after lo is born in July (YAYYY!) i will become a SAHM and just curious if other SAHMs who were breastfeeding purchased or registered for pumps. i plan on trying to go until 1yr with breastfeeding and i believe my insurance covers the pump completely with the affordable care act, but there's the cost of bottles, bottle accessories and storage.
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I actually bought a new one, because my first didn't make it through two other kids. I bought one (and even rented one from the hospital for the first month) because I don't want my supply to get screwed up. That's what happened when I was trying to nurse DS#1, his latch was so bad and nursing was so terrible that my supply was never established and we had to go to formula by 3 months. So this time I am prepared, in case that happens again.
I say if you can get it for free, go for it. I wish DH's insurance got us one for free
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Since insurance will cover it, I would get one! I stopped using my pump completely after becoming a SAHM when LO was 6 months old, but it was vital during the first few weeks to building up my supply.
Maybe you can purchase a few bottles and accessories, but don't open it until baby is born and you know if you need it?
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My instinct is to say no, although in my experience I'm glad I had the pump. I ended up having issues w/ my supply and my lactation consultant had me on a pretty rigorous pumping schedule. Not only that, but I think getting your baby used to a bottle is a very good thing - even if you EBF. I have friends who could barely leave the house because their children refused to take a bottle.
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I got one and used it a lot, because we had latch issues at the start so I was pumping and giving bottles until she got the hang of things. Even after that I used it to up supply sometimes.
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I have a Lansinoh manual pump (cost like $30 and waaaay easier to clean than electric) and just one set of bottles. I would not have survived without it but I have never felt the need for anything fancier.
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We got a hand pump and one set of bottles. It worked fine. I would recommend it so that you can go on a date or get out of the house occasionally. I pumped maybe once a day (I never got much because I didn't do it regularly) for a week and froze the milk if we were planning on going out on a Saturday date night. Plus, my husband was really excited to be able to feed her occasionally and have her alone. So sometimes I'd pump so he could feed her, and I could go shopping alone for a couple hours or something.
Honestly, you will need some time away from baby! And when they need to eat every 90 minutes to 2 hours....you'll want a pump.My LO is almost 9 months and I'm considering asking our new health insurance for an electric pump. The hand pump was never super effective for me, and lately I just can't be bothered to use it. And I've really been feeling like I need to get a break for longer than 3 hours (which is how long she can go now).
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I'd say yes. Eventually you'll want to go somewhere or do something and not be tied to a nursing schedule. Having a couple pumped bottles on hand gives you a little freedom. Also if you get too engorged, pumping off a little bit is sweet relief.
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My SIL gave me hers (I got new tubing and such) and it was really nice to be able to have some milk in the freezer so D could feed him or to give to my ILs when D and I went out.
I didn't use it so much that I would have wanted to spend a fortune on one, but I was really glad to have it.
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I would get one. For my first lo my milk didn't come in on time and we had to supplement and I had to rent a pump from the hospital to help build supply.
For my second lo my insurance covered a pump so I got it, and lo ended up in the nicu so I had to pump in the beginning. I also pump and dump if I have to take certain medications. I was going to give the pump to a friend if I didn't use it, but I'm glad I had it ready.
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I was going to SAH at first and I still planned on getting a pump since it was covered by my insurance. You never know when you might need it!
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@littleredhairedgrl: yes. If you get one through insurance it should come with some bottles. I didn't want a pump but they gave me one and it ended up being good for establishing supply and who knows what else. You don't know if you might need it or what for so it is good to have on hand.
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thanks ladies!!
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I would. There might be times when your baby is sick and can't nurse effectively and you want to protect your supply. You might have problems nursing in the beginning and need to supplement with your pumped milk, or pump to bring up your supply. I think it is worth having one for those just-in-case moments.
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FWIW, my insurance-covered pump came with 4 bottles and 150 storage bags. So you might not have to buy anything additional.
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With my first he never latched on and his sucking reflex was poor. I didn't buy a pump at first and had to rent one from the hospital for the first month. After a month I bought a pump and EP'ed for a year. With my second he latched right away, and we have been successfully breastfeeding for 10 weeks. I received a pump through DH's insurance and use it when I feel a clog duct coming. I pump about once or twice a week to add some milk to the freezer stash for times when I might need to leave the house.
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I'm a SAHM and rarely leave the baby but I still think a pump is necessary. If you had to pay for it, it probably isn't worth purchasing a big double electric right away, but since your insurance will cover it, I'd do that. It should come with everything you need and all you would need to purchase extra would be a couple of bottles, depending on what type your LO likes (My LO never really liked the Medela bottles, but we got a 3 pack of Tommee Tippee bottles and that's been plenty.). It's really nice knowing I can go out for a few hours and be away from her, even if I only do it pretty rarely. There are things I would have had to really miss out on if I didn't have a pump.
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I'm at home for the first year (Canadian mat leave), and I think a pump is a good idea. I wouldn't spring for the top of the line, or even a double pump (I have the Avent single electric pump), but something to allow you to pump a bottle or two if you want to leave baby.
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I also stayed at home and had a manual at first and then sprung for the Medela Swing (single electric). I pumped once a day in the mornings so DH fed DS a bottle in the evening (sometimes I pumped then too). Or I would save them for a couple days and go out. You could freeze and build a stash too - but my DS wasn't a fan of thawed milk even though I didn't smell/taste a difference.
ETA - I only had 6 (or was it 8?) bottles - it was more than enough though.
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I had a single manual pump, but LO never really took a bottle so I very very rarely pumped. But, it was good to have when I had a clogged duct/pre-mastitis issue!
ETA: If insurance had covered one when I had LO I would have gotten one and pumped more. With the next one I do plan on pumping more, SAHM or not!
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I SAHM and it's definitely good to have, but I have never needed anything more than a manual.
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I would get one. I pump every morning even though I mostly stay at home (I take classes twice a week). I love having milk available if I ever want/need to go out on my own! We only have 3 bottles and don't even use them all.
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I got a manual pump and some bottles to be prepared, but LO is closing in on a year old and she's only taken a bottle once just to try it. She didn't like it, I didn't like pumping, so I never did again. I honestly never feel like, 'i wish she could take a bottle right now. ' you just have to look at your lifestyle. For me, it's very easy to feed her, then go out and do whatever, then come home and feed her, etc. I don't mind nursing in public if it's necessary, but it rarely is. I'm not keen on leaving her with anyone yet, but if we wanted to go out at night I'd just feed her, put her to bed, then leave her with my parents at our house. Pumping is extra work that isn't worth it for me.
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With DS I had a manual pump. He was born 8 weeks early, so while he staying in the NICU, I rented a electric pump. After he got home, I never used the manual.
I'm not getting one for this LO. I figure, if I need one for some reason, I'll get one then.
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@littleredhairedgrl: I had one and used it especially in the early days when I wanted to leave the house. Having a little stash was important to me so we could avoid formula if something came up or I was delayed coming home.
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