwhelming. I tried, didn't really know what I was doing, wasn't sure if the baby was getting enough, didn't know if she was latched properly, it just didn't come very naturally to me and I felt quite alone. I gave up not long after.

This time round I have such a supportive partner, might not need a section and would really love to be able to breastfeed for much longer. I've been looking at breast pumps and I'm a bit lost really! Would you get a manual or electric? Which did you find better? Any particular models you'd really recommend?

Thank you everyone.

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Hi, here's a copy and paste from the answer I gave to a previous similar thread:

It really depends on why and how you plan to pump: Do you plan to pump only occasionally? regularly? exclusively? only at work? and in that case, do you have access to a lactation room? with an electic outlet? or will you need to pump on the go? Here are few things to consider:

• If you plan to pump occasionnally, a manual pump might be enough (and cheaper)
• If you need an electical pump, get a double pumping one. Not only will you save lots of time, but it is also more efficient. If both breasts are stimulated at the same time, they will produce more
• hospital grade pump are really more efficient than the commercial ones (Lansinoh, Mam...) and Medela and Spectra a the most recommended brands. Also the problem with commercial pumps is that they often have only one or two flange size available, which means that the flange size will most likely be the wrong one. A wrong flange size makes pumping more painful and less effective
• That being said, if you only plan to pump at work, it might be a good option to buy a commercial pump and leave it at your office, rather than carrying a heavy pump every day (hospital grade pumps are usually heavier)...
• The electrical pumps that have a battery (like Spectra S1 rather than S2) are often more convenient
• Wearable pumps (like Elvie, Willow, Momcozy...) are extremely convenient in the sense that you can pump anywhere. But they are not as effective as the regular ones (obviously as the motor is smaller). And the best ones are the most expensive
• If you plan to or end up exclusively pumping, it's really a good idea to get 2 pumps

I mostly used the hakka which gave me enough milk for one bottle a day which is all I needed so my husband could give a bottle while I napped for a few hours in the evenings. Topping up with formula occasionally didn't bother me either when needed. I had an electric one too which I very rarely used. I think it depends how much expressed milk you want to give.

I’d definitely go for an electric. I have the Elvie stride and it is really good, they have a Black Friday deal on (I don’t work for them!) but I love the fact I can express and get on with my day. Before, DD would be crying and id have to stop pumping.

Some great tips thank you.

I'm not sure how often I'll want to pump, I was hoping to breastfeed for a year this time so any time partner wants to help with feeding or if my mum wants to take the baby out for a couple of hours at some point.

I work from home so even after mat leave I won't have to worry about pumping for work, my partner is reducing their hours and I'll stay full time so I could pump, ideally, whenever during the day.

I'm pregnant with my first, I was going to go all in on an expensive electric pump (I was thinking elvie or the pump from perefit) but after speaking to a sales advisor who I assume it is their job to get me to spend more money not less, she advised to get a cheap manual pump for day one - that you might not produce enough milk to make it worthwhile, or you might get on well with direct breastfeeding and not pump often. My ideal plan was to feed directly as much as possible, and just pump occasionally if I'm going out and need someone what to feed baby, but I was worrying about what would happen if I fail to establish breastfeeding.

So I've gone for a handheld pump that cost £12 and if I'm producing enough milk, but struggling with the breastfeeding directly I'll invest then with an electric pump - they're all available next day delivery and as long as I've got the manual baby isn't going to go without.

Thank you, this is exactly what I'm leaning towards as well. What model did you get?

You won’t need a pump for ages unless there are some medical issues, it’s not recommended to pump until your supply is established around 6 weeks. No need to have one to hand immediately from birth. Check out what local breastfeeding support is near you, and go see them before your baby is born if you have a chance, always helpful to do that.

I have exclusively pumped for 5 months now. DD struggled with latch and we were both critically ill after birth. Pumped in hospital to establish milk supply and just kept up with it.

I used a Spectra S2 - I got mine for £60 second hand from Ana Wiz on eBay. If you buy these second hand, make sure you check the hours on the motor as they have a lifespan of 1500 hours. I also got a wearable pump (Pippeta - £89) which was great for travelling. If you plan to combo feed (either direct from breast and expressed or formula and expressed) you can get away with the wearable, but if you plan to exclusively pump, you should get a hospital grade pump like the spectra.

Now my supply is established (around 14 weeks postpartum), I mainly use my wearables.

Let me know if you have any questions about pumping, as I have become an old hat!

Also, the Elvie isn't the best. There are cheaper, more effective wearables.

This is what surprises me as I was given a hand pump to try and use the day after my c section, while still on the ward because my milk wasn't coming in particularly fast. I wonder why that was the case if it isn't recommended!

Thank you! Not planning to exclusively pump but it would certainly be helpful when I return to work to be able to pump for the day ahead so combo feeding would be the ideal situation. Trying not to put too much pressure on myself but equally would really like to give it a better go this time.

I hired this one (DS was premature and I had to express at first):

https://www.ardomedical.co.uk/professionals/breast-pumps/amaryll-breast-pump/

Then after a month or two when we had established BFing, I bought this one for top up feeds (DH used to do the 6am feed so I got some unbroken sleep - I was doing the midnight and 3am feeds):

https://www.ardomedical.co.uk/shop/calypso-breast-pump/

I needed to buy a set of different sized flanges to find one that fitted - using the wrong size really hurts and isn’t very efficient, and there isn’t really any reliable way of sizing yourself except trial and error. Aside from that, I just needed a couple of bottles and a microwave steriliser. I used it for a year, and DSIL used it for another two after me.

I wouldn't buy a pump before the baby is here because you'll get a better idea of what you might need or not after a few weeks. My baby had difficulty latching and I started with a hand pump which was effective but exhausting because I was having to pump every feed for a while. I spent quite a lot of money on a wearable Medela pump and this was brilliant. But once breastfeeding became established my baby very rarely had/has a bottle and I don't pump enough to justify a £300 pump. If I hadn't had difficulties in the beginning this would have been a serious waste of money. I never use it now but in the early days a haaka was great and quite gentle.

The tommy tipee single silicone pump. Just to establish a bit of a supply if baby comes early/there are issues with us getting off to a good start with breastfeeding. I can't speak for it's effectiveness as I haven't had baby yet, but just having it gives me peace of mind that if I can't feed straight away there's a plan B that isn't giving up completely on breast milk.

I have heard that ideally you wouldn't pump or bottle feed until at least a few weeks so you can get breastfeeding established, but unfortunately particularly with preemies sometimes that's just not possible.

I would say the opposite to @Garman has been true in my experience. It’s been really useful to have an electric pump during the early weeks with my third DC for a few reasons. Firstly as for me and others I’ve spoken to it actually helps your milk come in more and more. Tiny babies can often not be too great at suckling for long at this stage.

Secondly it’s the first six-12 weeks or so when baby is feeding every couple of hours that you can be most in need of a nap and so it’s very useful to be able to give your partner a bottle of expressed milk to feed while you sleep a bit longer.

Thirdly for me I have suffered from nipple pain in my left breast in the early weeks
with each baby. Being able to feed on the right and pump on the left for a bit during week two gave my left nipple a break and allowed it to heal. The pump was comfortable while my baby’s latch wasn’t at that time on the left. As it always does, it sorted itself out so latch is now okay but without the pump I might have risked engorgement on that side.

My pump is a Medela swing, which was given to me by a friend. It’s the only electric one I’ve used apart from the bug double on in hospital so can’t advise on brands.

Good luck OP!

Sorry that should say big double one not bug!