Breastfeeding

Helen1389 · January 2016

Hi everyone!
I'm planning on breastfeeding. Is it necessary to get a breast pump? If so, what are the pros and cons of manual vs electric ones?
Would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thanks!

Achae · January 2016

If you search you will find many threads on various breast pumps with their pros and cons. A pump is necessary if you ever plan on feeding baby from a bottle while out or if latch isn't working properly etc.

kalenvan · January 2016

If you're a stay at home mom then I don't think you will need one...idk how long you plan to breastfeed but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple. Go to pumpingessentials.com to see if your insurance will cover a free pump

RHrebien · January 2016

I nursed my two older daughters, and I pumped as well. I wanted them to take a bottle too, and it gave me a bit of freedom if I went out for a couple hours when they were a bit older. Also my husband enjoyed that feeding time too. Def an electric pump, so much less work

Latina211508 · January 2016

Definitly a must for me. I EBF all 3 of my kids and will breastfeed this baby as well. I produced a lot of milk and I needed a pump almost after every feeding. I had a Manuel pump after my first and my arm hurt like a B. I've used an electric pump with my second and third baby. It's awesome to have, at home or on the go. My pump also took batteries as well as the plug in. I have a medela one.

VitaLuna · January 2016

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.

Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Monkeybutt80 · January 2016

If you are going back to work, you will definitely need one. Even if you aren't, I would think you'd need one if you are ever going to be away from your baby and need someone else to feed your baby. If you are going to be pumping for more than just to relieve your engorgement or something, I would suggest an electric pump. I have two electric pumps, one at work and one at home. Then I keep a manual one by my bed in case my boobs are too engorged and painful and need some relief in the middle of the night or before the baby wakes up.
I would suggest contacting your insurance. They can tell you whether or not a pump will be covered and if so, they can give you the in network medical supply stores you can get one from.

AdventureMama · January 2016

I got by with a little manual pump the hospital gave me, but I stayed at home, didn't leave him often, and always nursed in public when we went out (rather than packing a bottle). I'd say at least have a handheld manual one.

thoughtfulmommy · January 2016

I used a manual pump with my DS. He didn't take a bottle often, but it was nice knowing if I was gone out of the house too long, my DH could feed him.

kalenvan · January 2016

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

Mamacat316 · January 2016

I nursed my son for 22 months and never pumped...but then I rarely left him more than the length of a yoga class. This time I'm going to try so that I can get away a little more - just bought a Medela Swing after asking all my mom friends.

VitaLuna · January 2016

kalenvan said:

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

OP wouldn't be asking if she needed a pump if she was planning to work.
Nice try, though. My comment is referencing your broad statement implying that babies need to be "off the nipple" and bottle fed at 6mos.

FWIW, I pumped at work until my DD was 14 months (gone for 14hr days). She was also "on the nipple" until she was 2. If I had decided at 4 months, 6 months, whatever that I was done BFing, that's fine too. But there's no magic time where you need to wean your baby off the breast just for the sake of weaning them.

thisusername · January 2016

kalenvan said:

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

I get what you're saying and all, but like PPs have said, you can still BF after that time of you'd like, being in the military doesn't mean you have to exclusively bottle feed after a certain point at all. In fact the military is becoming way more understanding about breast feeding and pumping and all the joys previously just swept under the rug. I don't know what branch you're in, but we are seeing a lot of positive changes with the navy that benefit the mothers entirely.

Ultimately it's your choice of course. Every parent is right in their own way. If that's when you want to ween them off, then do so, but just make sure you let others know that it is acceptable to continue on the nipple.

To your question OP, I'm a FTM but I highly recommend seeing if your insurance will cover one. It's best to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

kalenvan · January 2016

thisusername said:

kalenvan said:

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

I get what you're saying and all, but like PPs have said, you can still BF after that time of you'd like, being in the military doesn't mean you have to exclusively bottle feed after a certain point at all. In fact the military is becoming way more understanding about breast feeding and pumping and all the joys previously just swept under the rug. I don't know what branch you're in, but we are seeing a lot of positive changes with the navy that benefit the mothers entirely.

Ultimately it's your choice of course. Every parent is right in their own way. If that's when you want to ween them off, then do so, but just make sure you let others know that it is acceptable to continue on the nipple.

To your question OP, I'm a FTM but I highly recommend seeing if your insurance will cover one. It's best to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Im going to breast feed...she was asking if she should purchase a pump and I said not if you will be home you can just do without...now if she has to go to work then pumping will be beneficial. It's just sometimes if you introduce the bottle the baby will get used to that and refuse the nipple.

kalenvan · January 2016

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

OP wouldn't be asking if she needed a pump if she was planning to work.
Nice try, though. My comment is referencing your broad statement implying that babies need to be "off the nipple" and bottle fed at 6mos.

FWIW, I pumped at work until my DD was 14 months (gone for 14hr days). She was also "on the nipple" until she was 2. If I had decided at 4 months, 6 months, whatever that I was done BFing, that's fine too. But there's no magic time where you need to wean your baby off the breast just for the sake of weaning them.

Ok...I wasn't implying to stop breastfeeding at 6mo...jeez chill out.

g8trkim · January 2016

kalenvan said:

... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?
Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...
OP wouldn't be asking if she needed a pump if she was planning to work. Nice try, though. My comment is referencing your broad statement implying that babies need to be "off the nipple" and bottle fed at 6mos. FWIW, I pumped at work until my DD was 14 months (gone for 14hr days). She was also "on the nipple" until she was 2. If I had decided at 4 months, 6 months, whatever that I was done BFing, that's fine too. But there's no magic time where you need to wean your baby off the breast just for the sake of weaning them.
Ok...I wasn't implying to stop breastfeeding at 6mo...jeez chill out.

I didn't think you were implying to stop breastfeeding at 6 months. But I'm guessing other posters were wondering where that number came from, because that confused me too. Seemed like just a random age. I started introducing bottles around a month old and both kids went back and forth for a very long time. Some kids never take a bottle. Some kids never breastfeed.

Edit to add because I posted too soon:
OP I liked pumping here and there just to have bottles on hand. I guess it really depends how much you will be away from baby. I went back to work at 4 months with my first and 8 months with my second so I got good use out of it. I have a Medela Freestyle electric pump. I love it but it's a little pricey. Since I'm on the third kid though, I've more than gotten my money out of it.

thisusername · January 2016

kalenvan said:

thisusername said:

kalenvan said:

VitaLuna said:

kalenvan said:
... but at 6 months you can get a pump to put the milk in bottles to help get them off the nipple.
Because at 6 months it's really important to "get them off the nipple"?

Some of us have work to return to...I'm in the military so I won't be able to breastfeed all the time and if they want bottle more than nipple it's no big deal. Plus I read that the first 6 months are very important and a year would be awesome! Not everyone can do it...

I get what you're saying and all, but like PPs have said, you can still BF after that time of you'd like, being in the military doesn't mean you have to exclusively bottle feed after a certain point at all. In fact the military is becoming way more understanding about breast feeding and pumping and all the joys previously just swept under the rug. I don't know what branch you're in, but we are seeing a lot of positive changes with the navy that benefit the mothers entirely.

Ultimately it's your choice of course. Every parent is right in their own way. If that's when you want to ween them off, then do so, but just make sure you let others know that it is acceptable to continue on the nipple.

To your question OP, I'm a FTM but I highly recommend seeing if your insurance will cover one. It's best to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Im going to breast feed...she was asking if she should purchase a pump and I said not if you will be home you can just do without...now if she has to go to work then pumping will be beneficial. It's just sometimes if you introduce the bottle the baby will get used to that and refuse the nipple.

That makes more sense, I was just confused by the way it was written I guess!

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