Do I really Need Need a Breast Pump (and other stuff)?

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Permalink Reply by kinder on September 7, 2009 at 2:37pm

I have a hand-held breast pump that I use about once a week. I only get out on my own when I have dance class or shows, so it's worked pretty well for me. You usually can't get as much milk with a handheld, but if you don't get out much, it's not really an issue. I was able to get by just fine with it, and have never had to use formula.
Little man didn't really like his car seat/stroller combo so we didn't get as much use out of it as we would have liked. He preferred to be in the sling or mama backpack until he was about 9 months. Now he loves his umbrella stroller and refuses to go in his backpack. Meh, I wouldn't worry too much about the stroller. And I think Max is totally old enough to walk--Ever was definitely walking everywhere with us when he was four. Mostly because Eric was a single dad and didn't have room (or patience) for a stroller.

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Permalink Reply by MamatothaMax on September 7, 2009 at 3:03pm

I've been going back and forth about the stroller and a smaller one is definitely in order. I'd love to get a big car seat that goes from 5-30 lbs or so and a sling and later an umbrella stroller. It's a little intimidating the idea of hauling 3 kids around by myself. But most of the time it would be in 2s anyway with Mo in school. And sometimes the idea of having a carrier car seat seems more practical.

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Permalink Reply by hotmama on September 7, 2009 at 3:57pm

I used a sling and convertible car seat instead of an infant carrier type and I loved it. I found it to be really easy and I plan to do it again. I am too tall for an umbrella stroller, so I always used a big one, but I still found it to be easy and convenient to use the sling/stroller rather than a carrier. Also, less people try to touch your infant when you are wearing them than when they are in a carrier- a bonus during cold/flu season.

MamatothaMax said:

I've been going back and forth about the stroller and a smaller one is definitely in order. I'd love to get a big car seat that goes from 5-30 lbs or so and a sling and later an umbrella stroller. It's a little intimidating the idea of hauling 3 kids around by myself. But most of the time it would be in 2s anyway with Mo in school. And sometimes the idea of having a carrier car seat seems more practical.

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Permalink Reply by Lea on September 7, 2009 at 4:01pm

Is that an electric one or?

I wanted to breast pump so I could have the Writer feed the baby sometimes at night and so that we could occasionally go out without the child, and a sitter could feed him. I was going to suck it up and buy one of those $250 Medula pumps because they got the best (haha, first I typed breast) reviews.

But are you guys saying you don't really need one? I am so confused, lol. I thought it was a must have for breastfeeding.

Ylimemagic said:

I have a Medella Pump N Style collecting dust as we speak. You just let me know.

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Permalink Reply by kommishoner on September 7, 2009 at 4:51pm

It really depends on your schedule and what works for you. I had to go back to school right away and was also donating milk, so we rented a hospital-grade electric pump, then eventually bought a used pump-in-style (the most common type). For me, I got enough milk that pumping wasn't a problem and I could use a hand pump if I didn't feel like schlepping an electric one around, but other folks I've heard have trouble getting enough suction from a hand pump to make it worth it.

I'd say if you plan to get a lot of use out of a pump, it's worth buying. But lots of hospitals and diaper services rent pumps, so you could test out whether you really like having the electric one, and which one you like best.

Lea said:

Is that an electric one or?

I wanted to breast pump so I could have the Writer feed the baby sometimes at night and so that we could occasionally go out without the child, and a sitter could feed him. I was going to suck it up and buy one of those $250 Medula pumps because they got the best (haha, first I typed breast) reviews.

But are you guys saying you don't really need one? I am so confused, lol. I thought it was a must have for breastfeeding.

Ylimemagic said:

I have a Medella Pump N Style collecting dust as we speak. You just let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Lea on September 7, 2009 at 5:05pm

What's the rental price like?

I thought you were not suppose to buy used pumps because bacteria gets into some part of it and cannot be cleaned out.

Thanks for the info.

Oh, and we are not even going to buy a stroller for awhile. We plan to do the whole sling/ backpack thing.

kommishoner said:

It really depends on your schedule and what works for you. I had to go back to school right away and was also donating milk, so we rented a hospital-grade electric pump, then eventually bought a used pump-in-style (the most common type). For me, I got enough milk that pumping wasn't a problem and I could use a hand pump if I didn't feel like schlepping an electric one around, but other folks I've heard have trouble getting enough suction from a hand pump to make it worth it.

I'd say if you plan to get a lot of use out of a pump, it's worth buying. But lots of hospitals and diaper services rent pumps, so you could test out whether you really like having the electric one, and which one you like best.

Lea said:

Is that an electric one or?

I wanted to breast pump so I could have the Writer feed the baby sometimes at night and so that we could occasionally go out without the child, and a sitter could feed him. I was going to suck it up and buy one of those $250 Medula pumps because they got the best (haha, first I typed breast) reviews.

But are you guys saying you don't really need one? I am so confused, lol. I thought it was a must have for breastfeeding.

Ylimemagic said:

I have a Medella Pump N Style collecting dust as we speak. You just let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on September 7, 2009 at 6:43pm

I rented one for $50 for one month.

The pump itself is OK, as long as a user has never let it clog and back up into the suction tubing. I got a Pump in Style from my SIL, and bought a new set of tubing/shields directly from Medela. I was also given a tubing set at the hospital to use with their pumps.

Lea said:

What's the rental price like?

I thought you were not suppose to buy used pumps because bacteria gets into some part of it and cannot be cleaned out

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Permalink Reply by Lea on September 7, 2009 at 8:18pm

thanks for the info :)

Herasmus B. Dragon said:

I rented one for $50 for one month.

The pump itself is OK, as long as a user has never let it clog and back up into the suction tubing. I got a Pump in Style from my SIL, and bought a new set of tubing/shields directly from Medela. I was also given a tubing set at the hospital to use with their pumps.

Lea said:

What's the rental price like?

I thought you were not suppose to buy used pumps because bacteria gets into some part of it and cannot be cleaned out

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Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on September 8, 2009 at 3:24am

Now that I think about it, I think I'm wrong about the rental price, sorry.

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Permalink Reply by Ylimemagic on September 8, 2009 at 9:03am

For us, it was a must have. I have heard that reusing personal pumps is a no-no. But just like McG said, if you know the person, you can choose your comfort level. I would always buy new tubing and shields.

My PIS is electric and comes in an "undercover" black bag that I took to work with me. I even had the car converter, though I found pumping in the car to be completely implausible because it was as if I was saying "HELLO WORLD! WATCH THIS VERY PRIVATE PROCESS!" It might've been better had I not been in a two door Honda Civic without tinted windows.

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Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on September 8, 2009 at 12:54pm

I found myself in the third row of the minivan several times (where there's tinting).

Ylimemagic said:

I found pumping in the car to be completely implausible because it was as if I was saying "HELLO WORLD! WATCH THIS VERY PRIVATE PROCESS!" It might've been better had I not been in a two door Honda Civic without tinted windows.

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Permalink Reply by Meghan on September 9, 2009 at 8:22pm

I also used a pump-in-style, but found that my son did not take milk from a bottle, so there was almost no need except as relief is he overslept a feeding. I gave my pump to a friend who got a sterilized pack of everything from the hospital when she delivered.

RE: sling - I was behind this girl in line who had the most stylish Moby wrap that I have ever seen. She said that it wasn't a Moby, she just bought five yards of fabric at the store and wore it like the Moby.
http://www.mobywrap.com/t-instructions.aspx I feel like a goof for spending $60 on the thing, but I have to admit it has been a lot better on my back than the other carriers I have tried.

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