Breastfeeding Advice - Briarcliff Manor, NY

Hi E.,

I bought a pump and used it in the beginning to help with milk production, and then just a few times when I was feeling full or wanted someone else to be able to feed the baby. I would say that if you bought one of the hand held pumps for occasional use you would be fine. They aren't as expensive so you won't feel bad if you barely use it.

Good Luck.

H.

Hi, I have a 2 yo and am expecting in December. I breastfed by DD and stayed at home, and pumped every morning just to have a bottle so I could go out without her or feed her in public. I did have a lot of extra milk in the freezer though. I would at least get a manual pump that are not too expensive but you could use occasionally (like the Isis).

Hello E., how are you! let me tell you that i breastfeed my lil girl until she was 5 months old and i would have done it for a longer period of time, but i have a heart problem and i needed to start a treatment. Well anyways, i would buy a pump because sometime you will go out eventually and you don't want to pull out your breast infront of everybody and also it's very frustrating having to go to a private place to breatfeed your child (people don't care anymore) but yes...buy a pump and remember to latch your child at least for the 1st month to your breast, so that he/she could get used to it. good luck

I would say you may need a pump for the following reasons, you may get sick and won't be able to breastfeed therefore you should continue pumping to keep up with your supply, you may also want to pump to have someone else feed the baby ie your hubby or care giver while you go out on your own, or have a date with your hubby. Also your baby may get sick, my daughter got severe diahrrea b/c she was teething and I couldn't breast feed b/c breast milk keeps stools very loose so I had to stop while she got better about 5 days therefore I needed to pump to keep my supply. Also if you are not comfortable breastfeeding in public you may want to pump to carry milk and feed while you are out at the mall, park, supermarket etc. with the baby. There are many reasons you may need to pump other than to work outside the home.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing it has been my favorite thing to do as a first time mother. I am actually depress now b/c my daughter is weaning herself from the breast and I am not ready :o(. Keep in mind that some women have to work hard to establish their milk supply and get the whole breastfeeding thing going and some babies have a hard time latching on. Not to say that this will happen to you but it may so don't give up, if you are determine to breastfeed work at it and don't give up. After you go through the hard part including very painful and sore nipples it will be a breeze and the most wonderful experience you will have with your baby.

I would still but the pump because even though you are planning on being a stay at home mommy, you'll still want to have some time to yourself. You might want to go out with friends and you'll be able to pump and go without worrying about you're son having to switch back and forth between breast milk and formula.

E.,

I am a stay at home mom, have been for 25 years, I purchased the Advent breast pump and pumped so that my husband could also feed the baby and give me a break to clean, go shopping, if I was sick etc. I swear by that pump and the bottles too, it works so much better than even the ones they have in the hospitals. My daughter put it away so that when she has a baby she can use it. Let me know if I can be of any further help, with 5 kids and I am a nursing student as well, I think I have a lot of experience.

Hugs,
T.

E.,

Get a pump. They're not THAT much money, and they can save your sanity. DS #2 projectile vomited the two times we tried to give him formula, so there was no way for me to supplement wityhout a pump. And two or three cans of formula over the course of your baby's time nursing will cost more than a handheld pump. Some babies nurse every hour to hour and a half at times, especially in the beginning. If you want to go to the grocery store, take a nap, see a movie, reasonably anything that takes longer than two hours, without your baby, you need a pump. If staying home to you means never ever being without your baby, then you don't need one. Me, I need a pump.

Jess

Hi! I am a SAHM who is still breastfeeding my 10 and a half month old son. He never took to the bottle, but I still have used my pump and I am glad I have it. Sometimes you get engorged and need relief (and heaven knows you won't want to wake your sleeping baby to get the milk out) and it is also helpful to pump once in a while to keep your milk production up. Also, if you get Mastitis or another infection (I hope you don't but just in case), it is very important to get all your milk out to heal and the pump will help with that as well.

As for breastfeeding tips, tough it out for the first month or two. It gets a lot easier. At first I used to wince in pain when my son latched on, now sometimes I doze off because it feels fine. It is awesome bonding, the most perfect nutrition for your child, you always have baby's food with you, and it helps you lose the baby weight! There is nothing in the world as sweet as your baby lying in your arms, peacefully sleeping after nursing!

Good luck and God Bless!

Hi!
My daughter will be 2 this month and I breastfed her until she was 18-19 months old. I did use a breast pump even though I work from home. Using a breast pump helps to keep your milk supply up in your breasts. Sometimes, especially after you've been breastfeeding for months, you can start to produce less milk. Pumping helps to stimulate your body and help get production going again. It also helps to be able to pump and let your husband give the baby a bottle during the night for some feedings so you can get some sleep. (you can wait until the baby is 2-4 weeks old before you get a pump. That way you can see how the breastfeeding is going before you make the big purchase. I spent about $250.00 on my Medela pump, but there are less expensive ones.)
Even though breastfeeding in the most natural thing in the world,it is HARD, especially for the first 30-60 days. But if you can stick it out during those hard times, it is so rewarding!!!
My advice is to surround yourself with supportive people, educate yourself as much as possible on breastfeeding (especially on how to get a proper latch), and take it one day at a time.
Breastfeed as long as it feels right for you and your baby. There are a lot of people out there with strong opinions on breastfeeding. Listen to them only if it helps you, otherwise just listen to yourself.
Congratulations on your new baby and good luck with everything!- B.

I have two kids and I would have DIED without my pump. With #1, I worked outside the home and with #2 I stayed home. I used my pump to help keep up my supply. Also #2 was very sensitive to the letdown reflex, so I had to pump a bit before I fed her. If I didnt she would get too much too fast and end up spitting up. And there is always the situation where you'll end up being away from the baby, and its a great feeling to have breastmilk in the freezer so you dont have to rely on Enfamil.
I used the Avent Isis and I love it!!!!!!

Hi E..

the very short answer to your question is....no.

if you are going to exclusively breastfeed... you don't have to have a pump, but if you want to eventually let others feed HIM it'll make it easier if you have a pump...

I found having a pump helpfully. I breastfed my twin boys and I am now breastfeeding my third lil guy. Having a pump allows me the freedom of being able to go run and errand and leave him home with Dad... if he gets hungry while I'm out dad has some milk to give him... and I'm also using my breastmilk for the cereal he eats.

hope that helps.

GOOD LUCK.

i breastfed both of my boys and I had a pump and LOVED IT. It's good for when you want to get away for a few hours and need to leave a bottle for the baby. I was also not very good at public feeding...it was too hard for me to be discreet (LOL). With my second it was easier, but the first time it was impossible for me. So if I knew we were going to a restaurant or somethign I would just pump a bottle and bring it with me that way I wasn't stressed out.

Hi E.,
I am a stay at home mom and breastfed all three of my children successfully. I never pumped because I never needed to. I always felt that if I was going to sit and pump, why not sit and nurse. One drawback was that it was difficult to find a babysitter at times because my children would not take a bottle (even if it was breastmilk). My advice would be try the one that they give you in the hospital and if it works out for you, then invest in a better one from a baby store.
Janice J

Congrats on the baby!!! Hope you are feeling well. I got a Medela Pump in Style with my DS and used it again 3 years later with DD. I think it was toatlly worth the purchase. I got a BRAND NEW pump on ebay and I couldn't have been happier. Breatfeeding isn't easy at first...but once you get past the first month it will get easier. I think joining LaLeche Legue is good. Best of luck to you!

It would probably be a good idea to get one for a few reasons. One, if you are going out and and dont have a private area to nurse, you will have a bottle. Second, sometimes that full feeling can be uncomfortable, but if your child isnt ready to eat you can pump for your own comfort. Lastly, pumping and freezing is good because if your ready to stop nursing, you have stored breast milk so your child can still get the benefits of your natural nutrients. Hope this helps. And Congratulations.

I nursed both of my children, and did not use a pump for either. I am rather large chested, and i found the pumps to be uncomfortable and unnecessary, since i stayed home with them. I did have one, incase, but i never used it. If y ou are staying home with your son, i would say save your money, you dont need the pump at all.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! While you're not going to work, you may want to express milk for when others will have to watch your baby, especially for emergencies. I have an electric and a manual. To be honest, for the amount of use it gets, the manual works wonderfully. I use it more than the electric! What's nice about this one is that, if needed, you can buy an attachment to convert it to electric, although I don't know how well that works. In the beginning, before your milk is fully in, it'll take longer, but by the 2nd month, you'll be able to express 5 ounces within 10-15 minutes, max. I use the Medela Harmony Manual Breastpump for $34.99 from Babies R Us. If you'll be gone all day while someone watches your baby, you'll need to express every few hours and this is portable and light. Good luck!

Hello~
I just wanted to say that I bought the Advent pump & bottles. While a pump may not be a necessity, I was really glad I had one. I spent less than $50 on it & it worked great! I didn't use it for the first couple of weeks, but then I started pumping & freezing it. It was so comforting knowing that I had enough milk to keep my son from being hungry in case of emergency & also when I was just so exhausted I could allow someone else to feed him. I actually did have an instance when my sister had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital & I had to go ASAP to watch her kids, as her husband was far away with work. It was a releif to know that I could up & run at the drop of a hat if need be, and not have to worry about packing up my 3 week old, he could stay home with daddy for a few hours, and I didn't have to worry. I believe breast milk stays good for several months in the freezer, so it's really a great back up! I'd definately have to say buying one is a good idea.
I hope this helps! Best of luck with the little guy!

I would still buy a cheap but effective pump made by Advent (retails $35.00 at target). It works wonderfully and is easy to boil/clean.

You will have 2-3 weeks where you are producing more milk than the baby can drink and your breasts will be engorged. Pump & freeze for later.

If you start leaking and he's napping it's time to pump. (lol)
Good luck.

Hey E.!
Congrats on the new coming! I too am pregnant and had the same questions so I asked some friends who had just gone through this. The best solution is to have a hand held pump for "just in case" scenerios. You never know when you'll have to go out for a few hours or the day. If you feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, then you probably don't really have to get a breast pump at all. But if you'd rather just whip out a bottle when your little one gets hungry when your spending a day out of the house..the manual would be the best way to go. I've heard Medela is the best manual, i plan to get this one also! Also, if you're not sure about manual pumps or electric, the difference is the manual takes a little more time to get the milk out than the electric. Electric is really best for a working mom who doesn't have the time or energy for the effort I guess.
Hope that helps!

Hi E.
Congratulations on your pregnancy and your decision to breastfeed your son! You mentioned you tried pumping before...do you still have the pump or was it rented from the hospital? You can use your old one and just sterilize the parts. Even though you don't plan to work outside the home, you might want to consider just getting one of those single "manulectric" aka battery pumps for about $50 so you can pump if you need to get out of the house for a little bit and not have to worry about not having breastmilk for your son. My daughter ate every 20 mins and napped in between for the first few weeks then every hour and so on so it was somewhat exhausting to be on-call all the time. Just going out to the grocery store was a well timed mission if I didn't have any breastmilk in the fridge. I used one of the small ones at first, which worked fine for the occasional jaunt away from home or even just for a break to nap so someone else could feed her. I strongly suggest attending LaLeche meetings as they will help with any questions and advice with nursing, pumping, etc. You can start before your son is born and take your kids to the meetings. I love the one that meets in Point on Thursdays, but there is one in Shark River (I don't know where you live). Check out their website! Good luck!