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3rd Trimester
Another BFing question - is this logical?
My 1st baby is due in 2 months and I'm planning to breastfeed if I can. My only anecdotal experience is that of my 3 mommy friends, 2 were able to breastfeed successfully, and 1 wasn't able to BF either of her 2 kids (not exactly sure what the reasons were). My mom also mentioned that when she nursed me, her milk only lasted for like 2 months and then dried up (pretty sure she didn't pump at all).
I was laid off last summer so we're trying not to spend excess money, so here is my plan regarding buying an electric breast pump (I would buy a $35 manual one either way just in case):
Either don't buy an electric pump at all, or buy one that is completely returnable and keep it unopened until baby is born, and I've nursed him for a few weeks and it seems to be going well. Then, if BFing goes well, open the pump and use it, and if not, return it and introduce formula as needed.
My plan is to stay home til the baby's about 6 months old and then resume my job search. If/when I find a job, I would try to continue pumping and probably taper off when my baby is around 1yo. I would plan to clean & reuse the same pump with any future kids we have down the road.
Everyone I've talked to says don't bother with the cheap pumps, get the Medela, so the pump I have in mind is the Medela PISA ($250-280 depending on sales). I know I could rent one from the hospital but my understanding is I'd still have to buy the kit, which is like $50 (before the rental costs), and it's not like I can later use that kit with my own PISA b/c the kits are for the hospital-grade pump rentals, so totally different models.
Does this "plan" make sense, or what's everyone else doing? Never done this before so I'm not sure if I'm missing anything... thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Another BFing question - is this logical?
I never bought a cheap manual one - not sure that is needed. And I used a hospital pump while at the hospital - they gave me a new kit and I didn't have to pay for anything extra out of pocket (I assume that it was all billed to insurance).
My understanding is that the kit will work with your at home pump, I'd love if anyone knows this for sure. Though I guess different hospitals may issue different things?
The only problem is that sometimes BF issues are because the baby's not latching on properly yet, then you can pump and feed until LO's got the hang of it from the boob. You wouldn't be able to do that..... Same thing if you need/want to pump to increase production.... You can buy a used pump and just get the replacement parts and save a lot.
I understand your plan, however, if you're staying home at least 6 months I wouldn't bother with a pump. Honestly, (and this may get people riled up) but if you exclusively breastfeed your baby and feed on demand I would really doubt you won't be able to do it. I believe that most people run into problems when they start "supplementing" with formula and half pump/bottle feed, half nurse. Babies do the best job at emptying your breasts and thus creating the correct supply and demand.
I successfully BF for 18 months and weaned then to get pregnant again. Good luck with it!
I would wait and see how your BFing is going before buying one, but if you do, buy the PISA - I plan to get the Swing but I also will be a SAHM - I don't need all that for very occassional pumping.
Keep in mind, as far as your mom goes, back when we were born, doctors were under the impression often that formula was just as good as breastmilk - she may not have pumped but someone could've topped up her supply (especially at the hospital in the beginning, which causes baby to get too much food, too early) which can cause baby to not suck properly at the breast, thus drying up her milk supply often. My plan to EBF is to say NO to any supplemental feeds (formula, sugar water etc) as well as any artificial nipples (paci's, bottles) etc. I highly recommend: Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding for more input as far as that goes.
Good luck and I hope you can successfully BF!!
I totally disagree with this. I was a SAHM and BF for 1 year. Maybe it was just my baby's feeding habits, but for several months he would only wake up once during the night to feed, and would only take one side. My other boob would be on the point of exploding so I'd pump that side right afterwards. If I had to do it at 4am with a manual pump I would have wanted to kill myself. The PISA was perfect for me.
Plus, it created a great stash so that others could feed him from a bottle. DEFINITELY introduce a bottle at 1ish months and stick with it or else you're going to be your LO's only food source and you'll never be able to leave the baby! Honestly, even though I was at home I couldn't imagine NOT having a pump, and an electric one at that. (I had the Medela manual one too and it was just too slow and hurt my hand!)
Have you read this?
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/is-pump-necessary.html
I had a cheap electric one when DD was a baby. I used it MAYBE three times in the first year, and that was only to pump and dump after I drank. I personally, wouldn't go out and buy an expensive one right away. If I were you, I would put aside what it may cost for a nice pump (maybe on a gift card), and only purchase it IF you find you need it. That way, you get the most out of the warranty on the machine, and you don't have to worry about forgetting to return it by a certain date.
This time around, I bought a very cheap manual pump, and IF I need anything more than that, I will go and get it later.
Thanks for all the responses ladies...
Hotomale, did you have any medical reason for using the hospital pump and/or getting the kit (such as a preemie or a baby that refused to nurse)?
Just curious how you got to do that, because my insurance will only cover a breast pump if it's prescribed by my doctor, which I think they would only do if there are problems with regular breastfeeding.
Did you take the kit home or only used it while at the hospital and gave it back to them when you left? Thanks.
Just read that, thanks!
Okay, the responses seem a little bit mixed, but I appreciate everyone's advice! I guess I'm leaning towards buying the PISA as close to the due date as I can, and leaving it unopened (we'd put the return-by date on our calendar with ample reminders so I don't think we'd forget to return it).
Sorry this is so wordy but it helps me to think through everything!!
1.) I definitely want my husband to be able to bottle feed our son for bonding purposes and to help me rest. We will avoid pacifiers & bottles in the 1st month, but after that point, I definitely want him to feed him too.
2.) I also want to be able to be away from baby for half a day (after the first couple months) without having to rush back because I'm engorged and/or he's starving. We live an hour away from all our friends, so leaving the baby for just a couple hours between feedings isn't really feasible... with all that driving, I don't think I'd have enough time to do more than say "hi" before having to rush home to feed the baby. And when I start going on job interviews (I've had 4hr interviews an hour from home!), forget it.
3.) Third, I want to be able to enjoy alcohol on occasion (though I'm not a big drinker to start with by any means), so the pump & dump option is a good bonus.
For example... I'm in my BFF's wedding this summer, so I'm thinking between the wedding itself, the bridal shower (several hours long & 1 hr from home), and the bachelorette party (entire-evening-long also 1 hr away), all 3 events will occur without the baby when he's 3-5 mths old. Pumping privately during these events might be hard enough, but I think needing the actual baby or using a manual pump pretty much makes it impossible for me to attend (or at least enjoy) these things (I can't imagine manual pumping for 45 minutes in a limo of drunk girls? LOL)
These are just some examples, but it seems like the flexibility I'll want will make a PISA-type pump worth it in the end (assuming breast feeding takes off!). Plus I'd rather have one in a closet ready to go if I have the types of latching/other issues PP's mentioned, than have to send my husband out to look for it when a frustrating problem makes it unavoidable.
Thanks for walking through it with me if you've read this far!
I have to disagree with this as well. Without a pump I would never have had more than an hour away from my child. Also- I pumped regularly in the beginning and then got lazy about it since I do SAH- at 6 months of age I was lucky if I could pump an oz in 30 minutes b/c my body had stopped responding to the pump as well as was so well regulated. I will be pumping regularly throughout this time around.
Proud mama to a boys- 6/17/09 - a girl 2/23/11- and a boy 8/20/12
I would just start setting aside what you would spend to rent one each month and then buy a used one when you actually need it. You might have one of the situations listed above that necessitate a pump. Or you might find that you rarely need to pump. Since you plan on being home for at least 6 months it makes sense to delay a big purchase until you are sure you need it.
Your DH can bond with your son without ever giving a bottle. He can rock him, hold him, talk to him, bathe him, dress him, snuggle him... the list goes on.
Once your supply regulates and your child gets into an eating routine, you can easily leave home for hours without needing to pump.
Honestly what did people do before formula? They bF... It is hard but not impossible... You just have to stick with it... Many of my friends just gave after time. because it was too time consuming... If you have problems take full advantage of the LC at the hospital.. And pumping is always an option...
I used my SILs pump until I knew it was something to I wanted to do then I got a brand new PIS off of ebay for 175.... best things since I returned to work,,,
I didn't talk to any mommy friends ahead of time so with DS I just got a basic electric pump. It worked well for me. I am a SAHM so I fed on demand and we only used pumped milk when we really needed it. It backfired a little and DS wouldn't take a bottle at all after about 4 months, but he never really had to. In my opinion your plan sounds fine, or you might even want to hold off on buying the pump until you feel like you need it.
Rachel and Jeff Married 5.29.05
Jason is 8
Elizabeth is 6
Katherine is 18 months
Ask your doctor if they will write you a script. My insurance company will not cover it so I had to buy mine but my coworkers insurance does & her doctor said that she will def. write her one. Most doctors see the value in breastfeeding.
OP - I know you're getting a lot of responses, but I'll throw my two cents in for what it's worth. I wanted desperately to BF with my first. My milk never came in and after 3 weeks I gave up. For those 3 weeks, every 2.5-3 hours I would nurse, then pump, then supplement (with first the very little milk I could get and then formula). I started pumping in the hospital to help with supply (I was in a few days longer with other complications) and the pumping kit provided I got to take home - it was the tubing, the nipple pieces...pretty much the plastics that come with the pump. They all fit my Medela. My understanding is anyone could request the pump, but my one nurse recommended it. I was in a similar situation and didn't know if I would go back to work so didn't know it I wanted to spend the money on the pump and waited, but sent my husband out to get the best Medela Electric pump the day we came home from the hospital...and I only made it 3 weeks...
Based on responses, you're going to get a lot of pro BF/BottleFeeding - my best advice, for what it's worth, it to go into the feeding options with an open mind. I didn't even consider formula while pregnant...and I know that's not what you're asking. But you might get into it and have no problems and it might be super clear what you want or need to do. I would wait on the fancy pump, if and/or when you decide to buy it, see what the return policy is, and when you're in the hospital, ask about their pump - you might get a feel for it and hate/love it.
Good luck - if you have to use formula (or even as a backup) signup for Similac and Enfamil offers - they'll send you a starter supply to have on hand and additional coupons along the way.