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D.C. Area Babies
Advice on Breast Pumps and Bottles
I plan to breastfeed for the first few months (and pump occasionally when I need to go out). Then I plan to pump during the day when I go back to work. Therefore, I am planning to buy an automated double-pumping machine.
1. What kind of pump do you recommend? I'm leaning towards the "Medela Pump in Style" because it seems to be very popular. If you have this one, did you prefer the Backpack, Shoulder Bag or Metro Bag? If there was another brand that you liked, please recommend it.
2. What kind of bottles do you recommend? I've heard good things about the Avent system because of it's versatility to mix and match nipples with bottles. However, I've also heard that I shouldn't stock up on one bottle system because DD may not like it and I may have to switch. Any recommendations on bottles and how many should I get before DD is born?
3. Do I need a bottle sterilizer? Or, can I just run the bottles through the dishwasher? If I do need a bottle sterilizer, is there a kind that will work with any type of bottle? I don't want to buy a sterilizer that only works with one brand in case I have to switch.
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Re: Advice on Breast Pumps and Bottles
I would wait and see how bfing goes. I have a pump that was a waste of money. I've used it twice. Bfing doesn't work for everyone, you may not need one at all or you may need it less thenn you think. You can also rent them from the hospital.
I liked the playtex dropins the few times we've used bottles.
no sterilizer here.
1. I used the Lansinoh double electric pump. (It's the same as the Ameda Purely Yours pump) It worked quite well, and was nice because it was a closed system--no moisture or milk ended up in the tubes.
2. We are using the Evenflo glass bottles. They are inexpensive and its easy to find nipples for them. We have 6 of the glass bottles--4 small (4 oz each) and 4 large (8 oz each). We also have 3 plastic gerber bottles that I picked up when I needed a bottle in a pinch.
The glass bottles heat up and cool off much faster than plastic bottles do, which was a benefit when trying to warm up EBM for DS. Now that we formula feed, it isn't as much of an issue.
3. We have never used one. The glass bottles clean well in the dishwasher, and are also very easy to clean with plain old soap and water.
I have the Medela PIS shoulder bag. I didn't go back to work, but it is helpful to have a pump to create a bit of a stash for when you go out without DD or to use to mix with cereal.
I started off with the Born Free bottles, but didn't use them much and now that I'm trying to wean I've switched to the Playtex drop-ins because I don't want to have to clean so many bottles and parts every time.
I don't have a bottle sterilizer. I send the nipples through the dishwasher and I use the Medela steam bags to steam clean my pump parts and occasionally pacifiers or bottle parts.
1. For work I'd rec the Medela Pump in Style. It has served me well for almost 8 months so far!! I used it before I went back to work too to pump when I was engorged and build up a stash. I also got the Medela hand pump to have something small to take when I went somewhere I didn't want the whole huge bag, and to have a work backup (eventually you will forget a piece at home and be SOL!) The type of bag is irrelevant. I got the shoulder bag I believe, and it's fine.
2. I rec having a few different types - just one or two of each kind - on hand and trying to see what works best with your particular baby. We tried Medela and Adiri before finding what worked best, which was the Born Free system. Them we stocked up on Born Free. I would rec getting the bigger bottles, and not bothering with the 4-5 oz ones, because by 4 months she was drinking 6 oz bottles. That makes the smaller oens worthless.
3. Not unless you have a really premature baby. You can run through the dishwasher, or if using plastics, it's preferable to wash by hand with hot water. The only time I sterilized the bottles was when we first got them before the first use. To do this we used one of the Medela steam sterilization bags which is cheap and very easy to use.
For the most part, ditto Agrippa.
1) I use the Lansinoh double electric pump. It's worked great for me over the last 5 months.
2) We use the Evenflo glass bottles. We have 6 of the 4 oz glass bottles. We only give her a few bottles per week so there was no need to get any more than that.
3) Don't have one. We put the bottles/nipples/etc in the dishwasher. We boiled them in water to sterilize when we first got them (they come with directions that tell you to do this).1. I got a Medela Freestyle - but, I'm not really using it... hopefully bf will work out better next time. I chose the FS over the PISA since I'd have been dragging it to work every day, and, the size difference was worth the extra cost for me.
2. I like Evenflo glass. For some reason, I feel like glass gets cleaner. Still checking out different nipples. So far, we like the Gerber NUK orthodontic nipples.
3. Don't have one. We use hot water & soap, then boil everything every few days.
1. I have the Medela in Style backpack, I hope to use the backpack part later on in life:)
2. We've only ever used the Playtex Drop-Ins, DD liked them and we never tried anything else.
3. We boiled everything before 1st use (open boil for 5 mins per directions) and handwash w/ warm water and soap after each use.
Thank you everyone for your advice. It's good to know that I don't need to spend $30 on a sterilizer. Also, I like the idea of using glass bottles (at least at home) just because it makes sense that they would seem easier to clean.
1. I have the Medela Freestyle. It's great - very small and rechargable battery. I waited to buy it until she was about a month old to make sure BFing was working.
2. I use Medela bottles because I have a Medela pump. I've never bothered to use the other brands b/c the Medela work fine. We still only use the 5oz bottles even though she's almost 6 months old. Sometimes she drinks more than than, but more often she drinks 4-5oz and sometimes less. I hate to toss milk - nectar of the goddess, baby!
3. No. I wash with soap and water, and boil everything once a week.
HTH!
For us bf'ing went great in the hospital but I didn't get engorged until after we were home and then she wouldn't latch on at all. DH went out and bought a pump from the baby store around the corner - Medela PIS - so we could feed her since all I had on hand was the manual pump from the hospital and that was going very slowly.
I liked the PIS as much as anyone likes their breast pump. It worked well and I can't imagine anyone using a single pump since it is time consuming. I highly recommend getting at least 2 sets, if not 3 or 4, of the equipment that attaches to the pump to cut back on how often you are washing it all. I am pretty sure it was the shoulder bag version.
We used the Playtex drop-in's. My sister had used them so it was just the first brand we decided to try and she was fine with it, but many babies can be particular about what type of bottle/nipple they like so start out with a starter set and if you get more keep the receipt until you are sure baby likes them. Then I would suggest getting enough bottles to make it at least a day and a half without washing them.
I think most sterilizer's work with all bottles, but I don't see why you would need a separate sterilizer machine. They have the kinds that work in the microwave - look like a big piece of tupperware. Also I never sterilized after the first washing and then I just boiled them in a pot of water. I think you mostly need to sterilize for premature or otherwise immunocompromised babies. My pedi said it wasn't necessary since she was full-term and healthy but to just do it after the first washing.
1. BF worked out great for me but like you I had to go back to work. I have the Ameda Pure Yours electric pump. The pump and all of the accessories fit nicely the free bag I got from Similac. I just stopped pumping this week but the pump still works fine.
2. We used Playtex Drop-ins. They're easy and you can pump directly into them. DS didn't have a problem with them so we didn't try anything else. Although I think DS would taken any bottle, he loves to eat!
3. No. We sterilized the parts on the stove top only before the first use. After that we used hot water and soap to clean them
1. What kind of pump do you recommend? PISA Metrobag, I bought it on the way home from the hospital. I love it and would not still be pumping if I didn't own it.
2. What kind of bottles do you recommend? I had problems with the Avent leaking, so we switched to the Born Free and love them.
3. Do I need a bottle sterilizer? I never used one. We just boiled water and sterilized them before the first use and now just wash the parts daily with soap and water and run through the diswasher once a week.
1- I would not buy a pump until you know for sure that BFing is going to work. You can always rent a hospital grade one for the first few weeks/months if need be (I did and highly recommend it if you have cracked/bleeding nipples). I now own a PISA and like it.
2- I have Dr Browns, Born Free and Playtex drop-ins. My son prefers the drop-ins and I do too b/c cleanup is so easy.
3- Just hand wash in hot, soapy water or use the dishwasher.
I have Medela PIS. I think I have the "metrobag" but I don't use it. With DD #1 I put everything into a wheely-suitcase-carry-on type bag because I metro to work. Much easier to carry everything with a wheely bag, at least for me.
We used Dr. Brown's bottles, they worked, so we never tried anything else. We'll see how that goes with DD #2.
No sterilizer here.
As far as when to buy a pump, it would be a shame to drop the cash then not have BF-ing work out. It is probably good advice to see how it goes for a few days and maybe rent one if you need it right away. Although that's not what I did. I just went ahead and bought one ahead of time and it turns out I have a ridiculous supply of milk so I pump(ed) to keep from becoming engorged... so for me I used it from day one with DD #1 and now again with DD #2. I'm glad I bought it ahead of time, but I guess it could have easily gone the other way.
ditto this.
i most likely practically wasted $300. ugh.
Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. I think that based on the recommendations that I may wait to buy the breast pump. I was just nervous because my breastfeeding book seems to solve a lot of problems by using a pump. I wanted to have one on-hand and I wanted to read the instruction manual before being sleep deprived and exhausted.
However, I think it might be best to wait and see how things go. I guess I can just rent one at the beginning and then buy it later. I read a lot of great reviews on the Medela Freestyle so that's going to be at the top of my list for when I do buy one.
I really appreciate all of your insights!
Kendra- I BFed for 10 1/2 months & I rented my pump from INOVA Fairfax. I rented because: I wasn't sure how BFing was going to work out, I wanted to use the "best" pump available (hospital-grade), and I didn't see it as something I could easily sell after having children. Also, INOVA Fairfax charged a great rate - $180 for the first 5 months, then $1/day after that. The bag to carry the pump in was only $14.
While you're in the hospital, there are pumps available for you to use if you need. You also get the accessories complementary (but have to pay for the kit if you get it after you're discharged).
I used the Avent bottles and was happy with them. Some people complain they leak, but I've found that it's because the cap gets screwed on somewhat crooked. I had found a way to prevent that (screw counterclockwise until you hear a click, then screw clockwise).
I had the Avent bottle warmer & was happy with that. I also had the sterlizer that my sister let me borrow (you stick it in the microwave) - but I found I didn't need it because the dishwasher did the job.
Anyway I HTH...
I agree with renting the pump - I had a double whammy: not only did I have a tragically low supply, my body actually didn't respond to the pump so it would have been a complete waste of money for me.
We use Doctor Brown's bottles and they work great (although some people complain that they have too many parts, I don't really think its that big of an issue). Get a basket from Target for $5 to put in your dishwasher and don't worry about the sterilizer.
DD1 9.24.06
DS 7.1.08
twins due 9.7.11 lost twin A at
DD2 4.7.12
1. I also reccommend renting the hospital pump. I have the Medela Pump In Style and it doesn't work nearly as well as the hospital grade. Here I am, 10 months in and still renting the hospital pump and only use the Medela when we travel.
2. Medela bottles were what our son used. He wouldn't take the Playtex.
3. I run all of the bottles through the dish washer.
1. What kind of pump do you recommend? I have 2. I have a PIS that I bought off of Craig's list that I keep at work, and I like it fine. I also have a Ameda PY that was given to me - my MIL is a nanny and one of the kids she sat for's mother decided not to pump when she went back to work. That's the one I'd recommend out of the 2, it's cheaper (well, new anyway) and the 'suck' is stronger, so I can pump faster. I replaced the tubing on both pumps with PIS tubing, and use the PIS shields for both pumps. This probably violates some warrantee so don't say I told you to to this.
The PIS parts are easier to find than the APY, they sell those at Target - I've replaced the shields several times.
2. What kind of bottles do you recommend? I have 10 plastic Born Free bottles and a few random bottles that were either given to me or were part of some promotion. I like them, but I'm not especially attached. I have one Medela bottle that fits on the shield - it's really easy for S to hold. In retrospect, I'd buy more of those instead. We're always looking for the 'yellow bottle'.
3. Do I need a bottle sterilizer? I don't have one. I sterilized everything first in boiling water, and after that just put everything in the dishwasher with one of those Munchkin baskets for the nipples and parts. If you really feel like you need a sterilizer, get one of the bags that you can put in the microwave, they won't take up space.
You might want to look into getting glass bottles that have silicone covers that help protect them against breakage..just in case! These "Siliskin" bottles have silicone covers that wrap around regular evenflo bottles (so you can get just a few siliskins, and get some plain evenflo glass bottles and switch the silicone cover if you like)- i love them! and they come in 8 and 4oz sizes... https://www.greenhealthybaby.com/sicoglbabo8o.html