https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:10:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2168035 Tue, 05 May 2015 16:30:35 +0000 just_ju 2168035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: @miramira: @Trufflehunter: @Foodnerd81: Thank you all so much for your answers - lots of good info to take into consideration, and a great reminder that I should call insurance again to try to get a straight answer re: them covering a pump or not. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2167168 Tue, 05 May 2015 07:42:43 +0000 Foodnerd81 2167168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sah and pumped occasionally to build a stash so I could be away for a few hours here and there. </p> <p>My basic routine was once in a while, like once or twice a week, after her morning feeding, during her first nap, I would take a hot shower then pump immediately, since the warm water is supposed to help output. Most of the time I would just freeze it, unless I was going to be away in the day or so. I mostly froze in whatever amount I pumped, which was usually between 2.5-3.5 oz. (label the bag with oz and date). </p> <p>I never built up a huge stash this way, but I was able to have enough that if I was going out for an evening, I didn't need to worry. </p> <p>I was not careful about making sure she stayed comfortable with a bottle and we had a bottle strike at one point, which was really stressful, but we tried a bunch of different things and figured it out. </p> <p>And I got a medela double electric for free from my insurance. Worked great. The Pisa is better in that it has a battery pack, which would have been helpful occasionally, but wasn't worth paying extra for me and the amount that I pumped. </p> <p>It really seemed a lot more daunting to me before I actually did it, but I also didn't have much pressure on it- I was always with her so I wasn't too worried about a stash, and I was lucky to never have real damage to my nipples in the beginning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2167135 Tue, 05 May 2015 07:04:12 +0000 Trufflehunter 2167135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm SAH til LO is ~12mth. I planned to buy a pump before LO was born but let my mum talk me out of it. It was a silly decision because like Miramira we then had to buy an emergency pump the second day home from hospital because I was in so much pain from sore nipples and so engorged. I sent DH out so he was at the store doors when they opened in the morning. I don't know what other people do in this situation if they don't have a pump. Hand express maybe. That takes time to learn and when you're in the panic of early parenthood /breastfeeding you're not at your most patient. I remember trying to hand express and tears running down my face from the agony and exasperation of it all. </p> <p>So I got on the pumping train and built up a sizeable stash, which has subsequently been diminished due to me being able to pump less, and me feeling less inclined to pump. </p> <p>Unless you have a pump you won't really be able to be separate from your child for more than about 2 hr at a time in the early days. </p> <p>We also bought the medela swing. I used a medela symphony in hospital and found the swing to be perfectly good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2167077 Tue, 05 May 2015 04:28:33 +0000 miramira 2167077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I initially started pumping when LO was maybe a couple days old or so, as my nipples were torn to shreds from BF. In order to give them a 'break' and ensure LO was getting enough milk, I had to express it. We panic-bought a Medela Swing pump, which has been a wonderful investment. We had a variety of bottles and nipples and he was happy with any of them when he was very small, but now at 7 months he's a bit more selective!</p> <p>I normally only pump if I know I'm going to be away from LO for more than about 2 hours. I used to have a tiny stash of milk but I kept overestimating the amount that LO would need while I was away, so I'd end up defrosting a lot more than he actually needed! I can't stress how awful it feels to see breastmilk go to waste! If your LO takes pumped milk more regularly than mine does, the amount they need will probably be easier for you to discern and you'll be able to minimize waste. Or you could try freezing it in small amounts to begin with.</p> <p>Anyway, if I need to pump, I'll do it in the morning when it's easiest to get lots out. However, if I can't do it in the morning, I might feed LO from the same breast twice in a row so more milk builds up in the other one, meaning that it'll be easier to pump out a good quantity.</p> <p>It's great that you are doing all this research early! I really wish I had. Breastfeeding can be very physically and emotionally demanding to begin with, but it's worth persevering. I wish someone had told me that!! Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2167052 Tue, 05 May 2015 00:26:08 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2167052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Medela Pump In Style Advanced (PISA)...I got it through insurance and it's great. Their customer service is wonderful...when I had a small issue with my pump a new one arrived two days later, hassle free. I do work part-time, but on the days I'm home with my son all day I still pump twice a day. First in the morning-that's when my supply is the best, which I hear is true of most moms. I pump after his first AM meal. I then pump late at night when he used to eat (10 PM) to help keep my supply up now that he doesn't eat over night. For a while I was storing and freezing a ton, but as his appetite has increased we use almost all of it! I hear when he really starts eating more solids (he's turning 6-months-old next week) I might be able to add more to the stash again as he might drink less. It is always changing, and I am a first-time-mom so am just going with what works for me!! Some SAHMs don't want or need to pump-others pump a lot more than I do. Also, we use the Dr. Brown's glass bottles which are good for BF babies, even though they have a lot of parts and are a pain to clean. My son was in the NICU for four days and we had to do bottles, so we did both bottles and breast from the start and he happily takes either. From what I hear, a good thing to keep in mind is to give at least one bottle a day after you introduce a bottle so baby doesn't forget what it is/how to use it! It is a great tool to have so mama can get a few extra hours of sleep or leave the house once in a while without worrying about feeding the baby for a bit! Best wishes as you embark on your BF journey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahms-who-bf-and-pump#post-2167040 Mon, 04 May 2015 23:32:08 +0000 just_ju 2167040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would you mind sharing how often you pump, how old your LO was when you started pumping, what kind of pump you use ... I'm pretty much looking for any information and advice you can give me :).</p> <p>My baby is due next month, and I'll be staying home with him, but (assuming BF works for us) I know there will be times when I'd like to have the option to bottle feed. I'm in major research mode, so any tips and tricks are greatly appreciated. </p>