Breast pump

[hisbloodformysins]

I know someone who only hand expressed, which can actually be more effective then ANY pump. I bought a 200$ medella pump, and I guess the good thing about spending that money is that it's lasted all this time, through 3 babies and still works well. My SIL bought the cheaper pumps at walmart and went through 3 of them during her one year of breastfeeding. Something I considered when buying my pump was the fact that I planned on having atleast 3 children. If I was only planning to have 1, that would've been tougher for me to decide on. I've known mothers who bought the hand pump for 30$ and were happy with it, but ended up having to borrow someone else's becuase theirs broke. There is also the option of renting a pump for temporary use if need be, don't know how much that would cost...

Chances are you'll end up expressing milk sometime during this experience. In this modern day and age it's very difficult to do things and stop and feed the baby on demand schedule without ever having expressed milk as an option to give. ONe of those women I mentioned was a full time stay at home mom, and only used the pump once a week just to be sure the baby would take the bottle. Breast feeding is far more demanding then bottle feeding, atleast in the beginning.

And if you're serious about breastfeeding, then you probably want to give little thought to giving formula and not pumping.... you don't want your milk supply to go down.... giving formula and not pumping is often the beginning of the end of a nursing relationship for women and their babies. I know this from experience, and it's what i've seen of others and read.

Hope this helps you in making the decision.

HB

 

[hisbloodformysins]

I had problems with my babies not nursing enough.... and then my milk supply ended up not really being enough.... because the extra milk wasn't being used. My milk supply NEVER leveled out and I tried to do everything by the book.

I think that this time although I have a hospital grade medella pump, i'm going to try to hand express the extra, because the few times I've done it I've found it to be way more effective then my pump on high pressure and high speed. I feel inspired by a co-worker who has breastfed very successfully, even working, had more then enough milk, and only hand expressed. She'd bring cups with her and go in the room and fill up bottle with milk in her 30 minutes of expressing. Truthfully, I dreaded having to pump because getting the thing out would be so much trouble... I just didn't want to mess with it. I think if I hand express it'll be easier for me to do it as often as I'll need to.

FYI

HB

 

[~Nikki~]

I bought a pump for when I had Benjamin, and I maybe used it once when I tried to express milk and bottle feed it. Benjamin hated the bottle, and whenever I wanted milk for baby cereal etc, I just hand expressed it, which for me worked better than the pump.

Oh, and I've only been engorged when my milk first comes in (for both babies), and within a few days my body's adjusted and the swelling and heat (and the feeling of having suitcases strapped to your chest) has gone. And like the others say, your body works on a supply and demand basis. So if you pump your body will keep on making that amount and you'll have to keep pumping and deal with the few days oversupply when you stop pumping rather than right at the beginning.

Anyways, I don't think I'll be using a pump this time around either, unless we suddenly develop issues that specifically require one.

 

[Leanna]

I would probably get a hand pump just to have.... they are only like 40 dollars....

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

^^ That's my plan.

 

[immersedingrace]

See that's my thing is what if I'm producing more milk than what she eats. Gotta get that milk out somehow. There is a girl that is selling her Medella for $100 and I'm leary of a used one. I always thought that it was kinda gross but now I'm considering buying the thing.

According to Consumer Reports, you should not borrow or use a previously used breast pump unless it's a hospital grade or a Purely Yours Breast Pump by Ameda.

Question: "I'm in the market for an electric breast pump and a friend offered to loan me hers. Should I take it? It would save me about $300."
While it's a gracious offer, you're better off declining. That's because most breast pumps (unless they're a hospital-grade rental), are designed for one user only. It's largely a hygiene issue. Using a pre-owned pump can put your baby's health at risk because breast milk can carry bacteria and viruses. These potentially bad bugs can lodge in the pump's internal mechanism — the part that connects to the tubing — which can't be removed, replaced, or fully sterilized. With each suction and release, these contaminants can be microscopically blown into the milk you're expressing and possibly infect your baby. That's why breast pump manufacturers encourage nursing moms to think of a breast pump like any personal-use item you wouldn't loan, such as a toothbrush or lipstick.

More sources:

La Leche League:

Some mothers mistakenly assume that because rental pumps are safely shared by mothers that it is also safe to share purchase pumps. This is not true. Rental pumps and purchase pumps are designed differently. The collection kits (the bottles and tubing that attach to the pump) used with the rental pumps are designed so that the milk never touches the working parts of the pump that are shared with other mothers. This is considered a “closed system.”
Most purchase pumps, for example Medela’s Pump In Styles, DoubleEase, and MiniElectric, are “open systems.” This means that the pump motor is “open” to contact with the mother’s milk particles.

FDA:

Should I Buy a Used Breast Pump or Share a Breast Pump?

You should never buy a used breast pump or share a breast pump.
Only FDA cleared, hospital-grade pumps should be used by more than one person. With the exception of hospital-grade pumps, the FDA considers breast pumps single-use devices. That means that a breast pump should only be used by one woman because there is no way to guarantee the pump can be cleaned and disinfected between uses by different women.
The money you may save by buying a used pump is not worth the health risks to you or your baby. Breast pumps that are reused by different mothers can carry infectious diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis.
Buying a used breast pump or sharing a breast pump may be a violation of the manufacturer’s warranty and you may not be able to get help from the manufacturer if you have a problem with the pump.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

You can buy new tubing and attachments for it, or you can boil the heck out of it. If she is selling it for 100$, sounds like it probably is the kind of pump I have which is a hospital grade pump. I personally wouldn't see anything wrong with buying a used one as long as I felt I could use it without cross infection, and like I said about mine, it's medela hospital grade pump and I've had it for 6 years now, used it through 3 babies, and it still works just fine. It's worth the money.

HB

 

[llghoney]

See I was thinking that about the hand pump but then thought how hard that may be instead of a electric one. I don't see myself hand expressing milk for some reason either.

This pump is the Medella brand. And I mean people say they rent pumps that to me is the same thing. OF course I wouldn't use any usesd parts like the tubing or what not.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

WEll, I would just boil it, but that's me. Well, hmmm, I don't know... maybe I wouldn't feel comfortable with that. WE have a store in town here that sales medella products and it would be easy to get. You could look into stores that sale baby products or go to the medela web site to buy the parts. They also have nursing bras that you can hook those pumps into so you wouldn't have to hold them, I like medela bras as well, they are usually the only nursing bras I can find that have underwire in them... I don't care what they say.. I'm big chested and need the support.

100$ is a good bargain, and like i said, it's a quality product. I also mentioned that i know of two mothers who had those walmart pumps that cost 30$ and broke, my sil had to replace her's 3 times... with only one kid. If you figure the cost, it adds up. I also know that some used baby and maternity clothing stores sale used pumps as well. I know one here does because I inquired about selling my pump to them.

Hope this info helps. I was like you, didn't see exhausting myself with a handpump and couldn't fathom hand expressing, but now that i've had the experience I think I'd rather hand express then deal with setting up the pump... but we'll see if I sing a different tune once I do it for a while. I'll have to read on tips on hand expressing because don't have a lot of experience with it. I know there were times that even after using my hospital grade top of the line pump, I still felt unrelieved and hand expressing would do the trick. ONe of my breasts seems to be more stubborn then the other and knots up more.

HB

 

[hisbloodformysins]

OH by the way, target is a good store for finding breastfeeding products.. they sale the avent bottles, nursing blankets, medela products and also the bottles I bought last year "breast flow" probably the most breast feeding compatable bottle I could find. I don't frequent target often, but that's the store I hit for breastfeeding products.

HB

 

[Birbitt]

If you are looking to purchase a used pump that is ok...but you MUST be sure to purchase NEW IN PACKAGE tubing, bottles, and all other parts that will come in contact with your milk and skin..otherwise you may make baby sick.

 

[Hadassah]

Well, if it helps any -- DO NOT get the 'AVENT' hand breast pump. That thing is the most aggrivatingest thing ever. It's already needing a replacement part or two. So, when it is returned (after being washed and sterilised), I will be funding the replacement parts, though I wasn't the one who made it need that.

We are renting a hospital grade pump from the apothecary, and purchased the actual pump hoses and bottle with sheild. That has done a far better job, IMHO and costs only 1.50€ per day of rental. If I can get an RX from my doctor, I can have it for free, as the insurance will cover it.

I find if JD doesn't feed on a regular schedule, I have to pump or my supply goes all wonky. And I fear since we did have to introduce formula in the first few weeks, this is really crucial to ensure I keep breastfeeding 100% from here on out. The only feeding I really skip is the one (if there is one) between 1 and 3am... and that is because by the time I do get to sleep, I am so exhaused and have to sleep. IF I do not get at the very least 6 hours in, I set myself up to get chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia; so it is very crucial DH and I work together, and I make sure to pump before I sleep. Oddly enough JD will sleep 4 hours to start off, but won't once he has woken at 3am. he wakes up in 2 hour intervals from there until 8am every morning.


We had a day yesterday that a bottle would have been handy. I had to hit two official offices yesterday and a store (To get water) and it took 3 hours to get everything done. Thankfully we found a shady spot that I could nurse towards the end. Long car trips though, you can't take the baby out of the carseat here... you can get a ticket and I hear they can take your kid away. (I dunno if that is just "scare tactics" or if they really mean it. I'm not testing the limit though, things are done more by the book than in the US)

 

[Leanna]

Long car trips though, you can't take the baby out of the carseat here... you can get a ticket and I hear they can take your kid away. (I dunno if that is just "scare tactics" or if they really mean it. I'm not testing the limit though, things are done more by the book than in the US)

You can't here either, and I'm so glad. That would be extremely dangerous. Better to have a screaming baby than one that went through an accident outside of their carseat.

 

[llghoney]

YEah I ahve looked at Target. They have quiet a few Medella products. Also, how woudl you boil the part that the tubing hooks up to? Maybe I'll just get a cheapy & go from there when the time comes.

Not sure if it was someone posting here but they were saying that you need to feed every 2-3 hrs how in the world do you sleep, seriously? That is another concern if that is the case then I will want to pump so my hubby can feed for sure.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

From everything I've read babies who are exclusively breast fed do feed on average every 2-3 hours. Based on what my mom told me, sleep when the baby sleeps. Another benefit to having the baby in bed with you (or at least in your room) is you can plop the babe on the boob and doze back off. I guess you can establish a good sleep eating relationship.

The way I look at it, is if I am staying home all day with the baby it is my duty to get up and feed the baby at night. My husband works all day and therefore does not have the opportunity to snooze during the day like I will have. So i will not be waking him to feed the baby (unless I'm about to lose my mind- which is always a possibility.) Now if we were both working, I would pump and we would both take turns feeding, it's only fair IMO.

 

[llghoney]

Yeah I will try do that too. I have a hard time doozing off. I can be up for 48 hrs & still not sleep so that kinda scares me & I'm literally a zombie. I just know how I am with no sleep & how I function & it's not to good after a few days. It'll work out I know but I just like being prepared.

 

[Leanna]

YEah I ahve looked at Target. They have quiet a few Medella products. Also, how woudl you boil the part that the tubing hooks up to? Maybe I'll just get a cheapy & go from there when the time comes.

Not sure if it was someone posting here but they were saying that you need to feed every 2-3 hrs how in the world do you sleep, seriously? That is another concern if that is the case then I will want to pump so my hubby can feed for sure.

Sleep? Come on.... that's so overrated....

Um yeah, you get up every couple hours around the clock! .... until they start dropping feedings. How do you do it? You just do what you have to do.

 

[Hadassah]

Yep. We have stretches of 2-3 hour feeds, and at night they're every 4 hours until 3am, which they then change back to 2-3 hours. IF I am lucky, during the day he can sometimes go 4 hours between feedings. If he does, I can nap. If it's the 2-3 hour thing, I get no sleep, I have to watch him because that means major growth spurt, tummy upset and fussiness.

Yeah, DH does one feed a night if I can get a bottle out between feedings... usually the 3am one. He's had to do it three times this week, and I took over on Wednesday and Thursday. On the weekends we switch off as to who gets more sleep duing the night & day.

I seriously don't get much sleep, and it is so important with CD to get sleep or you set up for other auto immune problems..

 

[~Nikki~]

YEah I ahve looked at Target. They have quiet a few Medella products. Also, how woudl you boil the part that the tubing hooks up to? Maybe I'll just get a cheapy & go from there when the time comes.

Not sure if it was someone posting here but they were saying that you need to feed every 2-3 hrs how in the world do you sleep, seriously? That is another concern if that is the case then I will want to pump so my hubby can feed for sure.

Lol, sleep? What's that? ATM Katelyn feeds every 2-3 hours, which is not the problem. If I could lie on my side and nurse her and fall asleep whilst doing so, no problem. But (and I don't know about other peoples' babies) then she needs to have a good burp, so it'll take anything from a couple of minutes to half an hour/45 mins of back rubbing to get her to burp. And if I decide to be lazy and not do that, once I put her down she either squirms and squawks until I pick her up and wind her properly, or she burps lying down and a whole load of milk comes up with it, and I then have to feed and wind her all over again!

Benjamin was the same until 6 months of age...but from then I was able to fall asleep while nursing, and that was SO much better.

So yeah, from the beginning of one feed til the beginning of the next can be 2-3 hours, and it can take me an hour to feed her, get her to burp, change her nappy and get her back to sleep again. That only leaves 1-2 hours before she's waking up for the next feed! And that's 24/7.

 

[llghoney]

I know I was telling my H that the no sleeping right now is preparing me for the 24/7 very little sleep. And I keep saying I need the sleep now but it's just not happening.

Nikki, I forgot to tell ya but we were thinking of naming Graces' middle name Katelyn. Not sure yet but I love the name!