Breast Pump Question

[mrose106]

I just found this sight today and I am so excited...I am 27wks pregnant and I have started looking at breast pumps...I have decided to breastfeed for the first year (I am a teacher) and I will be probably going back to work after 4wks (after she is born) due to may being the last month our students are in school until next aug..

I was told if i purchased a breast pump not to attempt to pump until after she is born. Any advice on breastfeeding is very welcome..Also what are some good foods to increase the milk production..
Also I would like some advice on what are some good breast pumps at a reasonable price ( I have decided not to go with a used breast pump out of safety to my baby and I would like one with warranty)....

thank you for your advice in advance...

[gsmolik]

Medela is definitely the best brand. They match how a baby sucks the best. I would not pump until after the baby is born and you go back to work, nurse as much as possible while you have the baby with you. Oatmeal works really really well to give you a good milk supply after the baby is born!

[BrandiJR]

I agree!

I have a medela pump in style and I love it! One thing, check with your insurance as they may pay for it...minus your copay. I only had to pay for $52 of mine, and it is a $300 + pump (not sure exactly). I also got a pump from WIC for free...not sure if you have a WIC or not.

As for increasing your milk, I found that a bowl of oatmeal every day helped me. There is a mother's milk tea and a couple herbs, but I am not into that stuff...Especially because one herb tea I was going to drink for a sore throat said do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless instructed by a doctor. Even though it was supposed to be "all natural". So I am not into that. But oatmeal did work for me!

And yes, wait until after the baby is born because you need to have the colostrum for the baby! If you start pumping now you will not have that when it is needed.

[Jmom1010]

Congrats on your choice to breast feed and to do your research now, I truly believe knowledge leads to sucess. Everything everyone told you is true. Also make sure you keep up your fluids and eat lots of healthy food. You will probably find that you are starving in the beginning and that is normal. My general rule to keep my supply good was if DS was nursing I was eating a little something and drinking some water, milk, etc. There are a few herbs that you can take to help your supply I'm sure you've seen fenugreek listed as well as blessed thisle. Please wait and see what your supply is before going crazy to bump it up. Most of the time a women over produces the first few weeks until the supply and demand dynamic works itself out. You'll know if your supply is good because there will be plenty of diapers to change. LOL

[gravel10]

I love my Medlea PIS but I have heard great things about thier new freestyle hands free pumping. I wish it had come out when I bought mine. good luck and congrats...

[Nipple_nectar]

Welcome to the boards and congrats on your pregnancy and your decision to BF!

Pumping/nipple stimulation in pregnancy can result in pre~term labor, so, pumping is definitely not recommended! I have a pump in style and love it! I agree that you should probably wait and see what kind of supply you will have before worrying about an increase.

A good book to read while you are waiting, would be The BFing book of answers by Dr. Jack Newman.

[jacksonsmommy]

I know the medela pis is the preferred brand, but I love my Lansinoh pump. When I purchased a pump, I wasn't even sure I would BF. I wanted too, but I wasn't totally commited to it. Thanks to my Lansinoh pump, this site, and all the support I got here I am still breastfeeding my LO. Congratulations on your decision to breast feed your LO.

[mrose106]

thank you for all the advise..My insurance will not cover a breast pump..I have heard great things about the medela, lansinoh and the other one that starts with an a...I am leaning toward a medela or a lansinoh.....as the lansinoh parts are easier to find around here....

all the advise is greatly appreciated.. :)...

[maksmom]

I will add that you should start pumping around a week before you go back to work, since you are going back so soon. It will give you time to get familiar with your pump and time to build up a stash, so the baby will have enough for the first day you are gone.

[juliekathleen2]

You might also consider renting a hospital-grade pump before you buy. That way, you can try several choices so you'll be sure that you find one you like for actual use, instead of finding one you think you'll like beforehand and then hating it once it's too late for a do-over!

[jacksonsmommy]

I know you don't hear too much about lansinoh pumps, but I absolutely love mine.

[pirate_queen]

I have a Medela Lactina Select that I LOVE...I found that it is very easy to get parts (tubing, etc).

[karmendariz]

Hi everyone. I just found this site today and I am hoping that some of yuou can give me some much needed help!! I have a 2 month old baby that I have been exclusively breastfeeding, and have found that I deffinately need to invest in a pump for traveling and when we are out places that I can not breast feed very easily.

I have been looking and it seems like I can get an Ameda purely yours double pump for a lot less than a Medela double pump. Does anyone know in comparison if the Medela is that much better that it would be worth investing more? I am a stay at home mom and will not be relying on it too much. I just need to find out if the Ameda is a really good pump as well.

Thanks so much, hope someone can help.

[dengera]

I would suggest that you look into WIC. I teach as well and my salary is so low that I qualify for WIC. I had an old Madela Pump in Style that died and the WIC program gave me a brand new one for free. What an awesome program!!

[karmendariz]

I think that my husband's salary probably would not qualify me for WIC

[dengera]

You may be surprised about the WIC qualifications. They are pretty high and based upon the number in your family. My DH works at a factory and we still barely qualify. I also have 6 children and that makes a difference.

Good luck with your pump choices.

I saw that someone asked about the Ameda Purely Yours. I had one of those years ago with my now 6 year old and "killed" it. It may be good for staying home and only using it sometimes, but for daily use, I would go for a Madela.

[suzabanana]

I have the Lansinoh, which is the SAME as the Ameda - EXACTLY the SAME, just branded differently. I LOVE my Lansinoh & my best friend who has the Ameda LOVES hers. I stay at home & pump twice a day & have never had a problem (my DD is almost 7 months old & never supplemented). My friend with the Ameda is back at work & pumps 3+ times a day & has been doing so since the birth of her 5 month old. She's building a stash for a 10 day vacation her & her DH are going on & leaving her DS with grandparents so we're talking 70 5oz bottles!!! She hasn't had a problem yet & was totally sold on Medela until I told her how great my pump was & she decided to try it out. Go get the Ameda/Lansinoh, some Lansinoh cream & if you can get thru the first 2-3 weeks, you'll be fine! Don't be hesitant to pump early on if you're painfully engorged, especially if you want to stash some away. Just don't pump until empty in the beginning. Also, the oatmeal suggestion is spot-on. This site is the only place I've found that mentioned it & it works fantastically well!!! Good luck & great choice in wanting to BF!

[Shaunsmom]

You may be surprised about the WIC qualifications. They are pretty high and based upon the number in your family. My DH works at a factory and we still barely qualify. I also have 6 children and that makes a difference.

Good luck with your pump choices.

I saw that someone asked about the Ameda Purely Yours. I had one of those years ago with my now 6 year old and "killed" it. It may be good for staying home and only using it sometimes, but for daily use, I would go for a Madela.

Don't get your hopes up too high on WIC for a free pump. Many WIC offices do things different for their clientele that are bfing. Some do not give out free pumps (heck, the pumps are nice but very expensive) at all.

I got my Ameda Purely Yours with our DS. He is 7 years old. That pump worked awesome with both our DS and now, DD. DD is 17 months old.

I did find that I need to change the valve pieces every so often. The power and suction have always worked EXCELLENT:)

I would recommend an Ameda over a Medela. It's more about personal choice and I wish you luck in finding one that meets your needs. An Ameda is comparable, if not better, than a Medela (course that's just my opinion). You can work full time and the Ameda will meet your full time pumping needs.