@princesslockness not sure what your band/cup size is, but https://www.herroom.com/ and https://www.barenecessities.com/ have been my go-to for sports bras because I can get my normal 32H there. I don't know when I last bought a bra in a physical store. I'm sure I'll be visiting these sites sooner rather than later because my current sports bras are getting too small, but depending on the band/cup combo I think they carry up to M. Her Room has a better selection of small band/large cup sizes.
BFing is a commitment. I'm glad I did it, but its much more that I expected.
Yes! It's so much harder than anyone told me. And absolutely worth the priceless bonding time. For FTMs, when you're looking into birthing classes, also check out if they have a separate breastfeeding class. We did a 2 hour session that was separate (actually was my SO's suggestion to take it). Definitely didn't learn everything, but had a lot of important basics already when we started in the hospital. I also asked EVERY nurse if they thought we had a good latch and any suggestions. The nurses are GODS and GODDESSES!!!
Question for other STMs: Are you replacing your tubing this time around? New shields? Or can I just sanitize everything and re-use it?
@westphilly I kept my sheilds but replaced the other parts...it was hard to get them fully clean and when I got them back out for #2 there was residue in the areas that you can't really get at, even after sterilization. Additionally the plastic in the tubing can fracture with time...I replace tubing every 3-4 months generally. Parts are pretty cheap on amazon so I just do that. I also replaced all of my bottle nipples, but used the same bottles as i used for DD1.
@westphilly the insurance company has to give you a whole new set, so why not just use the new stuff? I kept the old stuff as a back up or something but I'd rather start fresh.
I totally agree on taking a BFing class! I took one at the hospital.
I had a horrible start to my BFing. My milk did not come in for over 2 days and my little guy got extremely jaundiced. After a horribly long induction and labor, I was so out of it I wasn't functioning at my normal capacity. The bili blanket wasn't working. When I finally got enough rest to get with it, I was googling on my phone and so I asked the nurses for formula. Several of them told me no, since I was a BF mom. I got more persistent and downright angry and finally got a nurse that brought me some. It was too late, little guy ended up in NICU for a couple days and since I had been medically discharged, I spent my maternity recovery sleeping in a chair next to his little bed in NICU. I wasn't leaving without him. I will be taking my own formula to the hospital this time. Team feed the babies. If that means you have to supplement, do it, don't let anyone shame you.
@princesslockness I would try Her Room, I wear an H in UK which is I think a K in US and have had good luck with them. Or if you're looking at UK sizes, try Shock Absorber, they are my personal fave for sports bras, but can be limited in sizes. UK brand so H in their size = K in US I think. I don't know what K in UK sizing equates to in US sizes though. Good luck!
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): About 140 on Amazon but free through insurance.
What you like about it: this is my fourth kid. I've tried many pumps, including the hospital grade Medela at the hospital. This pump is by far the best. it increased my milk supply. And a lot of other mom friends as well. For me I was able to pump for my baby AND and freeze. It also runs on battery too so ur not stuck to the wall. I carried it around with me a a lot.
What you don't like about it, if anything:. Nothing. It's the best pump ever.
Is there a [breast pump/nursing accessory] you don't have but are considering? Nope. all have and need are the pump, freezer bags and the wide mouth to narrow bottle valve attachment so you can use any bottle if necessary.
Is there a [breast pump/nursing accessory] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: the Ameda Purely yours. Not a great pump and hurt my nipples.
Additional thoughts on [breast pump/nursing accessory], specifically any tips re: insurance?: If you want to pump more milk to freeze, pump after your AM session. You make more milk first thing in the AM; I never used the brest friend pillow or any other boppy. I often just learned to position baby on one leg a bit higher; get a Moby wrap or ring sling and you can nurse in that with practice.
I had a pretty awful time breast feeding and have major anxiety over it this go around. I really want to BF (I am quitting my job to be a SAHM) so I hope I can. I only lasted a few weeks last time. This thread is really helpful.
@livinthesunnylife lol! I'm mobile and totally forgot I even had a ticker! I'll log in and see if I can update it. Although this is my fourth baby in 4 years so I sort of feel like I've been pregnant forever!!
I'm just hear to say pumping suckkkkkkks. I have much admiration for the moms who EP as I can't imagine doing it. I was so glad to toss my pump and will be sad to drag out all the supplies.
I did pump for quite a while after I went back to work and for some reason I didn't buy a pumping bra until very late in the game. That was a mistake.
Like others, I had the Medela. It was free with insurance. I can't say it was my "favorite," as it was the only one I had.
I also didn't buy a lot of extra parts until late in the game. I was washing and sanitizing every. damn. night. Don't do that. Buy extra parts and wash/sanitize every few days.
I bought medela bags for storage and never had any problem with leaks.
I plan on hopefully getting the spectra this time through insurance. I'll most likely keep my sheilds, but toss everything else.
Accessory I'm interested in this time are these breast cups that you put inside your bra. It catches any let down that comes when you're feeding from the other side. My girlfriend used them, and would collect an extra ounce or two each feeding just from let down.
Oh, I kept everything in the refrigerator and only washed/sanitized on the weekends. I would die doing that every night.
I keep parts in the fridge/cooler all day and then wash when I get home at night. Otherwise it is too much. I have a few sets of parts in case I slack off and don't get them washed in time for the next day.
Also, I only sanitized parts before first use. It's really not necessary to fully sanitize otherwise unless your baby is immunocompromised (like from being a preemie for example). Soap and water is just fine.
I plan on hopefully getting the specs this time through insurance. I'll most likely keep my sheilds, but toss everything else.
Accessory I'm interested in this time are these breast cups that you put inside your bra. It catches any let down that comes when you're feeling from the other side. My girlfriend used them, and would collect an extra ounce or two each feeding just from let down.
I have those! But I won them in a raffle after my supply was already well regulated and I never leaked so I didn't get to use them but I definitely will this time!
I used to sanitize my pump parts every night by washing and boiling them. It was such a PITA. I went back to work when DS was about 5.5 mo and I pumped until he was 1. I could have thrown a party when I stopped, it was so awesome to not have to do it anymore!!!
I need to get those cups too, I never leaked with DD1 but I did leak a lot the first few months with DD2 on the side I wasn't nursing from. Would have been nice to save the extra.
Other things that were different: I never felt let down with #1 but do with #2, and I never had painful uterine cramping in the few weeks after birth while nursing #1 but HOLY SHIT on that with #2. I had to stay on Ibuprofen completely for the pain from those contractions. Not looking forward to dealing with that again.
I'd like to try those cups. Does anyone have any suggestions on good brands. And do they work at night (like if you're lying down). I was a huge leaky mess every night with DS.
I'd like to try those cups. Does anyone have any suggestions on good brands. And do they work at night (like if you're lying down). I was a huge leaky mess every night with DS.
I can't remember the brand I have but I can check later. I don't think you can use them overnight, I think they need to be upright and can spill if you're not careful.
I'd like to try those cups. Does anyone have any suggestions on good brands. And do they work at night (like if you're lying down). I was a huge leaky mess every night with DS.
I can't remember the brand I have but I can check later. I don't think you can use them overnight, I think they need to be upright and can spill if you're not careful.
Oh these are great! I'm getting pair. In case anyone else is wondering, you cannot use these at night. Partially because the milk would spill everywhere. But, also, you still need to refrigerate or freeze the milk right away... duh!
@westphilly. I bought really cheap "bras" from Groupon. They were basically mesh with zero support, but they were comfy as hell. I would sleep in those with disposable breast pads in. I would also sleep with a towel under me, and a chuck pad from the hospital under my fitted sheet in case I leaked through the towel.
@7425cait Oh yes, that was me too. Between the leaking and the night sweats, I had to change my shirt at least once during the night, and slept on a towel, and the breast pads. I just remember looking at the milk streaks on my shirt every morning thinking what a waste of all the milk and thought there might be a way to capture it. But, I never wanted to do a separate MOTN pumping (cheers to you exclusive pumpers - you're amazing!), so I just dealt with the leaky until my milk settled in.
It looks amazing and should be in production before we deliver. I’m tempted to get it, but since I don’t plan to pump all that much, I’m not sure it would be worth it if I can get one at no cost through insurance....
@lalala2004 Yes! I'm a campaign supporter so I get all the updates. Something tells me it's not going to be out in time for me to use my free one that I get for donating in the beginning lol...
@lalala2004 Yes! I'm a campaign supporter so I get all the updates. Something tells me it's not going to be out in time for me to use my free one that I get for donating in the beginning lol...
They’re predicting June 2018 from what I saw, but yeah, I’d be nervous, too!
@lalala2004 I really struggled with production, so I support the idea even if it doesn't make it out in time for me to use it. I'll still get a free one through insurance. And since I'll be on leave I really won't need the pump until Dec-ish. Fingers crossed!
@princesslockness I used the Spectra S1 and loooooved it. I don't have experience personally with the medela symphony, but a girlfriend of mine was also using a spectra and switched to the symphony at work (it was provided as part of the lactation room) and hated it so much that she bought my spectra from me after 1 month. I guess her supply started tanking. So I would recommend Spectra 100%
@princesslockness I used the PISA with DD1 and have the symphony for DD2. It's not even funny how much better the symphony is. But that's what you'd expect from a hospital grade pump that costs $2k new. I got mine gently used and still under warranty on ebay for $800. Best thing I've ever bought. The PISA was totally fine the first time but now that I've used the symphony I can't go back. I brought a new PISA on vacation for a week bc the symphony is so large and heavy I didn't want to pack it and the difference now that I'm used to the symphony is nuts.
Thank god I got it too since I'm staring at production problems due to getting KU again so soon!
@delujm0 That is what I have heard, but I wanted to make as sure as possible before dropping that kind of cash on a pump. Would you take it to work and home, or just leave it at home and use a PISA at work if you are only going to be pumping 1-2 times a work?
Formerly known as Kate08young August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Me: 28 H: 24 Married: 7/22/14 Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017. Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
@princesslockness I bring that bitch to work haha. I pump 3x at the office but only go in twice a week and work from home the rest of the time. I only really pump when I'm working right now so if I didn't want to carry it, I'd leave it there.
@princesslockness I bring that bitch to work haha. I pump 3x at the office but only go in twice a week and work from home the rest of the time. I only really pump when I'm working right now so if I didn't want to carry it, I'd leave it there.
So I would probably do best to leave it at home for all my pumps there, and use a manual/PISA at work for those 1 maybe 2 a day.
Formerly known as Kate08young August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Me: 28 H: 24 Married: 7/22/14 Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017. Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
@princesslockness I bring that bitch to work haha. I pump 3x at the office but only go in twice a week and work from home the rest of the time. I only really pump when I'm working right now so if I didn't want to carry it, I'd leave it there.
So I would probably do best to leave it at home for all my pumps there, and use a manual/PISA at work for those 1 maybe 2 a day.
Yeah, if you're planning to EP or will be pumping at home a lot and don't want to carry it back and forth, that's what I'd do. You may be like me and after like 2 days of the PISA at work be like "fuck this noise" and decide to carry the symphony around anyway. It gets the job done a lot faster.
I literally left my pump sitting on top of my desk. Pulling out the flanges, hoses, and hands free bra 4x a day was enough work, I'm not packing that whole thing up. I had a manual pump at home that worked for me on the off chance I needed to pump at home. But for the most part home=with the baby.
I literally left my pump sitting on top of my desk. Pulling out the flanges, hoses, and hands free bra 4x a day was enough work, I'm not packing that whole thing up. I had a manual pump at home that worked for me on the off chance I needed to pump at home. But for the most part home=with the baby.
Which if you nurse makes sense. I don't like nursing, it hasn't worked for either kid so we go the EP route.
Formerly known as Kate08young August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Me: 28 H: 24 Married: 7/22/14 Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017. Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Re: Product Spotlight 12/25: Breast Pumps and Accessories!
For FTMs, when you're looking into birthing classes, also check out if they have a separate breastfeeding class. We did a 2 hour session that was separate (actually was my SO's suggestion to take it). Definitely didn't learn everything, but had a lot of important basics already when we started in the hospital. I also asked EVERY nurse if they thought we had a good latch and any suggestions. The nurses are GODS and GODDESSES!!!
Question for other STMs: Are you replacing your tubing this time around? New shields? Or can I just sanitize everything and re-use it?
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
I totally agree on taking a BFing class! I took one at the hospital.
I had a horrible start to my BFing. My milk did not come in for over 2 days and my little guy got extremely jaundiced. After a horribly long induction and labor, I was so out of it I wasn't functioning at my normal capacity. The bili blanket wasn't working. When I finally got enough rest to get with it, I was googling on my phone and so I asked the nurses for formula. Several of them told me no, since I was a BF mom. I got more persistent and downright angry and finally got a nurse that brought me some. It was too late, little guy ended up in NICU for a couple days and since I had been medically discharged, I spent my maternity recovery sleeping in a chair next to his little bed in NICU. I wasn't leaving without him. I will be taking my own formula to the hospital this time. Team feed the babies. If that means you have to supplement, do it, don't let anyone shame you.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
I did pump for quite a while after I went back to work and for some reason I didn't buy a pumping bra until very late in the game. That was a mistake.
Like others, I had the Medela. It was free with insurance. I can't say it was my "favorite," as it was the only one I had.
I also didn't buy a lot of extra parts until late in the game. I was washing and sanitizing every. damn. night. Don't do that. Buy extra parts and wash/sanitize every few days.
I bought medela bags for storage and never had any problem with leaks.
DS: Born 5-17-16
Accessory I'm interested in this time are these breast cups that you put inside your bra. It catches any let down that comes when you're feeding from the other side. My girlfriend used them, and would collect an extra ounce or two each feeding just from let down.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Also, I only sanitized parts before first use. It's really not necessary to fully sanitize otherwise unless your baby is immunocompromised (like from being a preemie for example). Soap and water is just fine.
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
I used to sanitize my pump parts every night by washing and boiling them. It was such a PITA.
I went back to work when DS was about 5.5 mo and I pumped until he was 1. I could have thrown a party when I stopped, it was so awesome to not have to do it anymore!!!
Other things that were different: I never felt let down with #1 but do with #2, and I never had painful uterine cramping in the few weeks after birth while nursing #1 but HOLY SHIT on that with #2. I had to stay on Ibuprofen completely for the pain from those contractions. Not looking forward to dealing with that again.
ETA: These are the ones I have https://www.amazon.com/Milkies-Milk-Saver-Breast-Collector-Storage/dp/B007HYL9TS
Married 9/28/13
DS born 11/12/15
EDD 8/13/18
It looks amazing and should be in production before we deliver. I’m tempted to get it, but since I don’t plan to pump all that much, I’m not sure it would be worth it if I can get one at no cost through insurance....
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Me: 37 Him: 38
Married 11.07.2015
Thank god I got it too since I'm staring at production problems due to getting KU again so soon!
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.