Do I need to buy a breast pump?

peps815 · March 2011

I am six weeks away from my due date and I am planning on breast feeding when LO arrives. I am going to be off work for 16 weeks. My question is...did you buy a pump before LO arrived? Did you wait and see how it went? This is my first baby, so any advice would be helpful.

CelticWife · March 2011

I would wait and buy one when it goes on sale. However, if you do buy one before you deliver, don't open it! If you decide not to BF for whatever reason, you can't return it.

I didn't purchase one until about 2 weeks pp with DS. By that point, BF was going pretty well for us and I knew I wanted to stick with it. A friend of mine bought a pump before she delivered, and after a week she gave up BF entirely and was stuck with the pump since she had opened (never used) it.

TofuMama7 · March 2011

This is also my first baby and I am also EBF. What I did was get a hand pump and if I find I need a bigger electric pump I'll get it then (since they're so spendy I didn't want to get one if I didn't need it). DS is 4 weeks old today and so far I haven't needed one. The hand pump has worked for the two times I've left him with DH. I don't know if I'll find myself wanting an electric one later, but for now I don't.

magdalina.h · March 2011

I rented one from the hospital to see how well breastfeeding went. I knew that I. Would be pumping but I still waited. I'll be buying a pump next week

StellarStina26 · March 2011

One of the free gifts that my hospital gives you is a Medela Harmony Hand Pump. So, I would definitely wait until after you deliver to find out what you get from the hospital or if breastfeeding even works for you.

I am SAHM, so the hand pump works for now.

freeatlast2014 · March 2011

I bought one and didn't open it until I knew BF would work for us. This is my first child too. All turned out ok and I'm glad I have it!

KatieEighty · March 2011

I was able to rent one for a week from the hospital so I was sure my milk would come in (I've had a breast reduction). If you are able to breast feed I think it is essential. I've had a friend come down with mastitis from not emptying her breasts enough after the baby nursed. It was no joke! Very intense and painful for her.

moonfaerie · March 2011

I was given a pump prior to DD1, which died and I definitely wanted one in the house before #2 was born. I did not open it so that if BFing didn't work out for some reason, I could have returned it. But I definitely did not want to have engorged boobs and possibly be home alone with two babies and maybe still be on driving restriction w/o a pump.

dani920 · March 2011

I have the Lansinoh manual. It was less than $30 at Walmart. I decided to give this a try before buying an expensive electric one. I LOVE it. It is better than the fancy electric one I used at the hospital. I got more milk in less time and I like that I can walk around with it.

JDoe11111 · March 2011

MrsLynnyD:
I bought one and didn't open it until I knew BF would work for us. This is my first child too. All turned out ok and I'm glad I have it!

This for me too - my LO didn't take to BFing and I had to start pumping in the hospital, when I got home I was SO EXHAUSTED that I was thankful I didn't have to go out or try to explain to my husband which pump to buy right away to keep pumping. But in retrospect I could have just rented a pump from the hospital for the interim too, it's expensive but the ease might have been worth it if I didn't have a pump at home. Also, the hospital used Medela and the parts I used and got to keep were compatible with my PISA, so I got an extra set that was nice.

daniellepanda · March 2011

I would say buy one on sale, and dont open it until a couple weeks after BF to make sure you actually need it, unless the hospital tells you to pump before that. You can use the 20% off babies r us coupons usually on the pumps and that can save you a lot of money- I got the medela freestyle at babies r us this way and it works great and i saved like $75.

You should also check with your health insurance first- some offer discounts or reimbursements for certain pump models.

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