Do you HAVE to have a breastpump if you're breastfeeding?

Question

I'm planning and praying that I'll be able to breastfeed my daughter. I went to go buy a breastpump today, and my mother and aunt were with me. We were looking at all the different types and then my mother says, "Why do you even need a breastpump? You only need one if you're going to be away from her a lot." I think her point is - hopefully, I can breastfeed, but if I can't, why spend the money on the pump? If it ends up I can breastfeed, I can always buy the pump before my maternity leave ends. Well, I told her that I was under the impression that all women who breastfeed need a pump to relieve the fullness of their breasts, but then her and my aunt both said that the more milk you pump (or baby eats) the more milk your body will produce, so it's better to just let your body get used to how much you need. Is this true? Do I need to get one right now regardless or should I wait until I know if I'll be able to breastfeed? I would appreciated any info on this!!! What kind do y'all have t

Answer 1

Breastpumps are nice if you have to go back to work or want the father to play a part in breastfeeding.

Also if your daughter is premature, the hospital will ask you to pump and bring in milk so she gets breastmilk in the NICU.

It's nice to have around. While breastfeeding is great, after a few months of round the clock sleeping and little sleep,a breastpump will let you sleep more than a few hours at a time!

Answer 2

It all depends on your lifestyle. Breastfeeding is difficult the first few weeks but after that, there is no pain. It's really worth it. Anyone can learn to breastfeed so don't give up! It's a learned behavior so it takes time and patience on your part and the babys.
Sometimes when your milk comes in, there is a lot of discomfort and pumping just enough to relieve the discomfort can help a lot. If you plan on storing breastmilk START NOW because once your baby gets into a routine with breastfeeding, it will be more difficult to find the time and the full breasts to pump with. Some babys who are breastfed need a lot of time to get used to the idea of a bottle, but supplementing with breast milk will help the introduction until the baby gets used to bottlefeedings. Our doctor said the formula that tastes the closest to breast milk it Nestle Good Start so it may be easier to get a baby to take that formula over others if they are used to breast milk.

I use the Medela electric breast pump and I love it. You can pump both sides at once which is helpful because a lot of times once one side gets flowin, the other does too. Some people feed the baby on one side while they use the electric pump for the other. For me, that's difficult to manage but it's worth a try. The hand pump from Avent is nice as well because it has coushins that make pumping a bit easier.

I can't encourage you enough to get through the first few weeks of breastfeeding. It's a wonderful experience. Invest in a pair of plastic shells (You can purchase through the lactation consultants) that you can wear on your nipples, under your bra. They are a lifesaver when you have sore nipples the first week and they prevent them from rubbing against clothing and allow air to flow through and help heal the soreness. Lanolin cream is wonderful and you can glob it on as much as you want to relieve the soreness.

Well I know I said a lot but good luck and if you need any advice, feel free to e-mail me!

Answer 3

My wife breastfed all three of our children. During the first night home, she didn't have the pump and her milk came in (too much!) and became engorged. You can self-express if you are too full, but that can take a very long time and become frustrating (my wife had me running to the store in the middle of the night to go get one!) The breast pump came very helpful at that time, plus the times when I wanted to feed the baby. So, it's not just when you want to leave the baby alone a lot--it can be a BIG help. Most hospitals have really nice breast pump machines that you can rent, which might be the way to go if you're unsure about using one all of the time. Yes, you can still breastfeed without a pump, but it's handy for those instances where someone else might want to feed the baby or if you do become full. If you're wondering what kind of breast pump to use, try looking at http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/429.html. Also, try talking to your lactation consultant at the hospital, she will have a lot to say on this matter. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

I'm a stay at home mom of four (pregnant w/ #5) and I breastfed all my babies anywhere from a year to 22 months and I never used a pump.

With that said I have been looking at pumps during this pregnancy just because I always feel like my milk supply could use a boost and maybe pumping after feedings would increase my milk supply?

Rather than spending the money right now, why don't you just try breastfeeding and see how it goes and if you decide that you would benefit from a pump you can always run out and buy one later!

Answer 5

Breastfeeding was challenging for me, so a pump was a lifesaver. It was too painful having the baby on my breast. Also, once breastfeeding is established, it is a good idea to start "stockpiling" breastmilk... either for when you're away from her or so someone else can feed her. It might take a bit to teach her how to use a bottle. I would have a pump... just an inexpensive hand pump. It will help bring your milk in when your baby arrives, and will help relieve some of the pressure when it first comes in.

Answer 6

I breastfed both my girls and never had a breastpump.
So no you dont need a pump if you are breastfeeding.
The only reason to need a pump is if you are going to be leaving your child.
You dont need it to keep up supply or anything. As long as your feeding your baby then your body will produce enough milk to meet the babies needs.
Breasts will become full and this means that its time to feed baby. If breasts become engorged then hand express some milk to relieve pain and then feed baby.

Answer 7

If you have to pump in the hospital, you will receive a manual pump. It hooks up to the machine in the hospital, then when you get home, you can use it manually. Having the kit from the hospital may be handy, especially if you run into problems and need to rent a hospital-grade pump. Personally, I used the pump from the hospital a lot after my first was born. After the second, I quit my job so I haven't pumped an ounce. I believe that you can breastfeed. You may have to work hard at it, but it pays off in the long run. Congratulations.

Answer 8

your mom was on the right thought you don't really need a pump if you are not going to be away from your baby for any length of time. I found that if you pump when you don't have to it does cause you to make more milk than you may need and you will be really miserable and uncomfortable but if you plan on going to work during the time that you are breast feeding then i would suggest that you get one before and get use to using it.If you run into any problems or major concerns I would ask your doctor.

Answer 9

No you don't have to, especially if think you won't get much use out of it. Your mother & aunt are right, your body will get used to what your baby needs. But I used one to get my milk to come through after I had her. My sister in law breast fed but her milk didn't come in until 3 days after the baby was born and the baby was jaundice. So when I had my daughter I pumped every time my daughter wasn't nursing so my milk would come in sooner. Everyone is different, some womens milk comes in the same day. Good luck and congratulations.

Answer 10

if u got sore boobs - like enlarged ur gonna need breatpump unless u got someone willing to help u get rid of the extra milk
There will be times when its easier aand quicker to use the pump - than expressing manually - also its not as messy using a breast pump - try expressing milk into the babys bottle it can get a bit messy if ur not a good shot - see how u go and if u need one buy one if not then dont - babys will suckle more often in hot weather and may need extra milk during growth times - ppl tell me the boobs settle down and adjust - but that has never beeen my experience - i must have spray nozzles ha ha ha

Goodluck and dont worry -