I'm curious if anyone has broken out the true cost to breastfeed? I know so many people say "it's free" but it's really not when you add in all the supplies. I did only formula with my first daughter and spent around $1,000 for a full year of formula. We only had to buy bottles (which we would have needed anyhow as I work) and formula. I'm considering breastfeeding for the second one but I'm curious about the cost. I'm thinking it may cost the same or more and be more of hassle for me. I have a friend who just went back to work and is pumping. Insurance paid for a basic pump but she spent $90 to upgrade to a pump with a battery and a $50 bag to carry it that has insulated pockets for the milk, etc. so that's $150 right there. Then I'm thinking of nursing bras, hands free pump bra, tops and dresses that are nursing friendly, nursing pads for the bra, nipple cream, etc. That has got to add up! I will go back to work full time after maternity leave so I would be pumping a lot during the day. I'm not looking to debate the merits of breastfeeding and just want to know what it cost others for an entire year.
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I haven’t done the math on a year, but I paid $200 to upgrade my insurance pump, and I’ve bought bottles, breast milk storage bags, freezer bins for the bags, a nursing cover, etc. It adds up!
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I got one nursing/pumping bra and two simple nursing bras. I liked having a few nursing shirts when los were super little, but they aren't needed. I pump in my normal clothes under a cover. I bet I spent $400 on nursing related clothing/cover. I am a pull up pull down nurser so I would wear a shirt and a tank or just pull my shirt up once lo got big enough to cover my tummy. Bottles are needed either way. I didn't need pads for long but everyone is different. I got I bunch of stuff from friends... Storage bags are also a cost, but minimal.
Don't but things until you actually know you need it. I ended up with a bunch of stuff I didn't need...
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I don't have hard numbers, but I guess I'd say that even if you're not breastfeeding, your body is still going to kick into gear as if you are, at least for a time (right?) - so you'd still have to purchase that tube of nipple cream, a pack of nursing pads, a few larger bras, etc. for the first couple of weeks until your body returns to non-nursing state. I didn't need to pump at work regularly, but depending on where you're able to pump (how much privacy you have), you may not need as much special clothing as you think? I personally don't wear nursing tanks for breastfeeding, just the cheap-o $3 Walmart or Target camisoles. So your first batch of supplies is probably a sunk cost already.
I pumped and fed this baby for a good bit of her nursing days (and used some formula as well) because she was born tiny and needed her feeds monitored, and I'd say that all in for a year of breastfeeding I spent maybe $150-$200 on pads and milk bags. You may find you don't even need the pads, and if you're using milk w/o freezing it, you could also probably pretty easily just pump into a batch of bottles and avoid the bags as well - maybe 2-3 days worth, so perhaps a few more than if you did exclusively formula?
So in short - COULD it get really expensive? Sure, but I don't think it HAS to. I wouldn't let the cost be a deterrent if it is something you want to do. But I completely hear you on the hassles of almost exclusively pumping - it definitely seems like a lot of logistics, but I know tons of women do it.
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@PinkElephant: Last time I didn't have to buy anything special when I didn't breastfeed. No nipple cream needed as they weren't being sucked. Someone gave me a bag of stuff they didn't need which was pads and nursing pads which I did end up using and would have had to buy otherwise so maybe $10 is what I would have had to spend? No need for larger bras-just wore the large sports bras I had to buy when pregnant until the milk went away.
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Other than a pump and nursing bras, I think everything else if buy if you need it. I didn't leak so I didn't need nursing pads although I bought some cheap ones. Nipple cream I only used for a week so I only needed one bottle that I never finished. There is no true need for nursing friendly clothing.
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This is going to be my best guess on what I used and spent 2.5 years after nursing baby #2:
Gear: $140
-pump ($0, reused bag from first baby, think it was a $40 upgrade?)
-extra set of pump parts ($30)
-2 sets freezer bottles for milk (~$30)
-milk trays to make milk ice cube (~$40)
Stuff for me: $120
-2 target nursing tanks (~$40? Bought these with baby #1 so foggy memory)
-2 nursing bras from soma ($50)
-nursing pads ($10)
-nipple cream (gifted to me, $5?)
-nursing cover for pumping (gifted, $15?)I also needed a lactation consultant home visit which was $85.
Bottles you need either way so I am not counting those. I did not buy any special nursing clothes other than the listed above.So that would be $260 without the LC visit, or $345 with. I had my first baby in 2011 so I also paid for the pump that time out of pocket.
The other thing I love about nursing, once it is established, is that you do not have to spend any mental energy planning to feed the baby when you are out and about. Baby is hungry—you are good to go with food ready at the right temp with no special equipment needed. It is so convenient!!
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I would probably say 300 dollars
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It also depends on if you are working or stay at home, whereas the formula cost would be the same regardless.
I stay at home and for my 3 kids, breastfeeding costs were WELL under $1,000 combined for 2 years each.
Biggest cost for me were the nursing bras. Maybe $200 for 3 kids. Nursing tanks $50. Nursing cover $10. Boppy plus extra covers $25 (boppy was a gift, otherwise add $40 I think). I mostly pumped into the bottles that came with the insurance provided pump so I only bought a couple extra bottles, maybe $15. Bags to pump into were given to me. I can't quantify but probably the biggest ongoing expense was my appetite in the early days!
Quantifiable expenses for SAHM breastfeeding with only some pumping $300 or $100 per kid.
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I did a cost calculation for DH and was surprised at how little I spent: nursing bras $200 (but were necessary for pregnancy, so no cost savings), bottles $0 (with my pump, covered by insurance), freezer bags $30, pump $0 (insurance), manual pumps $50, pump bag $20, freezer pack $10. So $110 of additional costs. My LO had severe MSPI, so formula would've been $3000.
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Definitely far less than 1k. I didn’t wear any special clothing or bras for pumping at work and brought the milk home in an insulated lunch box I already had. Probably $50 for storage bags. $10 for a few pairs of washable pads. I didn’t purchase any extra pump parts or use a nursing cover. Around $200 for a few bras, some nursing friendly hoodies for winter (my summer attire was mostly nursing friendly already) and a dress for a specific event. That’s all I can think of. Nursing can definitely be a hassle, but formula feeding seems like a hassle in its own way too. Basically, keeping a needy little being constantly fed and happy is a pain in the ass no matter the method lol.
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A few hundred dollars. I'm sure you could get by without spending much money. It really didn't even feel like that much money. It wasn't something that I had to spend money on each and every week like if I was having to buy formula.
One thing that was priceless - the added benefit of weight loss! Woo hoo!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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I definitely did spend a bunch on nursing/pumping tanks and nursing friendly clothing. That said, I don't think I'll need to buy anything except storage bags and some disposable breast pads for #2.
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9 months in:
Pump: $0, my insurance covered the pump and spare parts (6 sets of flanges, 36 bottles with caps)
Pump Bags: $20 a month ($240 a year)- I do donate milk now, so I’m actually traded bags for milk.
Clothes: I was gifted actual nursing clothes and couldn’t stand them! Nursing bras and tanks included. I bought some good Jockey sports bras that I can just lower from the top or lift from the bottom (4 bras-$80 (we have an outlet mall)). I also opted against a hands free bra and I can still drive and pump (shhhh).
Bottles: you have to buy either wayI work full time, and pump twice a day while at work. I nurse first thing in the morning and before bed. I pump in the eveni for a third before my bedtime to keep my supply up.
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@alphagam84: The biggest “hidden” cost of BFing for me was the cost of my food. I never tried to account for it but I ate a lot more than I do when I’m not nursing.
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My pump was free, I got a hand pump ($30) a solid 8 nursing tanks from Target ($100+), lots of plastic pumping bags $50+ bottles 150+ 2-3 nicer nursing bras $100
So $400 or so but bottles are a cost regardless.
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I bought a single electric pump with my first and have used it verrrrry rarely (over two babies). It was maybe $90?
I bought 2 nursing bras with my first, and 2 new bras with my second. Probably $60 for the two. But I would have needed new bras anyways soooo....
I’ve never bought any bottles/nipples (my pump came with a bottle and a nipple).
I bought a My Brest Friend pillow with my first that I have used with both babies (4.5 years). It was maybe $60.
I never bought special nursing clothing, I just wear a tank underneath with a normal shirt on top.
So basically I’ve probably spent $150 over two babies, maybe $210 if you include bras?
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I added this up once while I was pumping at work ! It was around $600 for me. I had to see an LC, upgraded to a Medela Freestyle for my subway commute, several invaluable nursing camisoles, one soma nursing bra, all the little stuff--like you suspect, it does add up a bit. BUT none of that even comes close to holding a candle to the cost of your time spent pumping. I pumped 4x a day and weaned at 12 months and it was exhausting. I plan to breast feed next time but I'll probably try to make it 9 months instead.
@QBbride: I swear I wouldn't have made it longer than a week without the my breast friend. Boo outgrew it at 7 weeks but it was amazing! -
I spent a lot experimenting with equipment (e.g. aftermarket flanges that were more comfortable) because I had a lot of nursing discomfort for awhile and was desperate for relief. I have no idea what the total cost was.
I did not like the idea of formula -- totally a visceral reaction, not researched at all -- and so did not seriously consider it as an option since my son did not have any weight issues.
For me the "cost" of pumping had more to do with the convenience/inconvenience.
I love love loved not having to plan food/formula when leaving the house with him. All I ever needed was some diapers and a change of clothes. Amazing. Also I did not have to bother with equipment in the middle of the night. I could keep the lights off which made it easier for me to go back to sleep.
This convenience was offset by the massive hassle of pumping. Pumping sucks (no pun intended) and I hated every minute of it. And it is a huge interruption at work.
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@LCTBQE: hahaha my kid is 2.5 and still nursing and I still use it at bedtime
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Pump was free through insurance. I use mason jars to store milk in the freezer ($36, I think). I bought three nursing bras off Amazon ($26) and a few nursing tanks (maybe another $36). So about $100 bucks total (and that's for two kids!)
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Both of my kids have food allergies, which I discovered while breastfeeding. They would have been on hypoallergenic formula, which is $$$. I EP'ed with LO1, and spent probably around $400 - $500 since my pump was an out of pocket cost (before insurance covered it). With LO2, I possibly spent an additional $100 on extra bras and tank tops. I'm a SAHM, and I pumped for only a week with LO2. No storage bags or bottles needed.
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Pump - Free through insurance
Extra pump parts - $60
Storage bags - $20? A ton were gifted to me
Nursing cover - $25
Nursing bras/tanks - $100
Nursing pads - $10
Nipple cream - $10
Total - $225I didn't buy any specific "nursing clothes" other than nursing tanks. I just made what I had work.
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I feel like this would depend quite a lot on whether you need to go back to work while still breastfeeding, and whether or not you are expecting to do all (or at least most of) the feeds yourself (since it seems like a lot of the costs are related to pumps and associated equipment). I don't think I spent more than $100 or so... I had a small manual pump, one box of freezer storage bags, a couple of bottles, and some nursing bras which I needed while pregnant anyway to accommodate the increase in boob-mass. I didn't buy any nursing-specific clothing, just used stretchy tanks that I already owned. I was gifted a nursing pillow, but quite honestly, I could just as easily have used a random pillow that was already in my house.
Oh, and food. Lots of extra food. I needed to eat ALL the food.
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Medela Pump in style: I got one from a friend, but they're $173 on Amazon right now. Comes with a bag, cooler and ice pack.
Extra set of pump parts: $14
Nursing Pads: I never had to use them with two kids, I found them itchy and I only leaked for maybe the first week. But they're $6 a box, I'll say I bought one box for two kids
Nipple cream: Never used it with two kids, but one bottle is $9
Bottles: You already have those, the pump comes with some, but otherwise the super cheap gerber bottles are compatible with the Medela pump. $4 for a three pack, I'll say $16 total.
Nursing Bras: $15 apiece at target... I probably had 2-3 but also used sports bras $45
Handsfree Pump Bra: Simple Wishes handsfree bra $35
Storage Bags: $10 for 100... I probably used 4 of these over the course of a year = $40
No nursing specific clothing. Used the two shirt method, one shirt up, one shirt down.
No nursing cover, used a swaddle blanketTotal: $338
What was totally priceless to me was being able to walk out the door and not have to worry about bringing along feeding supplies for the baby. We didn't have to worry about carrying around water, or bringing a mountain of bottles, or trying to find a place to wash out bottles if we were travelling.
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I appreciate this question and would just like to add that most of the calculations assume that your time is free. If you work a wage job, you could literally be losing that pay. If you work a salaried job, you have to add hours to make up for when you were away from work to pump. The "breastfeeding is free" idea completely devalues women's work and time.
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@pollywog @yin same, my son had severe MSPI and food allergies, so if I had to use formula it would have been like $500 a month (Neocate). So for us it was definitely a tremendous cost savings. Not free, though - I was on a very special diet and definitely spent more on food than I would have otherwise.
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I haven't done the math, but all I know is it is def still way cheaper than formula! I think I may MAKE money after nursing 2 kids! Pumps were free from insurance. Let's say I spend $200-$300 on gear/supplies, but that's spanning 2 kids. I barely got anything new for #2. And yes to me the value and "ease" (I put quotes since it's not always the easiest options and it def depends on you & your situation), you almost can't put a price tag on it!
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@starchild: THIS times a million!!!
Here's a generic example:
You make $10/hour
You pump 2x/day for 15 minutes each - that's basically $5/day
Assuming you took 12 weeks off and are pumping until 1 year, that's ~40 weeks.
40 weeks x 5 days x $5/day = $1000If you make more OR have to pump more, that cost goes up!
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I did this for my first and spent around $650-700. But FWIW, I had to buy a new pump ($200) because insurance one sucked and I had an urgent care visit on 7/4 for mastitis ($100). The rest of it was supplies and supplements.
For my second I spent maybe $200 for extras/spare parts, new bra ($50), and milk storage bags (might drive it over $200 as I had 1300oz in the freezer). I got a new pump (free from insurance) so I used the new and my old. Bought some conversion supplies and new/spare parts. No supplements this time. I also had to go dairy free for 6mo for my second baby but didn't really spend any more on food. I had mastitis once with my second but it was on a day the office was open so I could just call and get a prescription. So maybe $20 for the meds on that one
I did pump at work but I was compensated (didn't go unpaid) and no one bothered me about my breaks. I continued to work as normal without getting behind so it really didn't affect my work at all (I did not work any extra hours). But I completely understand this can be a real cost for some women and I really wish we could get paid maternity leave (6mo+) for this reason.
I EBF my first and weaned her at 2 (when I was 12w pregnant) and my second was also EBF and now he is 13mo and he won't wean anytime soon.
I also donated close to 1000 oz with my second and over half of that was to the local milk bank (at the hospital).
Outside of nursing bras and my pumping bra, I wore normal clothes (tank tops) so no special clothing.
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My first, I went back to work part time at 2 months, full at 4 months and I pumped till he was 1 (he is allergic to dairy, so he never took to formula). Here's what I bought:
Nursing bras (2 for $20 each)
Hands-free pumping bra ($25)
Nursing cover ($20 and I had three free ones too)
Extra bottles (probably $30 all told)
Generic Milk Bags ($30)
Insulated bottle bag ($10)The pump itself was free and I didn't buy any extra nursing clothes.
For baby 2: I also went back to work part time at 2 months and full at 4 months. She... never liked the bottle, so anything I pumped was basically rejected. I literally drove to the daycare and fed her during my 'pumping' sessions. At 4 months, we just gave up the bottle and put the pumped milk in her oat cereal to keep her hydrated.
I reused the 2 nursing bras, nursing covers and got an extra pump for free so I had one at home and work.
I did buy two nursing shirts from H+M ($25)
For baby 2 I was a lot less shy about feeding in public and just used burp cloths or receiving blankets most of the time. I also did not buy bags for a freezer stash since it seemed pointless with Miss-I-Hate-All-Bottles. I would just stuff the occasional extra milk in the freezer in the bottle. I also did not use my hands-free pumping bra. I just tucked the flanges in my unhooked normal bra and they stayed put once the suction started.
An important thing to note: All breastfeeding/pumping supplies are eligible expenses for your FSA/HSA. If you didn't empty it covering baby's birth that is
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@starchild: Time is not free for sure, but as we received breaks before without making it up, i did not have to make up or take off unpaid time to pump.
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The only thing I've bought so far is a converter to change my nursing bras (that I bought as soon as I outgrew my regular bras in pregnancy...so I don't consider that I bought them JUST for nursing) to a pumping bra. And I got it on sale.
Other than that, any clothes I've bought in the second half of pregnancy I've made sure would have a life after pregnancy (cardigans that also work as cover ups, tank tops that can be pulled down to nurse, etc.).
I got a free sample of reusable pads from Bamboobies, and a mostly full box of disposable ones from a friend. Follow your local facebook marketplace groups. Women are constantly wanting to get rid of things they no longer need for free or little price!
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relatedly-- how did you only spend $1000 for a year of formula?! My daughter is on a more expensive formula due to her milk/soy protein intolerance, so I think we'll be spending around $200-250/month (buying in bulk from amazon). But even normal formula is like $25/can and lasts less than a week. Teach me your secrets. lol
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@alphagam84: Breastfeeding definitely costs more, in my personal experience. If you work, you need the bottles and racks and steamers and all that stuff, you need breastmilk storage bags, pads, bras, tanks, pump accessories, supplements if you have low supply, all the extra food you eat to support the milk, a chest freezer if you need to pile a big stash, and mostly TIME. Time is money. It takes FOREVER. I pumped for 9 months for each of my boys and they got predominantly breastmilk with supplementation for 10.5 months and 13 months respectively, and it was a RIDICULOUS amount of time. Pumping, sterilizing, decanting, storing, organizing. I don't have any regrets doing what I did, but I realize its an extreme position of privilege and I was definitely way more casual about formula supplementation with DS2.
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@gingerbebe: This is a huge part of what I meant about time, not just the actual wages but those were the most tangible example here. Thank you!
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Interesting question! I spent about $250 on the pump and supplies, but the cost in lost work time was probably around $200 a month. I didn't technically lose hours, but if I hadn't spent that time on pumping I'd work longer hours most days.
Now if I were a SAHM, the cost would be more like $50 for a simple manual pump. When I was home, I needed a lot of little bottles to stash an extra couple of ounces here and there, but they were all freebies.
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Hmm, this is an interesting question. I feel like I didn't spend a crazy amount, but it certainly wasn't free.
Simple Wishes pumping bra
2 nursing bras from Target
Medela storage bottles and cooler
Lanisoh freezer bags
Lanisoh ointment
Disposable breast pads (which I bought while pregnant and never really needed. I hardly leaked at all.)
APNO -- this was probably one of the more pricey items at $30ish, but it was a lifesaver when I had thrush.
BoppyI think that's about it. Obviously I bought bottles, too, but I would have needed those for formula feeding as well.
@QBbride: I still use my boppy at bedtime for my 17-month-old! Glad I'm not the only one still using the nursing pillow for a toddler
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Having never pumped or used bottles my breastfeeding costs are very low. $80 on nursing bras and $8 on those gel nipple pads (heavenly btw) with two babes over approx 4 years.
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My only expenses were nursing bras and the pads so definitely not much expense for me but I stay at home so I've never needed to pump or anything.
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