Should I Buy A Breast Pump?
If you are having a baby and planning on breastfeeding, you may want to consider buying a breast pump. The most valuable time to have a breast pump is generally in the first few days after having a baby. So if you’re going to invest in one, do so early.
Consider buying a breast pump if you’re planning on breastfeeding and…
- You’re going to go back to work.
- You want to be able to leave your infant for more than three hours (you could use formula for the baby, but your breasts will still need emptying).
- You ever have to have surgery (you will be advised to “pump and dump”).
- You’re going to have more than one child.
- Your baby is premature (premie babies often can’t feed initially).
- You have anything unusual about your anatomy that may make it hard for a baby to feed directly (inverted nipples, etc. – although, sometimes a nipple shield can help with some of those problems)
Features of a good pump.
I once went to a medical conference when I had a breastfeeding baby at home. I dutifully took my pump, but realized when I got there that I was missing a piece to make the pump work. After traveling for hours, I was dying. It was in the middle of the night and no baby stores were open. The only place open was a 24-hour Walgreens. I bought a cheap hand pump and resolved to hit a lactation store to get the missing piece the next morning. After 40 mins of hand squeezing the dumb pump, I only extracted a small fraction of the milk and my hand muscles were seriously cramped. Needless to say, the hand pump went in the hotel garbage. I learned a valuable lesion that day. When it comes to your boobs, buy the best. Words to live by. Nothing works better than a good, double-electric pump. Be prepared, they can be expensive. (However, some insurance plans are now covering them, so it may be worth asking your insurance company). I bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump. Although, I bought it 9 years ago, it’s still one of the best pumps on the market. I’ve used it 5+ times a day for over a thousand total days and it has always worked (that is, when I have all the pieces) without problems.
