When will you buy your pump (of you're BFing)

AMYfromKY · July 2009

I was thinking on getting it before Henry is born, but do I really need it? Aren't you supposed to EBF for the first month or 2 anyway?

The only thing I'm worried about is that my mom will be in town right after he is born and will want to feed him (which I totally understand). One of my friends is BFing, but her LO also takes bottles.

Would it be best to get the pump so my mom and DH can feed Henry sometimes or wait until I know BFing is going to work? I have read that they can just give him a bottle with a little water in it so they can feed him, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Sorry if this is just a jumbled mess of my thoughts.

sauma790 · July 2009

We got our pump back in May b/c a friend let us use her discount that she receives twice a year.

mrsmel · July 2009

i was told to have it beforehand "just in case." you never know where the path will elad and you may need to be pumping on day 2.

i just ordered mine the other day thanks for a good sale. i doubt i will take it out of the box, though, until i need it after he's born.

fnkeefresh · July 2009

I made sure to get one before LO is born just in case. You can use them to ease engorgement, you can use them to increase your milk supply....just keep those things in mind.

RD'sgirl · July 2009

If you are going back to work I have read and was told in bf class that you should introduce the bottle no later than 4 or 5 weeks, wait until bf'ing is established. If you wait longer than that they may not take a bottle at all.

MattysGirl81 · July 2009

I bought my pump already because I had a coupon, but I haven't opened it just in case I want to take it back.

Both my mom and MIL will be here after he's born (at different times) and I won't be pumping just because they may want to feed him. ?I would like to EBF for at least a couple of months, and I'm not going to screw that up just because someone else wants to feed him. ?I'm sure they'll understand, and if they don't, too bad.?

H4'sFan · July 2009

For what it's worth, I purchased mine last week, and am keeping the receipt, "just in case".

I just wanted to have it on hand in case something bad happened, and the baby was not able to breastfeed right away.

alicia023 · July 2009

I'm going to wait until after she is born and I know I can breastfeed. But my doc said that if you are going to BF then you don' t need to introduce a bottle for at least 3-4 weeks becuase they would take to a bottle and not your breast.

meg1974 · July 2009

I've heard if you want to EBF you should avoid bottles unless absolutely necessary.

That said, I am goign to EBF, but I still got a pump because I know there will be times when I'll need to do it. I bought mine already, but only because I found the one I wanted on sale. Otherwise I probably would have wait until about the 2nd month.

lovelyophelia · July 2009

I'm waiting until I'm home for a week or so and see how LO responds and how my supply comes in.

k_leigh_d · July 2009

i'd definitely get it BEFORE baby. We got ours a while back.

Blackvelvet · July 2009

I took my BF class last night they recommended waiting a month to introduce the bottle, and if you wanted to pump before that to only do it at feeding times (after LO eats)

I recieved my pump as a gift but it's staying int he box untill I need it,

Brownie_222 · July 2009

I ordered mine, but in our childbirth/baby care class they said to hold off until 4 weeks pp to use it, unless your doctor recommends otherwise. You want to get your supply established. I don't think it's good to give infants anything besides breast milk or formula - you would definitely want to consult your pedi before giving water.

CalinsBride · July 2009

We already bought ours, but I found out that I am getting a free Medela one through the Healthy Babies program I signed up for. It's a manual one, so I'm going to see if that works for us first. If so, I'll return the electric one I bought. If not, then I guess I'll have two.

CharLou · July 2009

Ditto on not introducing bottles for 4 weeks-you risk nipple confusion which is not worth making someone else happy - just so they can feed the baby in my opinion... Also, in my classes they said not to give babies water.

Jules G · July 2009

I am planning on picking up a manual pump before LO is born. If I think that I'll get a lot of use out of a pump, then I will buy an electric one after she's here. I just hate to spend the $$$ on it only to find out that I either won't use it or won't need to use it because BFing doesn't work for me. I still have 7 weeks though so I could definitely change my mind (I do that quite often) Smile

tiggernorton04 · July 2009

I ordered my pump last week. I think it'll be good to have in case I do have trouble with the baby latching on then at least I can pump. And, I was speaking to a lactation consultant last week who owns a local baby store, and she actually recommends pumping once a day at 1 week to get the baby used to a bottle. Now, most lc will not tell you that, so I'm not sure. As far as the whole mom thing goes, I know my mom will be dissapointed that she can't bottle-feed the baby. But she knows that I'm breastfeeding and thats it. Of course she'll get to hold the baby and I'll maybe let her help bathe the baby, etc. Once we get DD used to taking a bottle, I have no problem with my mom giving a bottle on occasion though.

BeanieWeanie · July 2009

I'm waiting until after LO is born. Like PPs said, we're not going to introduce the bottle until we've been BFing for at least a month or so, and if I have any issues before that we can always rent one from the hospital.

MrsBeckO · July 2009

Definitely do not give him water.?

We are going to wait until we see whether or not BFing will even work for us before buying a pump.

You can also rent hospital-grade pumps from your hospital or LC, and sometimes local specialty stores rent them by the month as well. So if you aren't sure whether or not you will need one for an extended period of time, it might be better to rent one. ?

kittykatlover · July 2009

I ordered mine last week, because I got a really great deal on it. I won't open the box until I need to, just in case I want to return it.

JCM083009 · July 2009

I don't plan to give Luke a bottle for at least a few weeks, but I do want to start pumping (and storing) just to be on the safe side. I don't plan to pump a lot so I'mgetting a basic one that isn't too expensive and i want it before I give birth that way, if God forbid, there is any reason he can't be on my breast all the time at first, I can at least still give him breast milk.

water-fairy · July 2009

We ordered last week and received it yesterday.

theweathermanswife · July 2009

I ordered mine last week. I want to have it just in case Luke has problems latching on, so I can start pumping right away.

Don't let your mom or DH give him water - babies get all the liquid they need from milk. Water can fill them up so they don't want their milk, and lead to FTT.

AMYfromKY · July 2009

theweathermanswife:
I ordered mine last week. I want to have it just in case Luke has problems latching on, so I can start pumping right away.

Don't let your mom or DH give him water - babies get all the liquid they need from milk. Water can fill them up so they don't want their milk, and lead to FTT.

Thanks for the advice. I don't remember where I read it was ok, but obviously I would've asked first.

Thanks for your thoughts ladies. I think I will get one and keep it in the box just in case Henry won't latch on.

Temp534591562502098 · July 2009

AMYfromKY:
The only thing I'm worried about is that my mom will be in town right after he is born and will want to feed him (which I totally understand). One of my friends is BFing, but her LO also takes bottles.

Do not do this! Its way to soon and your baby needs to be putting the demand on your breasts and everytime you use a bottle your body isn't getting the signals to make more milk. Pumps don't always "trigger" the breasts to make more liek the baby can - its a different sucking action. Your milk might not even be in by the time your mom is there and its silly to be pumping just the colostrum unless there is a medical need.

Please check out the BFing board and kellymom.com for your BFing info. Do not let your family or friends try to convince that something is "ok" to do without educating yourself first!

alikat07 · July 2009

I already bought my pump because I came across a good deal. Either way I was planning to get it before the baby was born. I've heard to hold off a month or so, but its always good to have it on hand in case things don't go as planned.

care99 · July 2009

I got mine when DS was about 3 weeks old. I started pumping once a day or once every other day, just after the first morning feed, when I had oversupply anyway. I introduced a bottle around 4 weeks, but only once in a while. I went back to work when he was 4 months old and never had a problem with him refusing the bottle.

theweathermanswife · July 2009

AMYfromKY:
theweathermanswife:

I ordered mine last week. I want to have it just in case Luke has problems latching on, so I can start pumping right away.

Don't let your mom or DH give him water - babies get all the liquid they need from milk. Water can fill them up so they don't want their milk, and lead to FTT.

Thanks for the advice. I don't remember where I read it was ok, but obviously I would've asked first.

Thanks for your thoughts ladies. I think I will get one and keep it in the box just in case Henry won't latch on.

Just wanted to make sure you had the info - I think it is a fairly common misconception that babies need water. We have a lot of parents ask about this at work.

And I agree with keeping it in the box. I want to at least have it, but not open it until I need to. I don't know what kind of pump you are wanting, but I found a really good deal from a home medical equipment website - got my Pump In Style for $213 with free shipping (site recommended by a friend). I'd be happy to share the link if anyone wants it.

Gen Devine · July 2009

Before baby is born, but not out of the box until we see how this all works out.

I want my baby to get the health benefits of breast milk, but I'm not planning on BFing for more than three months and I definately want his Daddy to share in feeding him.

lovesazzie · July 2009

I am getting it before just so I have it in case I need it. I don't think I will pump so others can feed him at the beginning though.

jonsdeedee · July 2009

I will probably rent one from the hospital for a month or so to make sure everything is working. Neither of my sisters were able to breast feed, so I want to make sure it looks like it will work out before I invest the money that could go elsewhere.

2007wife · July 2009

wait to see if it is going to work. Even if you plan on pumping and giving baby a bottle so DH and your mom can do feedings you don't want to introduce a bottle until 4-6 weeks. By then you will now if BF is going o work out for you.

jason&robin · July 2009

I had my mom pick mine up for me after I delivered. I was thinking of renting one and decided just to go ahead and buy one instead.

OleGirl · July 2009

I already bought mine. I will be pumping at work, so I want to get a solid routine before I go back. Also, I opened mine and read the instructions and everything had to be boiled and such, so I'm glad I did...I really don't think I'll have time to be boiling things properly after baby comes!

As far as EBF for 1-2 mos! I was told as long as everything was going good and baby was latching on and such, you could start bottle feedings (we will be doing this mainly at night, as my hubby really wants to help out). The reasoning I was told was as long as baby was well adjusted to your breast, there wouldn't be any nipple confusion with bottles or pacifiers or whatever.

Also, just because some other random people feel compelled to feed your baby doesn't mean you have to pump or feed it water! There are plenty of things your mom and others can do, like changing the baby and bringing baby to you awake for feedings. Making your family meals in the beginning, as you won't have time for yourself when you're establishing breastfeeding. This is YOUR child and YOU need time early on with him/her, not anyone else... Sorry, but these are just my thoughts...

stefwade1023 · July 2009

We bought ours prior to LO being born, thank goodness! My milk came in on Day 2, LO was strictly BFed until I went back to work when she was 3months. But I pumped after every feeding and had a supply built up for when she had to go to daycare and for those late nights that DH got to stay up with her. It was very convenient to be able to pump as soon as my milk was in and I was never uncomfortable or over engorged!

Beaming_Bride · July 2009

We'll probably get in in August. My husband's company pays for about 80% of the cost of a top-quality pump, so we're lucky.

maschmidt16 · July 2009

I plan to rent one from the hospital.

MrsWanee · July 2009

i have mine and i already opened the box... i kind of regret getting it so early but i used the 15% off BRU coupon a few months ago. i don't plan on pumping for awhile, but you never know...

Delila80 · July 2009

I've been told my my doctor and lactation specialist to breast feed only for the first two months. If you don't, it can cause nipple confussion. He/she might not want to go back to the boob after the bottle. After baby has got the feeding thing down pat, then it's okay to alternate between breast and bottle.

I'm going to rent a pump from the hospital for a month before I buy. This way I'm not dropping $280 for something that I might not even use. At least if we rent first, we can make sure that pumping is going to work for me. You might check with your hopsital to see if they rent them.

Delila80 · July 2009

OleGirl:

I already bought mine. I will be pumping at work, so I want to get a solid routine before I go back. Also, I opened mine and read the instructions and everything had to be boiled and such, so I'm glad I did...I really don't think I'll have time to be boiling things properly after baby comes!

As far as EBF for 1-2 mos! I was told as long as everything was going good and baby was latching on and such, you could start bottle feedings (we will be doing this mainly at night, as my hubby really wants to help out). The reasoning I was told was as long as baby was well adjusted to your breast, there wouldn't be any nipple confusion with bottles or pacifiers or whatever.

Also, just because some other random people feel compelled to feed your baby doesn't mean you have to pump or feed it water! There are plenty of things your mom and others can do, like changing the baby and bringing baby to you awake for feedings. Making your family meals in the beginning, as you won't have time for yourself when you're establishing breastfeeding. This is YOUR child and YOU need time early on with him/her, not anyone else... Sorry, but these are just my thoughts...

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!

b.heather · July 2009

I'm starting pumping asap once my milk comes in so that I have enough saved to help provide for LO once I return to work at 10 weeks. I'll be pumping at work too but have read you want to have some saved to be safe.

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