Do you use a breast pump?

[heles7]

I do intend to breast feed and I'm not really sure if I need one or not? Chatting with my sister today, she said she hated it and only used it once preferring to do the feeds all herself.

So do you use one and get on okay with it or did you try one and give it up as being a lost cause?

 

[Snuggle]

I used one but only because Maddison wouldnt latch so I had to express for her. If you want to share the feeds then you will need to express obviously and a pump is quicker than doing it by hand

 

[leckershell]

I use one, Avent manual one I think it's called Isis.

In fact you have reminded me I need to pump off tonight's feed. I have a stock of frozen milk building up for when he goes in to nursery.

You don't *have* to have one if you are breastfeeding, but if you miss a feed you will sure know about it if you don't express. It's personal choice at the end of the day, and I'm glad I have mine.

 

[valentine]

I would really recommend you buy one. I exclusively breastfeed (no formula) and have always done, but for sanity, I do need to leave DD sometimes and therefore she has to have milk so I need to express to keep milk in the fridge or freezer.

If you don't have a pump and have no way to get milk out and don't use formula, then you'll have to think about the times when you need to leave LO for a job interview, the dentist - things you really can't take LO to. If you won't have any of these, then you also need to think that sometime (I promise this will happen!) you'll want to leave LO for some 'you time', even if its only a couple of hours a month to go to the hairdresser or to the shops.

I got my Tommee Tippee Freedom breast pump (manual) from T K Maxx for £12.99 and they are also often on offer in Tesco too (I think its their baby fair this or next week too so you could probably look for a bargain).

However, I do know a breastfeeding advisor who only ever expressed by hand over a sterilised bowl, so it is possible, if you'd prefer this option.

That's a bit of a guddly answer, but I'd recommend buying a cheap one (but not to express for at least the first 3 weeks to let your supply settle down) and seeing how you get on with it - then you can always invest in an electric or more fancy manual one when you are established with feeding and know what you want.

Valentine Xxx

 

[heles7]

thats folks thats quite useful... my sister doesnt really do seeing things any other way than what worked for her.

she already thinks im crackers for the raspberry leaf tea/arnica/ classical music!

 

[trixipaws]

after a few weeks once i'd established BFing, before spending on a pump i thought i'd check first she would actually take a bottle- so hand-expressed a bit into one- she wouldnt take it! so i didnt bother i just fed her directly from boob- so i never spent more than half an hour away from her and even then wasnt further than the local shop

after 6 months i wanted to go out and leave her at my parents', but didnt wanna get engorged so i bought a manual pump from boots for £20- i could barely get out a few drops! i can get more out by hand it was rubbish!

luckily tho tried a bottle again (formula this time) and she took it no probs. altho its slightly fiddly preparing formula and making up bottles- i imagine its still easier than expressing? idk tho as iv never done expressing (apart from that tiny amount in the early days, and by hand sometimes to relieve engorgement)

 

[happy-chick]

Yeah id say get one, I had the tommy tippee one which was great at first but i found it made my nipples sore so upgraded to an electric one (medela mini). Its handy to be able to express if u want/need to

 

[Kylie1007]

I have a breast pump (a medela electric one bought after the manual one - it's just too much effort to use the manual one!) and it's great but I rarely use it at the mo. It's quite time consuming when you have a needy baby who wants your attention.

 

[Kylie1007]

I have a breast pump (a medela electric one bought after the manual one - it's just too much effort to use the manual one!) and it's great but I rarely use it at the mo. It's quite time consuming when you have a needy baby who wants your attention.

 

[Kimbo]

no my udders didn't work

 

[Kimbo]

no my udders didn't work