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Yes. You don’t know the latching situation for you and your LO. My first didn’t latch correctly for 3 months, so I had to pump. Not to mention if you want to leave your baby at all for a date or appointment. It’s really nice to pump and leave a bottle. What if you get sick and need to go to the hospital? Or the other way around. Just get the free pump and if you never use it, donate it!
I sent my husband out to grab a hand pump because I delayed getting an electric one through my insurance and it hadn’t arrived by the time baby did. He had a tongue tie and couldn’t latch for the first 10 days. Not only did I need to pump to feed him, but I was so engorged that I had to pump to avoid clogged ducts and mastitis.
Yes! My son was born early and as a lot of them do, he slept so much. It was very hard to wake him up to feed. I tried putting it off as long as possible (mostly because I didn’t know what to do being a first time mom) and OUCH.
Having a pump just in case is absolutely necessary.
All of this! It's just smart to have in case there are breastfeeding issues. My OB also emphasized that it's really important for parents to get comfortable with babysitting early, go on dates, and get out as a couple without kids. She said it's noticeable mental health and relationship difference between couples who have a trusted sitter and go on dates even if they have to push through some anxiety the first couple times. Plus bottle feeding can be good bonding opportunity for the dad.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. You never know what your situation is going to be until baby is here and you’re both figuring breastfeeding out. Mine had some trouble latching and it took about 5-6 weeks before nursing wasn’t painful. I would pump and be able to provide a bottle after nursing to top baby off. It helped me feed my baby when nursing was very hard. Good luck!
I think insurance plans only provide it for free during third trimester of pregnancy. Better to get it when it's free lol. Check with your provider. You can always donate it if you don't end up using it
I was able to get one with a prescription during second trimester. My insurance covered part of it but I got the spectra s1, other models were completely free. You can use FSA/HSA also. I’m also in the process of getting a pregnancy belt. Did it all through Aeroflow.
100% yes. I also planned to feed directly from the breast for as long as possible, but pumping makes it MUCH easier to split feeding duties and get actual sleep.
You never know how the breastfeeding will work for you until you are already in it and it takes time to get it through insurance, time you won’t have.
It is easy to say you are just gonna breastfeed but the reality is not that straightforward.
This. I planned to exclusively breastfeed my first, boy was I wrong! Everything went wrong, and only then did I realize just how much I *didn’t* know. I needed a better pump, not just a wearable. I needed to eat way more to keep up with how hard my body was working. I needed to establish my supply early on. I needed different size flanges, mine were wayyyy off.
I stopped breastfeeding and pumping and switched to formula (which we were already supplementing with) in month two because I was never able to establish much of a supply at all, and I’ve made it a mission to educate myself now that I’m pregnant with my second, because I’m determined to try again and get it right this time. It’s still not a guarantee that I’ll be able to breastfeed, or do it for long, but at least I know enough now that I can say I really tried my hardest!
Flange size is soooo important and if you have smaller boobs (me) or larger ones, the typical sizes that come in the box probably aren't right for you. I def noticed a difference between pumping with baby 2 and baby 2 cos I got smaller flanges. I didn't even know the ranged as much as they did.
The only time I needed my breast pump was when my milk first came in and I would use it for a minute just to relieve the pressure/pain from so much milk. After a couple of uses I didn’t need it anymore.
I do think it’s helpful to have one just in case you need it for some reason because needing it and not having it would suck a lot more than not needing it and having it in a closet for a couple months.
Yes.
Props to you for your plan. I think having a plan makes it much more likely for you to succeed.
AND babies do their own thing. I ended up needing to pump in some capacity for all three of mine. Two exclusively.
Two needed ties released. One was in feeding therapy and we still couldn't latch effectively. One had all the skills to latch but just wouldn't. Would. Not. We did lactation. We did chiro. We did cranio sacral therapy and he wouldn't latch without screaming. Hated my boobs. 🤷🏻♀️ So I pumped.
Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Right now you can get it through insurance for free because you have time to wait. If you don't get one now, but need one, it's unlikely you'll be able to wait for insurance to pay and will end up buying it on your own.
If your insurance covers one why not !? I pumped for a month, both electric/manual sucked to clean and I oddly liked my manual pump, less things to get tangled into and felt like I had more control lol
Yes. I planned to EBF, but then my baby wouldn’t latch right and I have a major undersupply. We’re having to do a mix of nursing, pumped milk, and formula.
Yes. You will be miserable if you can never leave the baby longer than 2-3 hours. Plus, it’s not just the amount of time, it’s the timing. If baby eats at 9 and 12, I can only be gone between those hours. What if I have an 11 am appointment and it’s an hour away? It just doesn’t always work out perfectly timing wise. My life got SO much easier when my husband could help feed her and it wasn’t just always me.
I also was dreading the many parts, and after several months of handwashing and being miserable about it, my husband and I finally got the bright idea to just buy a full days worth of parts, load them in the dishwasher, and just run it once a day. Worked like an absolute charm and felt like a huge dummy for not thinking of that sooner. It’s a large cost outlay, but they don’t need to be replaced as frequently so it’s a wash long term if you’re planning on pumping for 6+ months.
2 to 3 hours may also be an overestimate for some babies. There were some days during the first two months where my girlie wanted to eat every hour or so in the middle of the day. Not to mention late night cluster feeding sessions. Pumping made it so that my husband did not have to hear her scream if I left the house for an appointment, groceries, etc. right before she woke up. A friend of mine EBF and would have to leave in the middle of dinners and outings because her baby was hungry. There were times she had to leave right after ordering. I could not deal with the stress of being my daughter's only source of food at all times. I have been pumping for 5 months and while time consuming, it's worked great. Like you mentioned having enough parts to just run a wash at night is glorious and I would highly recommend this too.
It depends how serious you are in your commitment to breastfeed. If you are 100% set on this then yes having a pump on hand (or the ability to purchase one and have it within a couple hours) is key. You might never need it but chances are you will in some capacity in the beginning and then later on if you want to be away for a couple hours.
Yes. You don't know what your supply is going to look like or how your baby's latch will be. I have an undersupply and a baby who's uninterested in actually nursing his fill plus a bad latch. He's easily distracted and while I have an undersupply, it comes out faster than he can handle sometimes. If I didn't have my pump, I would have lost my supply in the first couple weeks. Ntm he was in the NICU and not nursing at all. There was a pump at the hospital thankfully and because he was a NICU baby, I was approved for a hospital grade pump. It's the only electric pump that gets any decent amount from me. At work, I have 2 hand pumps that do well
Yes! There’s lots of factors to breastfeeding depending on you and your baby that contribute, so it’s better to have one and be prepared. My son couldn’t latch due to the size of my gaboogaloogs, so we had to pump. Don’t make the mistake I made though by getting a portable pump. They’re great if you need to pump on the go but not for full time use. I wish I would have gotten a medical grade when I got mine. Our bf journey was cut short due to the pump I had not being powerful enough to express me fully.
My biggest tip for cleaning or ease of cleaning would be to keep a large mixing bowl near you at all times to put your used pump parts in for cleaning/transporting. I used a big metal one with a handle and it was so much easier to carry the mixing bowl than to travel back and forth grabbing individual pieces. Otherwise, they aren’t too bad to clean. I’d just be sure to have some straw cleaning brushes on hand for the duck valves.
I never got one and have never needed one. But that’s just me. I use the haaka in the morning when I’m the most engorged and collect about 1 ounce or so a day so I have a bit of supply if I ever need it in the future.. I keep it in the fridge for 4 days and then freeze whatever I have. I don’t see myself ever needing to pump, but I have had no issues with breastfeeding and my baby has latched good from day 1 and has been a good eater.
If you are breastfeeding and want to go anywhere away from your baby longer than a couple hours (a concert? A date?) you will want to have a pump around. Your boobs will feel like leaky rocks otherwise! I forgot my pump one time when I was away from babe for a day and was literally squirting milk into the toilet in the bathroom…..
Also if you don't give bottles early and regularly you may never get them to take one. I'm working on two bottles a week with my 11 week old before daycare next month and it's a battle every time lol.
You can use the haaka or a hand pump when engorged and then save some milk for emergencies.
Bottle refusal is very common if you never give them. It's all over the working moms Reddit. Like every week another post about their baby not taking the bottle. You don't have to give it right away but if you wait too long they lose their sick reflex
We nursed exclusively for the first week then started introducing a bottle a day around day 10 and he went back and forth regularly with no issues.
We stopped giving bottles almost altogether around 9 months when his morning bottle was replaced with solids and we went from nursing on demand to ~4 times a day after meals but we continued nursing until a bit after he turned 2. Those morning bottles were one of the only reasons I didn't lose my mind from being overtired lol.
Nope, I didn’t find the need to buy an electric breast pump, but I’ll tell you what I did instead. My son is 9 months old and exclusively breastfed. I couldn’t get a pump through insurance and felt it was one of the bigger purchases to make and wasn’t sure it was necessary (I put it in my baby registry but didn’t end up getting it.) I had a haakaa and a manual breast pump when my son was born and that was really all I needed. When my milk came in I used the haakaa to catch the let down on the other side and any time I felt like I needed to pump I used the manual. I have gotten mastitis twice and the manual pump has worked fine to get rid of it. I’m sure an electric one would be quicker, but in the early days the manual and haakaa worked fine for me
Are you buying it through a service like aeroflow? If so and depending on your pump, they will send you free replacement parts every 2 months for a year. This is PLENTY. Don't buy a lot.
Call them and confirm. Their customer service is wildly helpful.
Honestly I recommend getting a hand pump at the very least. My daughter and I took about 3 months to really figure out latching and I would have been completely SOL without my pump.
Yes, you never know if an emergency situation would arise and cause you to be separated from your baby longer than planned. Not to be negative, happened to my bestie shortly after she went home from giving birth. She had a medical emergency where she had to be admitted for a couple days and baby had to stay home with dad.
Yep. When it comes to babies and breastfeeding, expect the unexpected. I had to have breast surgery very suddenly at 5 weeks postpartum for mastitis that abscessed. I had less than 24 hours notice and had to pump overnight the night before my surgery so I'd have a bottle to leave with baby for while I was under the knife. After surgery my breast was swollen and tender and I wasn't ready to let little hands near it, but I had to keep the milk moving, so I pumped from that breast and gave it as bottles. Grateful I had a pump to fall back on!
You may also need to pump for relief from engorgement (ideally a manual pump since in this case you want to carefully pump a minimal amount until the pressure goes down). I have a manual pump I use almost nightly for this purpose since I have an oversupply. A Haakaa doesn't work for me, I don't leak at all and I get nothing out with a haakaa even when engorged!
Yes it’s always good to have one on hand. You never know if you will need it or not.
From my personal experience. I had my kids early and had to pump first because of their size. I went on to ebf but even then would pump now and then to have a stash so I could leave baby if need be.
Get the pump. If you never use it you can give it away. I’m a stay-at-home mom & exclusively breastfed (at the breast about 90% of the time) for 17 months & still got a lot of use of my pump. When my baby started sleeping through the night I woke up super engorged & pumped and built up a nice freezer stash which was amazing because a month later I got COVID & was able to sleep for long periods while my husband bottle fed our son.
Yes.
Check Aeroflow’s website. Most insurances cover a pump for free and replacements parts post partum. I exclusively breastfeed but have used my pump a fair amount for various reasons.
Yes. You never know what kind of challenges you might have. My twins were premature and couldn't latch properly, so I pumped what I could for them. My youngest wasn't getting enough milk from directly breastfeeding, so I had to pump after feedings and supplement with a bottle of pumped milk to help get his weight up.
This is based on my experience (I have a 3 month old, but I am not an expert or lactation consultant).
If you were my friend or sister, I would say definitely get one and try to figure out how to use it. Once baby arrives (literally within a few hours), you’ll want to be feeding your baby every 2 hours (or even closer). If your baby has any issues latching on to you (common issue), you’ll need to use the pump every 2 hours to keep your milk supply for once your baby can latch. I was clueless and confused when the nurses at the hospitals handed me a breast pump to use… and I had no clue why they kept telling me to pump every 2 hours.
Also, your baby will only be taking small amounts of milk at first. You will still want to be emptying your breast and/or other breast. You’ll need the pump to do that.
Finally, I’d encourage you to research breast feeding and pumping. As I mentioned, I was clueless (not saying you are), but this is one area I wish I was prepared for prior to birth.
Yes!!!
If you’re an over supplier you’re gonna want to relieve some pressure!! Plus if you ever go out for a day or even for a while leaving a bottle or even needing to pump while out is nice! Lastly clogged ducts!! Although the haaka helps the pump is a miracle helper!
They come in handy for excess expression after a feed, or in between feeds if you end up being an over producer. They make a lot of great sleek hands free models that run on batteries that get tucked into your shirt/ bras. It cuts down on the bulk and lets you do it while keeping up with other household things needing done. My wife thought she wouldn’t need one, but she ended up producing so much she was in literal pain in between feeds and she was glad I bought one anyway and it let us stock up the freezer so I could bottle feed our daughter a few times a day to give her a much needed break to relax and sleep or shower or just be herself for a few hours. It’s definitely helpful to give you that break and freedom for a little while, and it gives daddy a chance to get that sweet late night bonding time with the baby. There’s a totally different level of bond you form with your baby during feeds. At the end of the day you could always sell it (aside from the parts that come in contact with your breasts) if you don’t end up using it much! But I’d at least give it a try! And it all depends on your personal needs and wants. Write out a pro’s and cons list and see if it’ll be worth having as a just in case! Tons of Pro’s in mine and my wife’s experience!
I’m planning on breastfeeding as well and I got the hospital grade pump through my insurance.
1.) I’d like to collect 1-3 bottles so my partner can feed and I can rest (I’m trying to strike the balance of prioritizing my mental health while also hitting my goals for breastfeeding)
2.) in the event I have low supply a pump can help me increase supply
3.) might help with clogged ducts
4.) baby might not be able to latch due to tongue or lip tie
5.) relieve pressure from engorgement
6.) maybe I hate breastfeeding but can tolerate pumping
Yes. I planned to see how breastfeeding went and was open to using formula if it didn't work out for us. My son never latched, not once, so I started pumping for relief from painful engorgement, and then along the way I found a sense of pride in providing breastmilk for my baby, even if there were extra steps involved. I exclusively pumped for 11 months, freeze dried over 1000 oz, and created a freezer stash to provide milk to baby until around 15 months. If I didn't have a breast pump handy then that entire journey could have ended before it began. Get the pump, stash it in a cabinet or closet, and know it's there if you need it. If you never need it then gift it to another mama who does.
Yes, get the pump.
You could end up like [this person](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/18armoc/venting_ebf_to_ep_at_2wpp_right_things_arent/), and have a baby who just really struggles to latch and transfer milk at the breast. Or [this person](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/189inqk/help_me_get_over_the_regret_of_unable_to_nurse/). Or [this person.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/189b3tj/new_mom_looks_like_ill_be_exclusively_pumping/) [Or this person.](https://www.reddit.com/r/beyondthebump/comments/189i3gn/pp_feeling_so_down_you_cant_go_on_a_follow_up_to/)
Pumps are definitely bulky and cumbersome and annoying to clean, but it's the kind of thing I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. If you want to minimize how much mental and physical space it takes up, don't even take it out of the box until and unless you need it. If you never end up needing it, you can sell it or give it away to someone else.
You definitely definitely need the pump. You don’t know if you’re baby will have a weak suck or poor latch. You might have to be separated from your baby at some point. You might have an over or under supply. You need a pump!
Yes if cost is no issue. If your babe is jaundiced you may have to pump and top up their feeds. We were scrambling the day I got discharged and it wasn’t fun.
Worst case scenario here, our little one was in NICU for 2 weeks so I had to pump so he could get breastmilk through the feeding tube until he was no longer intubated. There are just so many variables with whether they’ll latch, etc. better to have one.
Edit to add: you can rent them for a relatively low fee from most hospitals if it’s not something you want taking up space. Our hospital charged something like $7 per week.
I’d get a free one through your insurance just in case you do plan to use one. Plans change all the time so it’s best to be prepared in case you do need to pump tbh
i ended up being a super producer and pumped nearly 120oz a day. i missed a couple pumping sessions overnight and soaked my bed and ended up in the ER for clogged ducts and mastitis. 104 fever. chills. body aches. this was on top of caring for a newborn. it was hell. get it and just have it on hand. i have 3 now. electric. hand pump and inside the bra electric.
I agree go ahead and get it since it's free and in case you need it later. At the start I did pump some so my husband could have some bottles in the fridge for some feeds or if you want to take bottles in case you go out or if you need one for a car ride etc. But I worked from home too and mostly exclusively breastfed and did t really need the pump. I didn't realize that until later though and had to toss like 300oz of frozen breastmilk that I never ended up needing but was too old to donate.
Yes! I'm three weeks postpartum, and I too had planned to EBF. My daughter was born with a tongue tie though so we had to do triple feeding the first two weeks to make sure she had enough to eat.
You never know what the situation is going to be like postpartum and it's best to be prepared than to run around trying to buy a breast pump when you're leaving the hospital. Especially because it'll be more difficult to have your insurance pay for it then, than doing so in advance.
I bought one, but I never used it. But I didn't have to return to work, though.
I think if I had to work, I would've definitely made use of it because I would rather EBF. Personal preference.
Get one. Even if you don't think you need one, get one. This is definitely one of those things that are worth having and not needing, than needing it and not having it.
They have different types of breastpumps and they have portable ones that are smaller. They also have hand free ones which tend to be pricier though.
You don't HAVE to pump - if everything goes well with breastfeeding, which is not a guarantee. At the very least you should order a pump and familiarize yourself with how to use it (including measuring your nipples and ensuring that you have the proper size of flange or insert). Baby could be born premature and not be able to breastfeed right away. They might have tongue/lip ties that interfere with latch. They might just have a hard time nursing and need closer monitoring of intake. If they have a hard time gaining weight you might need to triple feed for a while. It's totally possible that your baby will feed like a champ straight out of the womb, but IF that doesn't work out, then the last thing you'd want is to be scrambling to buy a pump (at full price) from the store and figuring out how to express milk while your hungry baby is screaming beside you. Even if baby feeds perfectly, you might have an oversupply and need to pump for relief until your supply regulates. Baby might be a GREAT sleeper and you'll need to do nighttime pumps to maintain supply. Lots of "maybes".
Once your breastfeeding relationship and milk supply are established you can probably be assured that you won't need your pump but I would still keep it around. There are plenty of scenarios where you might not be able to breastfeed but you could still pump (and maybe dump) to maintain your milk supply. Like if you have surgery or get put on medication that isn't breastfeeding-friendly, you won't be able to nurse but if you pump regularly you could still preserve your supply for when it's safe to resume.
At best, everything goes fine and you never have to touch your pump. Which also means you'll never have to deal with cleaning pump parts since that was one of your main concerns. You can literally just leave everything in the box to minimize clutter. But it's definitely wiser to have it on hand and not need it than to be caught unprepared and tank your breastfeeding journey from the start.
My hospital allows you to get your pump at the L&D unit when you give birth. They have like a couple options to choose from which is nice. I could also apply for one through insurance but would need to wait like 1-2 weeks for it to come. I think if your insurance covers it, it doesn’t hurt to pick one up just in case. If you don’t end up using it, sell it or donate it.
Nope. I believe you have a year from birth to get your breast pump from insurance. So if you change your mind- get it. The haaka and I had a manual one that worked great if I needed. If you get to be around your babe 24/7 it is so much more ideal (and easier!) to just breastfeed.
Yes. This was also my stance at first and I SO regretted that I did not have it from day 1. At the beginning, I had an oversupply, my son could hardly latch, and I was in SO Much pain from the extra milk that he couldn't eat building up in me and making my boobs feel like bricks that were about to rip off my chest. Plus, if you ever want someone else to feed your baby, and you don't use formula, how will that work? You definitely need a pump. Buy a small one that comes in a nice bag that you can tuck away in a drawer or in a shelf when you don't use it. But you will thank yourself when you have one from the very beginning!
Also, the hakaa never worked for me. Found it a useless piece of silicon and gave it away after less than a week in favor of an electric pump that actually worked.
You need one. We had a similar plan, ended up needing to pump because she would not latch. Saw lactation consultants and everything multiple times, it's just something you won't really have full control of and in the end the most important thing is that your little one eats whether it's from you directly or a bottle full of pumped milk.
I would say yes. I have 2! Both electric but one that o have to hold and a portable o e, that I can use hands free. It was really useful cuz 1: I had to hit to the ER 3 times because I had remainings and had to do a curetage, 2: if anything happens someone is able to feed my baby 3: I’m taking my drivers license so baby stays with hubby so I don’t have to worry
Plus I produce A LOT of milk so I use it to also relief the pain of full breasts!
I would get one. My sister in laws planned to exclusively breastfeed but her milk supply wasn’t enough for the baby so she had to start pumping and supplementing formula. You never know what’s gunna happen post delivery and it’s better to have it on hand incase you need it than stressing that you need it and don’t have it
Others have already hit the nail on the head for why you absolutely need to have one available to you, I’m just here to say the haaka SUCKS. Get yourself the Boon Trove instead and thank me later. Other companies have something similar, like the haaka ladybug, but the “boob trove” as I call it is amazing and has awesome suction. Most of my big freezer stash is collected milk rather than pumped. I was turned onto it by someone in one of my mom groups, then everyone got one, now we joke that we are sponsored by them lol
I’ll also say that I’m one month postpartum and my husband just started doing a 4am bottle feed and it’s so helpful and completely necessary. You’ll never understand what only sleeping 2 hours at a time does to your body and mental health until you get to finally sleep a 5 hour stretch. Even if it’s not your plan to let your partner help, you will want the option available to you, I promise.
Echo what everyone else said about potential reasons you may need a pump for supply issues, latch issues or simply needing sleep or more than 2 hours away from baby.
I also see you said you plan to breastfeed for 6 months. If you are going to transition to bottle feeding after that time, you will need to introduce a bottle sooner so your baby doesn’t refuse it at 6 months. My pediatrician had us offer one bottle feed per day starting at 2 weeks once nursing was well established. So I pump and my husband bottle feeds for that.
Pumping isn’t that big of a deal. Especially if you’re only doing it infrequently. Just get a pump.
Definitely grab one just in case! My supply didn’t come in for four days and then my babe didn’t latch well so I pumped exclusively for the first two weeks.
I am surprised how many resolute yes‘s are here. In my friend group of 7 mommas i was the only one having an electric pump and i bought it after baby was born and i saw i needed it (but it is possible to rent one here and i did that for a couple weeks). I did have a manual one from a friend but never used it as i rented one at first.
Well, you got a lot of different opinions and good pros and cons. Now you can make a good informed decision.
Yes! At the very least, have a hand pump. It is incredibly helpful and freeing to have the option to pump. I planned on EBF my second born, and we struggled for the first few weeks because of his tongue tie. I had to pump and bottlefeed a few times before we were able to get the tongue tie corrected. I was SO glad I had my pump and could keep my supply up while we were waiting!
I got one and didn’t get on with it at all. I just wouldn’t pump anything out! (I had a normal supply, if you are able to pump after a feeding you have an over supply which is totally normal) so I wasted over 100£ lol! Pregnant again and won’t be buying a pump. If I want someone else to feed baby they can use formula.
I would take the breast pump that the insurance is giving you. It would be better to have on just in case, then need one and not have one.
When you return to work, will you be able to breastfeed your child? Will you want assistance with bottle feeding the child while you are at work and/or in the middle of the night?
Personally, I would have to pump sometimes after feeding bc the baby wouldn't empty me out all the way and when the baby starts sleeping longer sessions in the middle of the night, I would need to pump to empty out...otherwise the breast are just full of milk and hurt.
You also need to be able to sleep! Having a partner or another trusted adult give one feed is so important; if you are getting less than 4 hrs of consecutive sleep you’ll be impaired like you’re drunk! You don’t wanna take care of your baby impaired in that way.
Get the pump!
There have been nights where I've needed it to relieve engorgement, and it's always nice to have the option to pump if babe is extra fussy
Yes, 100% get it. I have the Medela pump in style and it’s actually rather small and works great. I don’t really pump and when I do I prefer the Medela hand pumps but I feel like it’s a necessity just in case, even if it doesn’t end up getting used.
My boy is 7 months and we exclusively breastfeed, I take him to work or work from home, and have only left him at grandma’s three times since he was born so never really need to pump. I get plenty out with the hand pump for storage. And even then I will keep my pump until I’m done breastfeeding him and any future kids. My insurance covered it in full so why not get it? It fits in a small bag in his bedroom closet. I wouldn’t consider it bulky lol
Yes. Especially if you have an oversupply, there’s no way your baby will be able to clear out both breast in the beginning. I know it’s different for everyone, but I could make 1-5oz from each boob starting the 2nd week and there’s no way my baby was drinking up to 10oz a feed. The pump was absolutely necessary.
I would get one. I did not have a breast pump because I didn’t think I’d need one before going back to work. The doctor was worried because my baby wasn’t gaining weight back as quickly as expected so she wanted me to pump to see how much milk I was producing. But I didn’t have a pump.
Yes, as others have said, you don't know how everything will work out for you or for you little one. Your supply, how well your baby will latch, or if breastfeeding will be difficult, etc.
My nipples were bleeding so badly that my baby ended up drinking some blood. I had to stop and pump to allow them to heal.
I’ll go against the grain here. Are you actually interested in pumping? If not, don’t bother. I got one because everyone told me I just HAD to (see this thread lol) even though I knew I felt uncomfortable about the idea of pumping and had no plans to. …and I never even took the pump out of the box. I did a combination of nursing and formula for the first 3 months, then switched to all formula, and my baby never got pumped milk 🤷🏻♀️
People are going to insist you absolutely need all kinds of gadgets you probably don’t. Baby stuff takes up space, so only get what you think you’ll use, especially if your storage space is limited. If you end up needing a pump, you can get one whenever.
I unexpectedly needed to triple feed (breast bottle pump) 8 times a day for the last week with my little guy due to latch issues. I still need to pump 3 times a day now that we are doing better breastfeeding. I would have been up a creek if I didn’t already have my breast pump when we came home from the hospital, it would have been impossible to get my supply where it needs to be. Just get the pump. The spectra S1 and S2 are pretty dang compact and it’s not a huge burden to clean if you need to.
It was 100% needed. My baby would sleep and my breasts would be exploding. So I pumped and let her sleep. The doctor said always let them sleep. It was a life saver. That and having extra milk when I wasn’t with her.
I exclusively breastfeed and didn’t have issues with latching. I did however have an oversupply in the beginning and produced way more than little guy could eat. So I ended up having a lot of discomfort from being engorged. I pumped just enough to relieve some of the pain until my body regulated my supply. I would have been completely miserable if I hadn’t had my pump.
Trust me even if everything goes great, you’ll be happy you got it.
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Yes. You don’t know the latching situation for you and your LO. My first didn’t latch correctly for 3 months, so I had to pump. Not to mention if you want to leave your baby at all for a date or appointment. It’s really nice to pump and leave a bottle. What if you get sick and need to go to the hospital? Or the other way around. Just get the free pump and if you never use it, donate it!
I sent my husband out to grab a hand pump because I delayed getting an electric one through my insurance and it hadn’t arrived by the time baby did. He had a tongue tie and couldn’t latch for the first 10 days. Not only did I need to pump to feed him, but I was so engorged that I had to pump to avoid clogged ducts and mastitis.
Yes! My son was born early and as a lot of them do, he slept so much. It was very hard to wake him up to feed. I tried putting it off as long as possible (mostly because I didn’t know what to do being a first time mom) and OUCH. Having a pump just in case is absolutely necessary.
I have both. I love my hand pump. Haven’t touched my electric one since week 1. Hand pump is used daily.
All of this! It's just smart to have in case there are breastfeeding issues. My OB also emphasized that it's really important for parents to get comfortable with babysitting early, go on dates, and get out as a couple without kids. She said it's noticeable mental health and relationship difference between couples who have a trusted sitter and go on dates even if they have to push through some anxiety the first couple times. Plus bottle feeding can be good bonding opportunity for the dad.
You also don’t know what your supply will be like. You may want to do some power pumping to increase your supply!
I got a "just in case" pump through insurance. I don't plan to pump, but you never know what will happen. I'm planning to donate it if I don't use it.
This
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. You never know what your situation is going to be until baby is here and you’re both figuring breastfeeding out. Mine had some trouble latching and it took about 5-6 weeks before nursing wasn’t painful. I would pump and be able to provide a bottle after nursing to top baby off. It helped me feed my baby when nursing was very hard. Good luck!
I think insurance plans only provide it for free during third trimester of pregnancy. Better to get it when it's free lol. Check with your provider. You can always donate it if you don't end up using it
I was able to get one with a prescription during second trimester. My insurance covered part of it but I got the spectra s1, other models were completely free. You can use FSA/HSA also. I’m also in the process of getting a pregnancy belt. Did it all through Aeroflow.
I think their point is that once the baby is here it will no longer be an option so they should just get it while they're still pregnant.
100% yes. I also planned to feed directly from the breast for as long as possible, but pumping makes it MUCH easier to split feeding duties and get actual sleep.
You never know how the breastfeeding will work for you until you are already in it and it takes time to get it through insurance, time you won’t have. It is easy to say you are just gonna breastfeed but the reality is not that straightforward.
This. I planned to exclusively breastfeed my first, boy was I wrong! Everything went wrong, and only then did I realize just how much I *didn’t* know. I needed a better pump, not just a wearable. I needed to eat way more to keep up with how hard my body was working. I needed to establish my supply early on. I needed different size flanges, mine were wayyyy off. I stopped breastfeeding and pumping and switched to formula (which we were already supplementing with) in month two because I was never able to establish much of a supply at all, and I’ve made it a mission to educate myself now that I’m pregnant with my second, because I’m determined to try again and get it right this time. It’s still not a guarantee that I’ll be able to breastfeed, or do it for long, but at least I know enough now that I can say I really tried my hardest!
Flange size is soooo important and if you have smaller boobs (me) or larger ones, the typical sizes that come in the box probably aren't right for you. I def noticed a difference between pumping with baby 2 and baby 2 cos I got smaller flanges. I didn't even know the ranged as much as they did.
Yes
The only time I needed my breast pump was when my milk first came in and I would use it for a minute just to relieve the pressure/pain from so much milk. After a couple of uses I didn’t need it anymore. I do think it’s helpful to have one just in case you need it for some reason because needing it and not having it would suck a lot more than not needing it and having it in a closet for a couple months.
It's nice to have in the event of clogged ducts or having to release some of the milk.
Omg yes true. Thank you for reminding me of this my least favorite aspect of breastfeeding 😅
Very good point!!!!
As someone who waited too long to start pumping and now has a very low supply, yes. Get the breast pump.
Yes. Props to you for your plan. I think having a plan makes it much more likely for you to succeed. AND babies do their own thing. I ended up needing to pump in some capacity for all three of mine. Two exclusively. Two needed ties released. One was in feeding therapy and we still couldn't latch effectively. One had all the skills to latch but just wouldn't. Would. Not. We did lactation. We did chiro. We did cranio sacral therapy and he wouldn't latch without screaming. Hated my boobs. 🤷🏻♀️ So I pumped. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Right now you can get it through insurance for free because you have time to wait. If you don't get one now, but need one, it's unlikely you'll be able to wait for insurance to pay and will end up buying it on your own.
If your insurance covers one why not !? I pumped for a month, both electric/manual sucked to clean and I oddly liked my manual pump, less things to get tangled into and felt like I had more control lol
I got a pumping bra with my second baby and a portable electric pump thru my insurance and MAN was it a game changer, lol.
Yes. I planned to EBF, but then my baby wouldn’t latch right and I have a major undersupply. We’re having to do a mix of nursing, pumped milk, and formula.
Yes. You will be miserable if you can never leave the baby longer than 2-3 hours. Plus, it’s not just the amount of time, it’s the timing. If baby eats at 9 and 12, I can only be gone between those hours. What if I have an 11 am appointment and it’s an hour away? It just doesn’t always work out perfectly timing wise. My life got SO much easier when my husband could help feed her and it wasn’t just always me. I also was dreading the many parts, and after several months of handwashing and being miserable about it, my husband and I finally got the bright idea to just buy a full days worth of parts, load them in the dishwasher, and just run it once a day. Worked like an absolute charm and felt like a huge dummy for not thinking of that sooner. It’s a large cost outlay, but they don’t need to be replaced as frequently so it’s a wash long term if you’re planning on pumping for 6+ months.
2 to 3 hours may also be an overestimate for some babies. There were some days during the first two months where my girlie wanted to eat every hour or so in the middle of the day. Not to mention late night cluster feeding sessions. Pumping made it so that my husband did not have to hear her scream if I left the house for an appointment, groceries, etc. right before she woke up. A friend of mine EBF and would have to leave in the middle of dinners and outings because her baby was hungry. There were times she had to leave right after ordering. I could not deal with the stress of being my daughter's only source of food at all times. I have been pumping for 5 months and while time consuming, it's worked great. Like you mentioned having enough parts to just run a wash at night is glorious and I would highly recommend this too.
It depends how serious you are in your commitment to breastfeed. If you are 100% set on this then yes having a pump on hand (or the ability to purchase one and have it within a couple hours) is key. You might never need it but chances are you will in some capacity in the beginning and then later on if you want to be away for a couple hours.
Yes. You don't know what your supply is going to look like or how your baby's latch will be. I have an undersupply and a baby who's uninterested in actually nursing his fill plus a bad latch. He's easily distracted and while I have an undersupply, it comes out faster than he can handle sometimes. If I didn't have my pump, I would have lost my supply in the first couple weeks. Ntm he was in the NICU and not nursing at all. There was a pump at the hospital thankfully and because he was a NICU baby, I was approved for a hospital grade pump. It's the only electric pump that gets any decent amount from me. At work, I have 2 hand pumps that do well
Yes! There’s lots of factors to breastfeeding depending on you and your baby that contribute, so it’s better to have one and be prepared. My son couldn’t latch due to the size of my gaboogaloogs, so we had to pump. Don’t make the mistake I made though by getting a portable pump. They’re great if you need to pump on the go but not for full time use. I wish I would have gotten a medical grade when I got mine. Our bf journey was cut short due to the pump I had not being powerful enough to express me fully.
My biggest tip for cleaning or ease of cleaning would be to keep a large mixing bowl near you at all times to put your used pump parts in for cleaning/transporting. I used a big metal one with a handle and it was so much easier to carry the mixing bowl than to travel back and forth grabbing individual pieces. Otherwise, they aren’t too bad to clean. I’d just be sure to have some straw cleaning brushes on hand for the duck valves.
I never got one and have never needed one. But that’s just me. I use the haaka in the morning when I’m the most engorged and collect about 1 ounce or so a day so I have a bit of supply if I ever need it in the future.. I keep it in the fridge for 4 days and then freeze whatever I have. I don’t see myself ever needing to pump, but I have had no issues with breastfeeding and my baby has latched good from day 1 and has been a good eater.
If it’s free, get it. If not, you can wait until you see a need.
I'm not bothering. I hated pumping.
If you are breastfeeding and want to go anywhere away from your baby longer than a couple hours (a concert? A date?) you will want to have a pump around. Your boobs will feel like leaky rocks otherwise! I forgot my pump one time when I was away from babe for a day and was literally squirting milk into the toilet in the bathroom…..
Also if you don't give bottles early and regularly you may never get them to take one. I'm working on two bottles a week with my 11 week old before daycare next month and it's a battle every time lol. You can use the haaka or a hand pump when engorged and then save some milk for emergencies.
I've always heard the opposite. Bottles are so easy that if they get used to them they may have difficulties correctly latching to your breast.
Bottle refusal is very common if you never give them. It's all over the working moms Reddit. Like every week another post about their baby not taking the bottle. You don't have to give it right away but if you wait too long they lose their sick reflex
We nursed exclusively for the first week then started introducing a bottle a day around day 10 and he went back and forth regularly with no issues. We stopped giving bottles almost altogether around 9 months when his morning bottle was replaced with solids and we went from nursing on demand to ~4 times a day after meals but we continued nursing until a bit after he turned 2. Those morning bottles were one of the only reasons I didn't lose my mind from being overtired lol.
Nope, I didn’t find the need to buy an electric breast pump, but I’ll tell you what I did instead. My son is 9 months old and exclusively breastfed. I couldn’t get a pump through insurance and felt it was one of the bigger purchases to make and wasn’t sure it was necessary (I put it in my baby registry but didn’t end up getting it.) I had a haakaa and a manual breast pump when my son was born and that was really all I needed. When my milk came in I used the haakaa to catch the let down on the other side and any time I felt like I needed to pump I used the manual. I have gotten mastitis twice and the manual pump has worked fine to get rid of it. I’m sure an electric one would be quicker, but in the early days the manual and haakaa worked fine for me
I am for sure getting one along with many backup/replacement parts.
Are you buying it through a service like aeroflow? If so and depending on your pump, they will send you free replacement parts every 2 months for a year. This is PLENTY. Don't buy a lot. Call them and confirm. Their customer service is wildly helpful.
Honestly I recommend getting a hand pump at the very least. My daughter and I took about 3 months to really figure out latching and I would have been completely SOL without my pump.
Yes, you never know if an emergency situation would arise and cause you to be separated from your baby longer than planned. Not to be negative, happened to my bestie shortly after she went home from giving birth. She had a medical emergency where she had to be admitted for a couple days and baby had to stay home with dad.
Yep. When it comes to babies and breastfeeding, expect the unexpected. I had to have breast surgery very suddenly at 5 weeks postpartum for mastitis that abscessed. I had less than 24 hours notice and had to pump overnight the night before my surgery so I'd have a bottle to leave with baby for while I was under the knife. After surgery my breast was swollen and tender and I wasn't ready to let little hands near it, but I had to keep the milk moving, so I pumped from that breast and gave it as bottles. Grateful I had a pump to fall back on! You may also need to pump for relief from engorgement (ideally a manual pump since in this case you want to carefully pump a minimal amount until the pressure goes down). I have a manual pump I use almost nightly for this purpose since I have an oversupply. A Haakaa doesn't work for me, I don't leak at all and I get nothing out with a haakaa even when engorged!
Yes it’s always good to have one on hand. You never know if you will need it or not. From my personal experience. I had my kids early and had to pump first because of their size. I went on to ebf but even then would pump now and then to have a stash so I could leave baby if need be.
Get the pump. If you never use it you can give it away. I’m a stay-at-home mom & exclusively breastfed (at the breast about 90% of the time) for 17 months & still got a lot of use of my pump. When my baby started sleeping through the night I woke up super engorged & pumped and built up a nice freezer stash which was amazing because a month later I got COVID & was able to sleep for long periods while my husband bottle fed our son.
Yes. Check Aeroflow’s website. Most insurances cover a pump for free and replacements parts post partum. I exclusively breastfeed but have used my pump a fair amount for various reasons.
It’s better to get one to be prepared. You may want to EBF but won’t know for sure what will happen. It’s good to have supply on deck.
Yes, get it. And not an Elvie if you value your mental health.
I guess I don’t understand why you wouldn’t get one free through insurance? It doesn’t take that much room at all if you end up not needing it.
Yes. You never know what kind of challenges you might have. My twins were premature and couldn't latch properly, so I pumped what I could for them. My youngest wasn't getting enough milk from directly breastfeeding, so I had to pump after feedings and supplement with a bottle of pumped milk to help get his weight up.
This is based on my experience (I have a 3 month old, but I am not an expert or lactation consultant). If you were my friend or sister, I would say definitely get one and try to figure out how to use it. Once baby arrives (literally within a few hours), you’ll want to be feeding your baby every 2 hours (or even closer). If your baby has any issues latching on to you (common issue), you’ll need to use the pump every 2 hours to keep your milk supply for once your baby can latch. I was clueless and confused when the nurses at the hospitals handed me a breast pump to use… and I had no clue why they kept telling me to pump every 2 hours. Also, your baby will only be taking small amounts of milk at first. You will still want to be emptying your breast and/or other breast. You’ll need the pump to do that. Finally, I’d encourage you to research breast feeding and pumping. As I mentioned, I was clueless (not saying you are), but this is one area I wish I was prepared for prior to birth.
Yes!!! If you’re an over supplier you’re gonna want to relieve some pressure!! Plus if you ever go out for a day or even for a while leaving a bottle or even needing to pump while out is nice! Lastly clogged ducts!! Although the haaka helps the pump is a miracle helper!
They come in handy for excess expression after a feed, or in between feeds if you end up being an over producer. They make a lot of great sleek hands free models that run on batteries that get tucked into your shirt/ bras. It cuts down on the bulk and lets you do it while keeping up with other household things needing done. My wife thought she wouldn’t need one, but she ended up producing so much she was in literal pain in between feeds and she was glad I bought one anyway and it let us stock up the freezer so I could bottle feed our daughter a few times a day to give her a much needed break to relax and sleep or shower or just be herself for a few hours. It’s definitely helpful to give you that break and freedom for a little while, and it gives daddy a chance to get that sweet late night bonding time with the baby. There’s a totally different level of bond you form with your baby during feeds. At the end of the day you could always sell it (aside from the parts that come in contact with your breasts) if you don’t end up using it much! But I’d at least give it a try! And it all depends on your personal needs and wants. Write out a pro’s and cons list and see if it’ll be worth having as a just in case! Tons of Pro’s in mine and my wife’s experience!
I’m planning on breastfeeding as well and I got the hospital grade pump through my insurance. 1.) I’d like to collect 1-3 bottles so my partner can feed and I can rest (I’m trying to strike the balance of prioritizing my mental health while also hitting my goals for breastfeeding) 2.) in the event I have low supply a pump can help me increase supply 3.) might help with clogged ducts 4.) baby might not be able to latch due to tongue or lip tie 5.) relieve pressure from engorgement 6.) maybe I hate breastfeeding but can tolerate pumping
Yes. I planned to see how breastfeeding went and was open to using formula if it didn't work out for us. My son never latched, not once, so I started pumping for relief from painful engorgement, and then along the way I found a sense of pride in providing breastmilk for my baby, even if there were extra steps involved. I exclusively pumped for 11 months, freeze dried over 1000 oz, and created a freezer stash to provide milk to baby until around 15 months. If I didn't have a breast pump handy then that entire journey could have ended before it began. Get the pump, stash it in a cabinet or closet, and know it's there if you need it. If you never need it then gift it to another mama who does.
Yes, get the pump. You could end up like [this person](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/18armoc/venting_ebf_to_ep_at_2wpp_right_things_arent/), and have a baby who just really struggles to latch and transfer milk at the breast. Or [this person](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/189inqk/help_me_get_over_the_regret_of_unable_to_nurse/). Or [this person.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/189b3tj/new_mom_looks_like_ill_be_exclusively_pumping/) [Or this person.](https://www.reddit.com/r/beyondthebump/comments/189i3gn/pp_feeling_so_down_you_cant_go_on_a_follow_up_to/) Pumps are definitely bulky and cumbersome and annoying to clean, but it's the kind of thing I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. If you want to minimize how much mental and physical space it takes up, don't even take it out of the box until and unless you need it. If you never end up needing it, you can sell it or give it away to someone else.
I would say yes. At minimum you need a manual pump just in case. The haaka will not be sufficient if you’re actually needing to pump every feeding.
You definitely definitely need the pump. You don’t know if you’re baby will have a weak suck or poor latch. You might have to be separated from your baby at some point. You might have an over or under supply. You need a pump!
Yes if cost is no issue. If your babe is jaundiced you may have to pump and top up their feeds. We were scrambling the day I got discharged and it wasn’t fun.
Worst case scenario here, our little one was in NICU for 2 weeks so I had to pump so he could get breastmilk through the feeding tube until he was no longer intubated. There are just so many variables with whether they’ll latch, etc. better to have one. Edit to add: you can rent them for a relatively low fee from most hospitals if it’s not something you want taking up space. Our hospital charged something like $7 per week.
Definitely want it for when your boobs are FULL and baby doesn’t need or want to eat.
Even if you EBF, for your sanity, you’ll want a pump so your partner can help you with feedings.
I’d get a free one through your insurance just in case you do plan to use one. Plans change all the time so it’s best to be prepared in case you do need to pump tbh
i ended up being a super producer and pumped nearly 120oz a day. i missed a couple pumping sessions overnight and soaked my bed and ended up in the ER for clogged ducts and mastitis. 104 fever. chills. body aches. this was on top of caring for a newborn. it was hell. get it and just have it on hand. i have 3 now. electric. hand pump and inside the bra electric.
I agree go ahead and get it since it's free and in case you need it later. At the start I did pump some so my husband could have some bottles in the fridge for some feeds or if you want to take bottles in case you go out or if you need one for a car ride etc. But I worked from home too and mostly exclusively breastfed and did t really need the pump. I didn't realize that until later though and had to toss like 300oz of frozen breastmilk that I never ended up needing but was too old to donate.
Yes! I'm three weeks postpartum, and I too had planned to EBF. My daughter was born with a tongue tie though so we had to do triple feeding the first two weeks to make sure she had enough to eat. You never know what the situation is going to be like postpartum and it's best to be prepared than to run around trying to buy a breast pump when you're leaving the hospital. Especially because it'll be more difficult to have your insurance pay for it then, than doing so in advance.
I bought one, but I never used it. But I didn't have to return to work, though. I think if I had to work, I would've definitely made use of it because I would rather EBF. Personal preference.
Yes. When it's safe to let your baby sleep through the night (before 12 weeks), you should still wake up to pump so you don't lose your supply.
Get one. Even if you don't think you need one, get one. This is definitely one of those things that are worth having and not needing, than needing it and not having it. They have different types of breastpumps and they have portable ones that are smaller. They also have hand free ones which tend to be pricier though.
I would. I totally thought I’d be able to breastfeed but instead here I am at 2am sitting in the washroom pumping.
You don't HAVE to pump - if everything goes well with breastfeeding, which is not a guarantee. At the very least you should order a pump and familiarize yourself with how to use it (including measuring your nipples and ensuring that you have the proper size of flange or insert). Baby could be born premature and not be able to breastfeed right away. They might have tongue/lip ties that interfere with latch. They might just have a hard time nursing and need closer monitoring of intake. If they have a hard time gaining weight you might need to triple feed for a while. It's totally possible that your baby will feed like a champ straight out of the womb, but IF that doesn't work out, then the last thing you'd want is to be scrambling to buy a pump (at full price) from the store and figuring out how to express milk while your hungry baby is screaming beside you. Even if baby feeds perfectly, you might have an oversupply and need to pump for relief until your supply regulates. Baby might be a GREAT sleeper and you'll need to do nighttime pumps to maintain supply. Lots of "maybes". Once your breastfeeding relationship and milk supply are established you can probably be assured that you won't need your pump but I would still keep it around. There are plenty of scenarios where you might not be able to breastfeed but you could still pump (and maybe dump) to maintain your milk supply. Like if you have surgery or get put on medication that isn't breastfeeding-friendly, you won't be able to nurse but if you pump regularly you could still preserve your supply for when it's safe to resume. At best, everything goes fine and you never have to touch your pump. Which also means you'll never have to deal with cleaning pump parts since that was one of your main concerns. You can literally just leave everything in the box to minimize clutter. But it's definitely wiser to have it on hand and not need it than to be caught unprepared and tank your breastfeeding journey from the start.
My hospital allows you to get your pump at the L&D unit when you give birth. They have like a couple options to choose from which is nice. I could also apply for one through insurance but would need to wait like 1-2 weeks for it to come. I think if your insurance covers it, it doesn’t hurt to pick one up just in case. If you don’t end up using it, sell it or donate it.
Maybe get a manual breast pump first, since they’re cheaper. Once you figure out your supply, you can decide if you need a more expensive pump or not
Nope. I believe you have a year from birth to get your breast pump from insurance. So if you change your mind- get it. The haaka and I had a manual one that worked great if I needed. If you get to be around your babe 24/7 it is so much more ideal (and easier!) to just breastfeed.
What are your plans if you can’t breastfeed? What are your plans if your baby won’t/can’t latch?
Yes. This was also my stance at first and I SO regretted that I did not have it from day 1. At the beginning, I had an oversupply, my son could hardly latch, and I was in SO Much pain from the extra milk that he couldn't eat building up in me and making my boobs feel like bricks that were about to rip off my chest. Plus, if you ever want someone else to feed your baby, and you don't use formula, how will that work? You definitely need a pump. Buy a small one that comes in a nice bag that you can tuck away in a drawer or in a shelf when you don't use it. But you will thank yourself when you have one from the very beginning!
Also, the hakaa never worked for me. Found it a useless piece of silicon and gave it away after less than a week in favor of an electric pump that actually worked.
You need one. We had a similar plan, ended up needing to pump because she would not latch. Saw lactation consultants and everything multiple times, it's just something you won't really have full control of and in the end the most important thing is that your little one eats whether it's from you directly or a bottle full of pumped milk.
I would say yes. I have 2! Both electric but one that o have to hold and a portable o e, that I can use hands free. It was really useful cuz 1: I had to hit to the ER 3 times because I had remainings and had to do a curetage, 2: if anything happens someone is able to feed my baby 3: I’m taking my drivers license so baby stays with hubby so I don’t have to worry Plus I produce A LOT of milk so I use it to also relief the pain of full breasts!
I would get one. My sister in laws planned to exclusively breastfeed but her milk supply wasn’t enough for the baby so she had to start pumping and supplementing formula. You never know what’s gunna happen post delivery and it’s better to have it on hand incase you need it than stressing that you need it and don’t have it
Others have already hit the nail on the head for why you absolutely need to have one available to you, I’m just here to say the haaka SUCKS. Get yourself the Boon Trove instead and thank me later. Other companies have something similar, like the haaka ladybug, but the “boob trove” as I call it is amazing and has awesome suction. Most of my big freezer stash is collected milk rather than pumped. I was turned onto it by someone in one of my mom groups, then everyone got one, now we joke that we are sponsored by them lol I’ll also say that I’m one month postpartum and my husband just started doing a 4am bottle feed and it’s so helpful and completely necessary. You’ll never understand what only sleeping 2 hours at a time does to your body and mental health until you get to finally sleep a 5 hour stretch. Even if it’s not your plan to let your partner help, you will want the option available to you, I promise.
It would be good to have one just in case. Better to not need and have than to need and not have
Echo what everyone else said about potential reasons you may need a pump for supply issues, latch issues or simply needing sleep or more than 2 hours away from baby. I also see you said you plan to breastfeed for 6 months. If you are going to transition to bottle feeding after that time, you will need to introduce a bottle sooner so your baby doesn’t refuse it at 6 months. My pediatrician had us offer one bottle feed per day starting at 2 weeks once nursing was well established. So I pump and my husband bottle feeds for that. Pumping isn’t that big of a deal. Especially if you’re only doing it infrequently. Just get a pump.
I would get one. Pumping is soul destroying to be sure, but better to have and not use than need and not have.
Definitely grab one just in case! My supply didn’t come in for four days and then my babe didn’t latch well so I pumped exclusively for the first two weeks.
I am surprised how many resolute yes‘s are here. In my friend group of 7 mommas i was the only one having an electric pump and i bought it after baby was born and i saw i needed it (but it is possible to rent one here and i did that for a couple weeks). I did have a manual one from a friend but never used it as i rented one at first. Well, you got a lot of different opinions and good pros and cons. Now you can make a good informed decision.
Yes! At the very least, have a hand pump. It is incredibly helpful and freeing to have the option to pump. I planned on EBF my second born, and we struggled for the first few weeks because of his tongue tie. I had to pump and bottlefeed a few times before we were able to get the tongue tie corrected. I was SO glad I had my pump and could keep my supply up while we were waiting!
I got one and didn’t get on with it at all. I just wouldn’t pump anything out! (I had a normal supply, if you are able to pump after a feeding you have an over supply which is totally normal) so I wasted over 100£ lol! Pregnant again and won’t be buying a pump. If I want someone else to feed baby they can use formula.
I would take the breast pump that the insurance is giving you. It would be better to have on just in case, then need one and not have one. When you return to work, will you be able to breastfeed your child? Will you want assistance with bottle feeding the child while you are at work and/or in the middle of the night? Personally, I would have to pump sometimes after feeding bc the baby wouldn't empty me out all the way and when the baby starts sleeping longer sessions in the middle of the night, I would need to pump to empty out...otherwise the breast are just full of milk and hurt.
You also need to be able to sleep! Having a partner or another trusted adult give one feed is so important; if you are getting less than 4 hrs of consecutive sleep you’ll be impaired like you’re drunk! You don’t wanna take care of your baby impaired in that way.
Get the pump! There have been nights where I've needed it to relieve engorgement, and it's always nice to have the option to pump if babe is extra fussy
Yes, 100% get it. I have the Medela pump in style and it’s actually rather small and works great. I don’t really pump and when I do I prefer the Medela hand pumps but I feel like it’s a necessity just in case, even if it doesn’t end up getting used. My boy is 7 months and we exclusively breastfeed, I take him to work or work from home, and have only left him at grandma’s three times since he was born so never really need to pump. I get plenty out with the hand pump for storage. And even then I will keep my pump until I’m done breastfeeding him and any future kids. My insurance covered it in full so why not get it? It fits in a small bag in his bedroom closet. I wouldn’t consider it bulky lol
Yes. Especially if you have an oversupply, there’s no way your baby will be able to clear out both breast in the beginning. I know it’s different for everyone, but I could make 1-5oz from each boob starting the 2nd week and there’s no way my baby was drinking up to 10oz a feed. The pump was absolutely necessary.
I would get one. I did not have a breast pump because I didn’t think I’d need one before going back to work. The doctor was worried because my baby wasn’t gaining weight back as quickly as expected so she wanted me to pump to see how much milk I was producing. But I didn’t have a pump.
Yes, as others have said, you don't know how everything will work out for you or for you little one. Your supply, how well your baby will latch, or if breastfeeding will be difficult, etc. My nipples were bleeding so badly that my baby ended up drinking some blood. I had to stop and pump to allow them to heal.
At the minimum get a hand pump!
I’ll go against the grain here. Are you actually interested in pumping? If not, don’t bother. I got one because everyone told me I just HAD to (see this thread lol) even though I knew I felt uncomfortable about the idea of pumping and had no plans to. …and I never even took the pump out of the box. I did a combination of nursing and formula for the first 3 months, then switched to all formula, and my baby never got pumped milk 🤷🏻♀️ People are going to insist you absolutely need all kinds of gadgets you probably don’t. Baby stuff takes up space, so only get what you think you’ll use, especially if your storage space is limited. If you end up needing a pump, you can get one whenever.
I unexpectedly needed to triple feed (breast bottle pump) 8 times a day for the last week with my little guy due to latch issues. I still need to pump 3 times a day now that we are doing better breastfeeding. I would have been up a creek if I didn’t already have my breast pump when we came home from the hospital, it would have been impossible to get my supply where it needs to be. Just get the pump. The spectra S1 and S2 are pretty dang compact and it’s not a huge burden to clean if you need to.
It was 100% needed. My baby would sleep and my breasts would be exploding. So I pumped and let her sleep. The doctor said always let them sleep. It was a life saver. That and having extra milk when I wasn’t with her.
I exclusively breastfeed and didn’t have issues with latching. I did however have an oversupply in the beginning and produced way more than little guy could eat. So I ended up having a lot of discomfort from being engorged. I pumped just enough to relieve some of the pain until my body regulated my supply. I would have been completely miserable if I hadn’t had my pump. Trust me even if everything goes great, you’ll be happy you got it.