Using a breast pump?

Question

I do not want to breastfeed directly with my baby who is due in 5 weeks, mainly because I will feel akward. That is just my opinion. I know breast milk is better, so I would like to try a breast pump. What are the cons of using one? Does it hurt? Do they work easily?

I KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THE BABY TO GET THE MILK....BUT LIKE I SAID-- I DONT WANT MY CHILD ON MY BREASTS... I JUST WOULD NOT FEEL RIGHT.. I AM 20 YEARS OLD...

Answer 1

I am pumping breastmilk because I'm not a particularly patient person. At night, I fall asleep breastfeeding too!

Anyway, I use a single manual pump (I'm a stay-at-home mom) and I haven't had any problems. I didn't have any problems with regular breastfeeding. I think the pump can make problems worse IF you are already experiencing them?

I think it's really easy. I took a while to get used to sterilizing the pump and bottles all the time. I'd rather do that then fall asleep slumped over and getting a very sore back!

It doesn't hurt!

Just make sure that baby is getting equal or more cuddles and skin-to-skin contact as if you were breastfeeding naturally.

Answer 2

I honestly was 100% convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would think breastfeeding was gross or weird but the minute my little girl was born I completely forgot all my hangups. We nursed for 11 months before I weaned her and it was definately the best decision I could've made. It's very hard for your milk supply to get up and stay up if you're only pumping. The body responds to the suckling of a baby but a pump (as hi-tech as some are these days) does not work as efficiently.

But then, all women are different, you should do what feels right for you. I also used a couple different pumps and I have to say do NOT go spend $400 on an electric pump. By far the best one I got was the hand pump by Avent for $65 at Babies R Us or Target. It's silent (unlike those ridiculous machines that make you feel like a cow on a dairy farm...lol)! It also seemed to pump about 1-3 ounces more than the electric ones too. In the beginning you will only be pumping 2-4 ounces but by the time the baby is a few months old you can usually pump 8-9 ounces out of both breasts.

Consult with a lactation consultant through the hospital you're delivering at to get all the information you'll need. They are incredibly helpful and if you were more informed you might feel much better about the idea of nursing. On a pain scale I would say the pump doesn't hurt at all. I had a little trouble getting my stubborn munchkin to latch on properly and was pretty sore for a couple of weeks in the beginning but once she got the hang of it things were much better. Lansinoh makes a great cream for nipples when they get dry and it won't affect the baby or your milk at all.

Good luck and congrats on your soon-to-be arrival!!!! :)

Answer 3

You'll be surprised, you might feel very comfortable once your baby comes. It is actually easier to feed directly from the brest than to pump but you can pump. The problem with pumping is that it isn't the same as breastfeeding and it's harder to get the milk to let down- your milk supply might also decrease because it's not the same.

Does it hurt? No, but you can get cracked nipples and that can make it a bit uncomfortable. That's totally normal though.

Do they work easily? If you have a good one. Medela is a good brand but very expensive. You want to have an electric one- pumping by hand takes longer and is hard to do. I have a Medela that pumps both breasts at the same time. it was around $400. Hospitals will rent them out though. You might want to call and ask the hospital that you're delivering at.

Have you considered taking a breastfeeding class? They're not just for those who want to breast feed, they're also for those who want to know more about it and they give you the pros and cons of doing it. In my class there were women who wanted to know both and no one was judgmental. Call your hospital and see if they have classes- you will also learn about breast pumps there and their availability. Good luck.

Answer 4

I have been exclusively pumping for my 4 month old for 2 months (I had problems that couldn't be overcome even with lactation consultants-scarred and damaged milk sinuses and stuff).

Let me tell you it is WAY more awkward pumping. You can't just sit down and do it in the middle of anywhere, you HAVE to do it at least every 2-3 hours around the clock, even at night, until your milk supply is well established (for me, that was when my baby was 3 months old). It doesn't hurt, but it is alot more traumatic to the tissues. And besides the whole time-to-pump thing, there's also the aspect that you still have to bottle-feed the milk to your baby. And then you have to sterilize bottles, sterilize pump parts, store the milk, lug a pump around anytime you want to leave home for more than a quick walk to check the mail... Plus, some women respond differently to a pump. Some simply cannot get enough milk out. Others have NO problems. For me, I have to use breast compression/massage/heat to get enough milk out.

I am not saying it can't be done, but I will tell you it's ALOT more of a hassle. If your reasons are strong enough, you can definitely find it within yourself to do it. I would suggest givving it a shot, at least, natural breastfeeding.

And one more thing. When you breastfeed, your body releases oxytocin, which is the "cuddle hormone" or "love hormone". It makes you feel relaxed and loving. This is also the hormone released durning orgasm and cuddling with your partner. It's how nature designed things, to make breastfeeding a pleasurable experience (so moms would do it, and feed their babies!). So don't be surprised if you find that breastfeeding makes you feel overwhelmingly relaxed and loving towards your baby. Some women interpret these feelings as relaxing, calm, loving, cuddling, maternal, some say satisfying, etc. etc. Your body is designed to do this, so don't take your own biological urges and sensations and blow them out of proportion, y'know? It's natural, and ok that it feels good. :)

Answer 5

Breast pumps suck (no pun intended!) I had to exclusively pump every 3 hours around the clock for several weeks, because my baby was a preemie and could not latch on. Let me tell you, it really, really sucks. You will feel like a cow hooked up to a machine. It's way more awkward to deal with and more embarassing than breastfeeding. You can breastfeed a baby while sitting or lying comfortably on a couch, and put a blanket over you, and just relax. When you pump, you have to sit up straight, expose both of your breasts, and hold the suction cups to you for 15 minutes. You have to do this every 3 hours.

It's also expensive!!!

You should try breastfeeding. It's a wonderful thing! You just look down at that sweet, precious baby, and they look up at you, and put their little hand on your chest and it's so awesome! It hurts at first, but so does pumping. After a few weeks, it just feels natural and you won't feel any discomfort.

If you do plan on pumping, you need to get a hospital grade pump, and see a lactation consultant, and make sure you pump for at least 15 minutes every 3 hours to keep up your supply.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I think using a breast pump is great. I found it to be "easier" than nursing a baby. I bought a "medela pump in style" it was about $300.00. There are many on the market, and I know you can rent them from some hospitals. The only "con" would be that if you are out for a while, it's really easy to duck away and nurse your baby, it's not as easy to duck away and pump, and you will need to pump 8-12 times a day to keep up your milk supply.

Answer 7

Baby is much more efficient than even the best breastpump. It's just man's best imitation. Some moms who pump exclusively have a harder time keeping their supply up than if they were nursing directly at the breast. Also, the antibodies in breastmilk work best when there is mouth to breast contact so your body knows what baby has been exposed to. They're still present when you pump.....it just works better the other way around. And of course if baby is being fed expressed milk then baby doesn't get the dental benefits that are attributed to breastfeeding. That's about it.

I would strongly encourage you to try direct breastfeeding at first for a couple of reasons. At first you'll have colostrum instead of milk. This is very important to baby as it's very packed with nutrients and immunities. It acts as baby's first immunization. However, it comes in very small quantities, is thick and sticky and is difficult to pump. It will be easier to give your baby colostrum directly from your breasts than it is to pump it. Pumping colostrum is very difficult. Plus, as mentioned above, even the best breastpump is not as efficient as baby. If you are willing to commit to breastfeeding directly for the first few days or weeks, this will help to bring your supply in better. Then you could switch to exclusive pumping if you are still more comfortable with that choice.

If you choose to exclusively pump, a rental pump would probably be your first choice. The pumps you can purchase are typically not built to stand up to exclusive pumping for very long and you can burn out the motor. (I was told this directly by a Medela sales rep.)

Answer 8

I have the "Ameda Purely Yours" and absolutely love it. None of the hoses come in actual contact with your milk... so cleaning is a breeze. Very easy to use, and doesn't hurt. You can set the cycle and suction to your comfort. You can buy it online for about $160.
The cons - it doesn't drain your breast the way a baby would, so you may experience some clogs in some areas which you can massage out while you're pumping. This will hold true for any pump.
You may feel weird about it now, but please give nursing a try. It's the most special time you'll spend with your baby. Plus, it gives you some time to relax. Pumping can take alot out of you. With my first child, I wasn't able to have him latch on properly (my breasts were huge, and his tongue was getting in the way) for the first 9 weeks... so I pumped every 3 hours round the clock until he finally latched on. It was exhausting... I felt like I never slept. When he finally latched on, I just nursed wherever and got to relax. Never had to wash another bottle/nipple again. I would go to sleep with him... and if he needed to feed, he would just wake up and nurse while I slept.
Be aware that nursing will hurt initially because your nipples will have to toughen up, but once you get the rhythm going, it's the best solution.

Answer 9

A breast pump does not hurt and it depends on what kind you get if it is easy. I used a gerber electric pump. My friend had to rent an industrial one from the hospital. I know you say that you would feel akward nursing but I urge you to re think it. Breast feeding was hard at first but I would not change it for the whole world. I have heard some women say that they feel like the breast are an object of sex and for their husband and not the baby. But remember that God created you to be able to nurse your baby He gave you a special gift. The bonding is wonderful! It is sweet and loving. Enough of "my opinion" Just think about it again! Congrats on the baby!

Answer 10

If done correctly, they do not hurt. The main advice I would give you is that you have to break the suction before you removing the shield. If you don't it will pull on your nipple. Ouch! If I were you, since you haven't done this before, would be to rent a hospital grade pump. I think I paid $60 a month and it was way more powerful and comfortable then the one that I bought. (I rented for a few months and then purchased one, a Medela, which is the brand that I used from the hospital, too) I understand your hesitation about breastfeeding. For something that is supposed to be natural, it can be such hard work. I did both and it seemed to work okay. My daughter was born very small, so she got a bottle right away (with formula), so we ended up doing both formula and breast milk. The pump that I rented was from the hospital, but I do believe there are other places you can rent from. You will have to purchase the parts that actually touch your body. Good luck!