https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 05:19:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119510 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:37:20 +0000 Pipers Mommy 119510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cvbee: I recommend investigating your Health Insurance to see if they are willing to cover your breast pump if your physician can deem it 'medically necessary'. I left the hospital with a Medela Freestyle Double pump simply because LO had elevated bilirubin levels and the pump could be justified because it would help her immensely if I could get my milk to come in faster. The nurse made a single phone call and it was mine. </p> <p>I second the Target Nursing tanks, loved them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119508 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:36:05 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: that may be it... I'm not sure exactly what makes the difference though. I just know that the ones that are chiropractor approved for proper hip/spine development are quite a bit more $$. But obviously worth the investment. I love the website paxbaby.com for all things baby-carriers. They have a lot of wraps too like @cvbee wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119473 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:13:21 +0000 Weagle 119473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say misc. stuff. There's a LOT of misc. stuff that you'll use! You don't know if breastfeeding will work out, but you can always rent a pump for a month or so. And I third the others about the Bjorn... Go for a better SSC or a wrap/sling instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119456 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:04:04 +0000 cvbee 119456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsdaredevil: way to complicate my decision further ! :) ha<br /> Well, the store for which I have the credit only had Medela double and single electrics, and an Avent single electric, so that's why I thought I'd get one of those. (And I feel like the Medela reviews are better). But I could always get the manual one from another store. Those are about half the price again of the single electric. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119447 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:53:46 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 119447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cvbee: What about getting a manual pump? That's all that I am getting since I plan on staying home for 4-5 months. I won't need to pump that often. My girlfriend absolutely swears by the Medela manual pump and she has four kids!!!<br /> Then, you would have enough $ to get a mobile and some other odds and ends.<br /> Just a thought! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119427 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:29:47 +0000 cvbee 119427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@miss-spunkin: thanks for the explanation about the carrier, as I was wondering then if all carriers that put the baby's legs through a harness are bad. We will definitely eventually get a carrier. I'm thinking at first a wrap type and later one like you listed. I think we'll go to a store with lots of carriers and try them out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119424 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:28:02 +0000 cvbee 119424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I am going to have to think about if it is worth the price difference. I'll be getting a Medela. The double is $350 and the single is $190 (Canadian). I plan on breast feeding for at least 6 months and will be home with baby. </p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: I saw a reviewer on some site say that she fed the baby on the other side while she used the single breast pump. Sounds complicated, but could that fix the milk loss issue? Or is what that person suggested nuts? </p> <p>I think I am settled on using the gift cards for the pump. But single or double is where I'm at now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119412 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:20:20 +0000 regberadaisy 119412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@miss-spunkin:<br /> Is the difference in the fact that the two you listed has a wider base so it provides more support down low? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119409 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:17:49 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cvbee: by the way, I have also LIVED IN my nursing tank from target. it makes feeding soo much easier. Especially at nightime.<br /> And it makes it so my wardrobe isn't so limited. I don't have to worry about exposing my stomach by lifting my shirt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119407 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:16:11 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cvbee: i need to second what navy_mommy said about the baby bjorn. It's what's called a "crotch dangler", the carrier suspends baby from their hips which can cause their hips and spines to develop poorly/wrongly because of the suspension. If you get a carrier, it has to be one that puts baby into a SEATED position (like this: <a href="http://www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-13/gemini" rel="nofollow">http://www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-13/gemini</a>, or this <a href="http://www.babyhawk.com/)" rel="nofollow">http://www.babyhawk.com/)</a>. I also second the moby- it's saved my life!!</p> <p>As for the pump, it all depends what your plans are. Hand expressing isn't efficient enough if you plan to pump enough so that DH can feed LO for you. If you only plan to breastfeed a few months, it probably wouldn't be worth the cost. But for me it's been great. Last weekend I got really sick, and knowing that am only getting about 6 hrs of broken sleep a night made me realize it was compromising my immune system. So I pumped and DH took LO for his feeding so that I could sleep 7 hours consecutively. It was amazing and really helped. Without the pump I wouldn't have been able to do that. Also, this weekend we're going out for the first time without LO, so I've had to pump so the babysitter can feed him. </p> <p>I love having a breastpump and think it's a worthy investment, if you plan to use it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119399 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:07:02 +0000 Mrs. Bee 119399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: you can pump in half the time with a double, and what mama has free time! also if i pump on one side, i let down on the other, so i'd be wasting at least an ounce every time i pumped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119394 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:04:15 +0000 regberadaisy 119394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why is double so much better than single?</p> <p>It's a huge price jump isn't it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119389 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:01:44 +0000 cvbee 119389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: @Mrsbells: @Goldilocks1107: Thanks for the recs about the double pump instead of single. That's what I originally was thinking, but now that it's me spending my own money (well, it would be partly-funded by the gift cards), I was thinking it was excessive. You gals have got me thinking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119382 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:58:57 +0000 cvbee 119382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: love the 'crunchy' advice! ha! Thanks! I was thinking more about a wrap but the place with the gift cards happens to not have any wrap carriers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119305 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:14:45 +0000 Navy_Mommy 119305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and the lactation consultant I've been lucky enough to work with told me not to waist my money on a single pump; brand doesn't matter as long as it's electric and a double pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119297 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:08:48 +0000 Mrsbells 119297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From the reviews that I've heard if your going to buy an electric breast pump its best to just go with double. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119295 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:06:57 +0000 cyndistar3 119295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely vote breast pump, getting the bigger items out of the way always make me feel better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119285 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:58:13 +0000 banana 119285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote for breast pump as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119264 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:48:39 +0000 Navy_Mommy 119264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cvbee: I actually haven't had any issues hand expressing but I've hated using the pump! Luckily, I'm still using a borrowed pump from the hospital, but at this point I don't think I'll be buying one to keep.</p> <p>I'm actually sitting here right now with DS in his Moby Wrap because it makes life so much easier. He's comfortably sleeping and I can use both hands without an issue.</p> <p>I don't want to get preach-y but I did want to bring up some issues with the Bjorn. I was originally planning on getting one but I basically got reamed out by some of the "crunchier" moms I'm friends with because they aren't the best option developmentally. Obviously it's your choice, but in case you're unaware (like I was) Bjorns really aren't that great for babies! If you google "Baby Bjorn Crotch-Dangler" you'll get tons of info.</p> <p>If I were you, I'd actually save the gift-cards till after baby is born to see what YOU need the most since you never know!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119247 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:39:26 +0000 regberadaisy 119247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me I'm waiting till after baby to get the breast pump because my insurance will cover half if I get a note from the doctor.<br /> I'm planning on waiting till baby to try out the carrier at the store then buy one eBay. Cheaper.<br /> So I would vote misc because I still need a bunch of misc stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119218 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:23:15 +0000 chopsuey 119218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>breast pump! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119172 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:45:34 +0000 Mrs. Bee 119172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my reasoning is, you can live without nursing tanks, a mobile and a carrier. but say your lo has to stay in the hospital and you need to pump, or you're so engorged you want to pump to relieve the pain. you can always hold on to the receipt and return it if you don't use it, but it's good to have on hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119159 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:39:48 +0000 Goldilocks1107 119159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you see if you can find a double breast pump secondhand? The one I got you can use as a single or a double, which can save time if you decide to build a suppy of frozen milk for later use.<br /> Then use the gift card for the nursing tanks and other baby essentials? (Maybe save some of it for after the baby is born, in case you need to get different baby wash or something because of a skin reaction?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119154 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:34:52 +0000 cvbee 119154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is super helpful already Bees. </p> <p>I was wondering if the breast pump was necessary because in our breastfeeding prenatal class it 'seemed' like hand expression was easy to do. I wondered then if the breast pump was just a waste of money, but I am already hearing loud and clear that it is an essential. </p> <p>That also makes sense to hold off on the carrier to see what works with the baby. But was ARE really excited about baby-wearing. Could we just use a pashmina at first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119147 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:30:49 +0000 Red 119147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote for breast pump as well. I remember how painful it was the first week when my breasts were SUPER engorged and my LO was fast asleep and not able to nurse. My attempts to hand-express were pitiful and unsuccessful so I sent my husband out to buy me a breast pump regardless of the cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119146 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:29:46 +0000 heffalump 119146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know, I think it just depends. I wouldn't want to buy a breasted pump unless I knew for sure I was breastfeeding. Which I thought I was going to but it didn't work out. We waited for lo to come before buying a carrier so we could try it on with her in it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119145 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:29:15 +0000 mediagirl 119145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Breast pump!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119128 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:17:31 +0000 Mrs. Bee 119128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>breast pump for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-spend-my-baby-shower#post-119122 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:14:29 +0000 cvbee 119122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, at my most recent shower I got some gift cards to one of the stores at which we are registered. I have $120 to spend. Which of the following do you think is most essential? (I am 37 weeks and do not anticipate getting any more gifts until after baby is born).</p> <p>A) breast pump (would buy a single electric)<br /> B) Bjorn carrier (registered elsewhere for dif carrier, but this one seems okay)<br /> C) odds and ends: 2 nursing tanks, a crib mobile, etc</p> <p>edit: D could include a cheaper carrier AND the 2 nursing tanks. </p>