Boobs, Breastfeeding, and the Pump

[chipmunk]

Hi Ladies,

I've got another 5 months before the little one makes an appearance, but I'm starting my research early. I am hoping to breastfeed, but plan on also pumping, particularly so DH can get up at night with the baby, and so I can continue with breastmilk after I return to work. I'm hoping you can help me get some ideas/feedback on preferred brands and types of pumps, based on your experiences.

If you did/do pump, did you go with a manual or electric pump, or both?

Which one(s) were the most comfortable for you? Any issues with the darn thing breaking down, failing suction, etc?

Anything to watch out for while pumping (sore boobs, mastitis concerns, etc) that could make life easier or a living hell?

Thanks! 

[gingerlady]

I'm following this! I have the same needs and questions!

[snippet17]

I would try to see what the hospital in your network or your insurance for the the pump. I know my in network hospital can usually give the mom to be a free or heavily reduced pump. So you might want to try that route before you buy one.

[Deleted]

I used the Medela pump - but I needed to get an electric double pump due to my son being a preemie.

Insurance covered the cost.

[chipmunk]

Thanks! My mom was never able to BF with me (she bled) so she's admitted being no help in this area. Hadn't even thought of the effect on supply- I figure I'll get up in the first couple months, but DH is a night person, and has already said he'll get up in the middle of the night (he also starts work much later than I do).

I will check into whether my insurance provides a pump, that would be a great cut down on expenses for us. As for a safe/private area to pump....to my knowledge, there's no such set up in this office, but I have a door, a heavy chair I can put against the door to my office, and I can put up a note saying "I'm unavailable, please email me with what you need" when pumping. Plus, as the only person in this office for my specific section, all my supervisors/bosses are 5 hours away by car, so I don't have to worry about them barging in.

All this information is very helpful- if anyone else wants to chime in, please do so!!!

[gingerlady]

I'm going to have to flag this page because it's full of so much useful info! Thanks everyone!

I think I'm lucky in that I have a flexible work schedule and a private office that I can lock and pump in. There are only a small number of people who would need to find me throughout the day (my boss and 2-3 immediate coworkers) so they'll be fine with me just sticking a note on the door saying "come back later". I have a former coworker who pumped for 6+ months using this technique and did very well.

[gingerlady]

Awww @jennylee that made me cry! So sweet!

[snippet17]

Dec 30, 2015 8:47:55 GMT -5 @daubachsgirl23 said:

Yikes, if someone told me that she admires my BFing because she couldn't "sit there all day" I would be so pissed. What a condescending thing to say. Like if you BF you are lazy or something? Wtf? That is not a cute thing to say, that's a passive aggressive insult.

I am happy I read it the same way. I know I am not bf but anyone who does is not lazy. If I worked in a different industry (which was my choice) I would bf.

[chipmunk]

@lolo, I'm not sure, and never really got into the details of asking her...she was 37 when she had me (old in the 80s, and I was the first and only pregnancy), and there were some complications surrounding her pregnancy and delivery- suffice to say, we were exceptionally lucky that I was not stillborn or suffering from severe mental disabilities due to some of these complications.

She only ever told me she tried in the hospital, found it excruciatingly painful, and that her nipples would bleed quite a bit. Considering how delivery and recovery was much harder on her than on me, I've never pressed her on it. She would quickly change the subject to how they had to get me on prosobee soy based formula, as I was picky about the other stuff, and pull out the photos of when Dad draped an adult wig on my head (I was born completely bald and stayed that way for about 2 years), just so they could get an idea of what I might look like with hair!

[kristenkay]

chipmunk this thread is a little old, but I'll chime in.

I was super nervous about breastfeeding but hopeful that I wouldn't have any struggles. While I did get a couple of blisters the first couple of days at the hospital and bled a couple of times randomly, it was so much easier than I thought! Medela Lanolin is a miracle worker, if your hospital will give you some free, take lots of it!

At the 1 month mark I started pumping after LO's morning feed and I built a freezer stash. We also gave her a bottle at that time for a few days I needed to be away and she had no problems. Some babies won't take bottles. They say not to introduce bottles or pacifiers if you can help it to prevent nipple confusion, but I also think waiting too long might make it harder to start introducing a bottle. The 1 month mark was perfect for us.

I have the Ameda Purely Yours double electric and it's worked great. I did just order some new parts for it because one of the valves tore. But I think that's to be expected after 6 months' use.

I also picked up a new Ameda Hand Pump at a consignment sale and used it for the first time yesterday and I was surprised that I actually really like it. I think it's easier to control and seems to get more milk out. But of course it is a little tiring for your hand after a while.

Now that I'm pumping at least twice a day my nipples get a little sore (when I just did it once a day intermittently I didn't have a problem)but I started putting Motherlove ointment on before pumping and it's sooo much more comfortable. I have the Lansinoh Lanolin too but it's really thick and I don't think it works as well personally. I do however LOVE the Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags. They're so much easier to transfer milk into than Medela or Evenflo bags, and you can lay them to freeze flat so they're easier to store! I store mine like this:

[chipmunk]

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but I have an update- not only will my insurance cover the entire cost of the pump, I don't have to get a prescription or anything to get it!

Once I'm pre-registered with the hospital, I get to go on medela's website and order a double electric with my contact info and my insurance info. My insurance will handle the rest for me. That's a relief off my shoulders.

[Deleted]

That's awesome!

Just a word of caution - don't go "cold turkey" from pumping/breast feeding once you start using that pump.

I quit pumping suddenly when my Dad died (left the pump behind when I went out of town). My baby was in the NICU so I also wasn't breastfeeding.

I wound up with mastitis, being on antibiotics for 2 weeks and then also having to have the cysts that formed in my breasts drained by a doctor using ultrasound guidance.

It hurt!