Breastfeeding - Is a breast pump useful?

Question

I'm pregnant with my first and want to breastfeed my baby. However, I also want my fiance to be able to have that bond with our baby when feeding (also I'm going back to work after and would be easier if we could take it in turns getting up at night). Would anyone recommend a breast pump so that I can express milk to allow for this? Or can I feed baby for first month or so and then switch to expressed milk? If so what equipment will I need to make this process easier?

Any other tips you can give us on buying other necessities would be welcomed too! This is our first and everything is overwhelming at the moment.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I would suggest exclusively nursing at the breast for the first 4-6 weeks. (The shorter side is fine if you get off to a smooth start. If breastfeeding has a rough start, waiting until the longer side of that to introduce the first bottle.)

Then introduce an occasional bottle of pumped milk while continuing to nurse. If you are going back to work, baby can have bottles while you are apart and nurse when you are together. This will help to make sure the antibodies passed through the milk will continue to work their best and will let you and baby reconnect after mom has been away.

Answer 2

I was only 18 when i had my 1st, but i breast fed for 6 months and was very proud.

To express you need a breast pump, just a couple of bottles, and a steriliser.
You can breast feed full time and still express the odd bottle, that is what i did.

Some times we would be going some where and i would feel a little shy about feeding her, like at my grand parents house (we are not close or sitting in the pub garden (in the summer) so i would just express a bottle, i dont think i would have managed the 6 months other wise.

It is a shame but many people can make you feel imbarassed about trying to give your baby the best start in life, do not let them put you of, or make you feel un comftable (sorry i can not spell)

I was supprised how many people would make me feel like i should leave the room!
So a breast pump realy does help if you know you are going to feel a little self concious some times!

I am 22 now and waiting for my second baby (7 weeks to go) and am planning to feed him myself to.

In all i found feeding easy, pain free, i felt a special bond with my little girl and i was pround of myself for what i was doing- i hope your experiance is the same, good luck and stick with it x

if you ever want to get in touch you can get me at [e-mail]

Answer 3

I highly recommend the Medela Pump in Style. The "original" is $250 and the "advanced" is $320. I know it's alot of money, but if you want to give your baby breastmilk and will be physically separated from your baby for much of the day when you return to work you'll need a good quality pump. I use the original. I pump 5-6 times in a 24 hour period 10 minutes at a time. It comes with a battery pack and you can also purchase an adapter for the car. It comes with 4 bottles and I'd recommend buying additional bottles. I bought 4 additional bottles.

I looked into renting one from the hospital. It was $30 a month. When I did the math it was cheeper to buy one.

As for other buying necessities you absolutely need the Boppy pillow. This is much better than the Breastfriend pillow. The Boppy can be used for more than berastfeeding. I use it for bottle feeding, a seat for baby, use it for tummy time, as well as I have fallen asleep with it. Get one with a removable cover that can be washed.

Good Luck and Congrats!!!

Answer 4

I would highly suggest the Medela,any of there pumps are awesome,they are a little more pricey than some others but you get what you pay for.I would recomend you try to breast feed only for at least the first month if you can and after that try to do it at all times when you are with your baby.You will need a good pump with a few bottles,i suggest you buy milk storage bags,the first years ones are the best price and work awesome,i have well over 400 oz frozen that is being donated to childrens hospital in vancouver b.c.,my son is allergic to dairy and soy so he can no laonger have my milk so i figured i would pump a while longer and give it to babes that need it.Anyways,be sure to mark the date and oz on each bag and use the oldest ones first,go on google and look up breast milk storage so you know how long it is good for once you have frozen it.I wont bore you with all that kin my answer.Good luck and please try to breast feed as long as you can,babys can get nipple confusion very easy and the next thing you know you will be pumping 24/7 cuz babe finds it easier on the bubba!Good luck and congratulations!
First time mom of Pearce 5 months

Answer 5

I used the Avent manual breast pump because it has all the attachments for bottles and it all fits in the avent steriliser. The breast pump really saved my life...it was so convinient.

It is advisable to not give your baby a bottle for the first month or so...baby needs to latch properly and learn that skill first before you introduce a different teat that the bottle has. bt is you want to pamper yourself with a movie or a haircut then u can express some and have someone else like your mother or husband do that feed. also if you have more milk that your baby demands you can freeze it and save it for another day...emergencies when u away from baby during feed time etc.

good luck
:) and enjoy your baby....

Answer 6

a breast pump is very useful because it can help you keep your flow up and like you said, sometimes ease the stress of only you feeding your baby all the time. i had so much extra milk at first that i would feed my son then could pump enough for another 2 feedings. this usually happens at first. so we would save the milk. you can freeze it or refrigerate it. my recommendation on that is to refrigerate it first then if it has been 7 days and you haven't used it; freeze it. this is because once you freeze it and defrost it you have 1 day to use it but the milk can stay refrigerated for 7-8 days. i had to introduce a bottle at 2 weeks old because we were moving and my son took to it just fine but i still fed him from the breast as often as possible. my husband did enjoy the time feeding him. i used soothie bottles because supposedly they simulate the breast the most and my son loved them. my pump is an ameda purely yours and it works great. easy to use too! when you go to pump i would recommend you have a towel with you so you can wipe off right after you're done. also, when you first start breastfeeding buy something made by gerber. it's for chapped nipples. it looks like chapstick but it's better than they give you at the hospital because you don't have to worry about wiping it off. you can rub a little breastmilk on your nipples to keep them moist. set up a feeding station with water, etc... so you're comfortable because for the first month or so it will feel like all you're doing is feeding. the breast milk bags i like the best are made by the first years and have a pour spout. they are the thickest and free standing. you can buy them at target. that is all i can think of for now. email me if you have any questions. oh and the day your milk comes in is the most painful. it gets easier!!

Answer 7

Wait to pump and feed through a bottle until your milk supply has been established. I believe that's usually around 6 weeks.
I used a hospital grade pump, you can rent it at hospitals-Medela Lactina. When you look for a pump, make sure that it has two horns, easier to pump both at the same time. When you first start pumping, you will notice that hardly anything comes out. Keep at it, your breasts will get used to it-but nothing takes breastmilk out of your boobs like a baby. So if you go back to work and pump there-make sure you are not getting any clogged ducts.
Honestly, if you decide to not pump or breastfeed at night you can run into some supply problems. When pumping, you mimick your babies feedings-so if baby gets up every 2 hours at night (like most newborns do), you have to pump every 2 hours. It would be easier to breastfeed at night and wake up the hubby to change diapers, get you a glass of water, etc. I ended up having to exclusively pump due to many things, so I pumped whenever my son got up.
Since you will probably pump at work, invest in some breastmilk storage containers and if there's no fridge-somewhere to keep milk cool.
Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

A breastpump is a very useful thg.I am a first time mother as well.Now my baby is 9 months old.When my baby was born,she wasnt at all interested to suck my nipple.Then hospital nurse advised me to use breastpump.I use to pump the breast milk and feed my baby from bottle.And i did this for 3 months.Its really very helpful.At night,i used to sleep in a different room and my husband use to take care of my daughter.I use to pumped the milk in a bottle and my husband can feed that to my baby.Its a great thg u see.in ur absense anyone can feed ur baby ur breastmilk.
Hospitals breastpump was the best.But they r not available outside.But Avent electric breast pump is a very good one.i used that and its really works well.
And please buy Avent steam steriliser.bcz u need to sterilise all ur pump equipments and bottles.
wish u all the best.
As u r going back to work,i think,breast pump can help u a lot.

Answer 9

CONGRATS!! I breastfed my kids for 6 months each and used a breast pump. my midwife recomended that i breastfeed exclusivly for 6-8 wekks or else the baby gets confused between bottle and breast. I would recommend the avent breast pump. If thats too expensive, the boots one is just as good. U will need plenty of bottles, and dont bother getting the 4oz ones, they will be having more than 4oz very soon. Breast pads that u put inside your bra is also very good idea, and a comfortable pillow for you to rest your arm on when feeding the baby, coz mine used to ache after 5 mins. You may get negative feedback about breas feeding, but ignore everyone who says its not nice. Your baby will love it, and so will you!! Good luck!

Answer 10

I have a Medela Electric Breast pump, it cost me £25 but was worth every penny.
Both my girls spent time in SCBU and I found it invaluable as it was so much easier to express in comfort at home than on the busy ward.
You can BF and express, I did both and had no problems :)
A good website with some great deals on baby essentials is www.kiddicare.com.
Their delivery service is great, ive had some real bargains!