I won't be a mommy for a little over a month, but I'm already trying to figure out the logistics. I want to breastfeed if it's possible for me, and supplement with bottles on the rare occasion that I'm out without the baby. I don't really want to pump regularly as it seems like a huge time-suck and hassle to me. I was thinking maybe I could just get a manual pump to pump when I'm engorged or have down time, and build up a tiny supply that can be mixed with formula bottles when she needs one. Does that seem realistic or am I just going to have to suck it up and buy an electric pump?
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Following !!! I would like to do the same !
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I waited and just rented a pump from the hospital. For a variety of reasons, I have pumped many times every single day of LOs life...I'm glad to have the good pump.
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I think it depends how easy bfeeding is for you. My baby had latch issues so I had to pump very regularly for the first few weeks of her life. If I hadn't had my double electric pump, on top of the sleep deprivation, I would have cried, lol. But now she latches great and I barely pump at all. A lot of ladies on here love their manual pumps but I would always choose electric, just in case you end up pumping more than you anticipated. Does your insurance cover the cost? If so, get a good one
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It's probably doable but might suck. I bought a manual pump to take on vacation so I wouldn't have to lug my double electric. I only pump on one side in the mornings and even that miserable for me. I like having a double electric even though I'm a SAHM because she goes with my MIL one day a week to spend time together and I pump while she's gone.
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I think many people get by with just a manual pump. In fact, my lactation consultant actually recommends hand expressing over any other pmp device and thinks electric pumps are a money-making scheme!! I do think that if you don't want to spend the time to pump but will need to do so daily, a double electric would make you happier :).
With that said, you never know how breastfeeding will work out at the beginning. I had major supply issues for the first month so I rented a hospital-grade pump for a month and then invested in my own double electric. I pump every night after my LO goes to bed because we have been giving him a bottle of milk at bedtime since he was 3 months. We did this so that 1) he wouldn't reject the bottle and 2) anyone could put him to bed.
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Obviously I'm not sure if it'll work out yet as LO's not due 'til Feb, but I plan on EBF as long as there are no problems. I won't be working so I don't see a huge need to pump right away, I did get a Medela manual pump for later on when I want to leave the house or I want my husband to be able to feed her. We took a breastfeeding class and the lactation consultant recommended that everyone have a pump, but that manual was totally fine and maybe even preferable if you aren't returning to work outside the home.
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I would get an electric. I nursed my Lo and gave her pumped milk on and off for the first 2 months of her life. Sometime between 2-3 months, we went out of town and I nursed for an entire week. When I tried giving her a bottle when we got home, she refused. She went on a bottle strike for the next TWELVE months. It was torture because I couldn't stay away from her for more than 3 hours at a time.
I bottle feed my son during the day and nurse at night. Gonna make sure he doesn't go on a bottle strike. -.- -
It depends on your supply and baby. It took a couple of weeks to develop a decent supply so the hand pump would not have worked. Also, with my daughter every minute counted because she's a very demanding and impatient baby (for the first two months she would cry bloody murder unless she was she was sleeping in my arms).
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i totally used a manual for a couple weeks, then i got a free electric through insurance!
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Some people can do the manual thing, but they're such a pain in the ass. It's hard to just pump once in a while - you really need to do it every day, or you'll have an over supply. What I did was wait until she was a few months old, and then add a pump once a day. I did that for a few months and then dropped it, and by then I had about 150oz stored.
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Well..., in my experience manual pumps are very painful and ineffective- I had more luck hand expressing!
The medela manual pump at target is $40, and the evenflo single electric pump at target is $40- I have both and vastly prefer the evenflo electric! Way more efficient, portable (I pump in the car a lot!), works with medela bottles and is comfortable/doesn't hurt. I also have the medela double electric (the $300 one) and if I had to choose I might go with evenflo for price! The medela is hardly better- though a little better and I prefer it, but for the price- go with the evenflo! Saves a lot of time!
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Everyone is different. I rented an electric at first but switched to a manual after a month. I really appreciated how much simpler the manual was and loved how I didn't have to get "hooked up" to something. I could get just as much, if not more milk, with my manual once my supply was established, and it was great to travel with. I wouldn't rely on a manual for pumping several times a day, but for like once a day? Loved it.
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Also, I recommend trying the Lansinoh manual. It is really cheap, so if it doesn't work out, you aren't put a lot of money. The medela is decent and let's you use different sizes of flanges, which was good. The suction never seemed as good to me though.
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Totally doable. I have a manual pump and have been EBF for 6 months, Im still on maternity leave though and am not trying to build a stash so only pump very occasionally
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Check with your insurance company. In 2013 there are changes happening which could allow for you to get reimbursed for a pump.
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Lots of Great advice and you won't know what works best for you until lo is here.
I would at leanest have plans for a double electric whether it's rented or purchased. Figure out your options. Plus I would pick up a manual to have on hand.
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Everyone is different. Some people respond to a pump really well. I am one of those people. I only used a manual ($19 medela on amazon. Half the price that it is in stores) and the first two months of baby's life--when I had an overabundance of milk--I was able to make over a 100 oz freezer stash. I didn't find it painful at all, and it was super convenient and portable. Also, it's quiet! Major plus for me.
I went bank to work at 4 months pp only working twice a week, and still had enough breastmilk stored for LO to drink while I was gone. She is almost 8 months now and I work 4 days a week and she has still never needed formula.
My little manual has worked out so nicely for me and I'm so glad I didn't waste the money on an electric.I should add I had no rhyme or reason to my pumping. I just pumped when I felt engorged....for example, if LO took a long nap or slept a long stretch at night. If I was gone for a while (like 4 hours getting my hair done) I would pump while I was there.
I would definitely start with a manual (it's only $20 so not a huge loss if it doesn't work) and see if it works for you.
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thanks everyone! such awesome insight. i know that my insurance covers an electric pump, but it would be included in the deductible, which means i would have to wait until after delivery & the $5000 deductible is met to get one anyway. i might go ahead and get a manual pump pre-baby, and then see what my supply, her appetite, and our schedule is like. i'm actually more nervous about conquering breastfeeding than experiencing delivery!
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@photojane: lol that's a good attitude to have. Breastfeeding is way harder than l&d in my opinion.
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@photojane: i feel the same way about BF !!!
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Will you be going back to work or SAH?
If working def electric! If SAH you might be able to get away with manual since you're not too concerned with building a huge stash.
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@coacheswife123: I'm totally nervous! I had such different ideas about bf'ing before I joined hellobee. It seems like such hard work and so stressful. I hope it pays off!
@regberadaisy: I'm a photographer, so I basically make my own schedule, and I won't ever be gone from her for more than a few hours. I'm okay with formula, and figured a little breast milk mixed in would be even better.
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@photojane: I think everyone is sooo different. L&D was horror whereas BF was a breeze... well not a breeze, there was initial pain while I adjusted and about a week of trying to figure it out but I was one of the lucky few who had a really easy time - as did my baby. I expected it to be so much worse because of what my sister went through... it's great to expect challenges and prepare though - but just know everyone's journey is different
I hope it goes really easily for you!
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@photojane: then I would probably start with a manual. You can always buy a electric later on if you felt you needed it.
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@photojane: you've gotten good advice so far- just wanted to peep in and say I thought bfing would be super hard and was prepared to trudge through it.. And it's been really great and easy so far, knock on wood! But maybe it was easier bc I thought it wouldn't be
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I kind of prefer the manual option to the electric pump right now. I would start with the manual and then see how that works for you.
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I got a Medela manual pump while still on maternity leave because I was so engorged. So, never having pumped before it was a good way for me to build up my supply while not having a million parts. The week before I went to work my supply took a hit and I went ahead and rented a hospital grade (Medela symphony) at my ob's recommendation. Honestly, it wasnt worth it in my opinion to lug that thing to work everyday and I wasn't getting more than 8 oz a day between three pumping sessions. So, a friend let me borrow a Medela pump in style and I was using that until it wonked out on me. Now I just hand pump at work and it is quick and easy with practically no set up! I'm still not producing enough to EBF since I WOH, but I think I still bf enough where I'm happy and he gets benefits of bm. Everyone's different, that's just my experience!
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My daughter is 4 weeks old, EBF, and I don't have a pump yet... my insurance covers one beginning in 2013, so I was waiting for that. I've found it pretty easy to hand express milk (usually after baby is done feeding). I've been able to get enough milk that way to freeze a couple bottles and keep one or two in the fridge for my husband to give the baby when needed (if I'm out running errands).
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