im going to breast feed when my baby is born so do you have to take a breast pump to the hospital with me?

Question

just wondering so i can purchase one before or after baby is born.

Answer 1

They give you one at the hospital. It's just the manual plastic dealio. If you want a fancier one, you need to purchase it. Let the baby get it from the source though, it's better.

Answer 2

It's best not to use a breast pump at all during the first month or six weeks of your baby's life. Let him do it naturally and build up the milk supply, then when you go back to work (if you do) you have a full milk supply and your baby is a little older and might not reject the bottle. Using a breast pump from the very start can actually cause your milk supply to falter.

If you insist on using one, the hospital will let you use one. They use the Medela commercial ones, and they're pretty good, or so I've heard.

Another thing to consider is the cost. Breast pumps (GOOD ones) will run you about $300. If you buy one before your baby is born, then for some unforeseen reason you can't breast feed, you're out $300. Once the box is opened, you can't return it. I'd give it a go the old fashioned way first...just to make sure you can breast feed, then buy one.

Answer 3

If I were you I would purchase the breast pump before the baby is born. After the baby is born you are not going to feel or be able to (C-section) go shopping. When I gave birth to my first son (3 years ago) he would not latch on, so I had to use the INDUSTRIAL pump at the hospital. Now my second son, he latched on right away. But I still needed the pump when I got home, so I didn't explode :). I would also, if possible, buy the double electric pump. It saves time, because pumping is boring. Hope I helped. Good Luck and Congratulations. Jen

Answer 4

If you want to breastfeed, don't let the nurses take your baby away for *anything* If there is some procedure you agree to (and you don't have to let them do everything they want to do your baby) and you are to tired to get out of bed, make your husband or other support person go with your baby. While there are many good hospitals there are even more hospitals where the staff will just give the baby a bottle of formula without even asking. Also, find out now if your hospital has a IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant) who can come to help you get started nursing right away.

Unless there is some medical reason your baby cannot latch on and nurse, like a cleft lip, you should not need a breastpump for quite awhile. If you do end up needing a breastpump right away to provide breastmilk for use with cup, finger, or syringe feeding, then there should be one available at the hospital for you to use.

Breastfeeding, for most women, is easy and wonderful. However, most women also find that the first few weeks are difficult and you should get support to help you through that first learning curve.

Answer 5

The hospital gave me a pump after my daughter was born. I didn't bother to open it because I thought I didn't need it. Now I wish I had opened and read the instructions, because when she was 5 days old, my milk came in. My breasts swelled up so much that she couldn't or wouldn't latch on. I called the hospital and all I was told was calm down and take a shower to let them drain. I tried everything I could think of, but I didn't think to pump. After 6 hrs of not eating, I gave her some of the sample formula the hospital had given me. Afterwards, I decided to pump and give it to her in a bottle, because she refused me once she had a go at those giant bottle nipples. If I could do it again, I would have pumped to alleviate the swelling and get the nipples more accessible to her, then tried to nurse again. I wish I had pumped first and never given her the bottle.

I just wanted you to know pumps are sometimes needed, so familiarize yourself with the one you get at the hospital.

Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 6

You shouldn't need a breast pump until you're going to leave the baby alone for longer than the regular feeding interval.

Hopefully, at the hospital, the baby will be with you most of the time, and certainly at feeding time. My recollection is that the nurses are all too happy to wake you up in the middle of the night!

Congratulations!

Answer 7

No. The only reason you need a pump is to store milk when you are going to be away from the baby. Get comfortable with breast feeding first, and then you can take your time and choose a pump that will work for you, if you need one at all.

Answer 8

I myself have had 5 children and breast fed each one. I never took a breast pump to the hospital, this is your bonding time with your newborn, and let me tell you there is no greater feeling. The main thing you need to remember is to relax some times it takes a little bit for the baby to get the knack of what he/she is doing. The less you give the baby a supplemental bottle the better. Don't let the hospital talk you into giving the baby a bottle unless it is absolutely necessary, GIVE YOURSELF TIME. God Bless good luck to you and yours

Answer 9

No, the nurses perfer you breast feed with the baby. The pump's only if you feel like your breast is full of milk or going some place for a little while.

Answer 10

Congratulations on your little blessing on the way, and for your decision to breastfeed. The hospital will give you a breast pump and probably some other things to help you starting out. I encourage you to give breastfeeding a try and keep it up, even when it may be uncomfortable in the beginning, it will get better! Try using warm compresses to help alleviate swelling and engorgement, and make sure you allow time to air dry some after each feeding. You and your little one will both benefit greatly from this!

Answer 11

I didn't use the pump at all while in the hospital because all you have for the 1st few days is colostrum. you only need to pump if the baby misses a feeding. Don't pump extra times because your body thinks that it needs to supply milk at those times then... It's a supply and demand thing... the more you pump, the more you will make. your baby will empty you more than a pump will and, speaking from experience here, it's a more enjoyable experience than pumping.