Breast pump - any suggestions?

[Barb Glare]

It's great that you are thinking about the ways your children can bond. But feeding doesn't need to be one. Feeding is the mother's job. Other people have given great idea. Your son can, above and beyond all, play with his brother or sister. Teach him some songs he can sing to his baby, get some little picture books he can show her. Ask him to get things for you and the baby. Pretty soon he'll be rewarded with his brother's or sister's smiles and laughter.
Consider going to an ABA breastfeeding class - worth it's weight in gold if you are serious about wanting to breastfeed.

[ladybirdflies]

I agree with Barb, go to a breast feeding class or a private lactation consultant if you can. Breastfeeding is more successful if you are supported by those around you, so talk to your partner about ways he can support you to sit on the couch or in bed and learn to feed.
When I had my last baby my girls were 8 and 6, I gave them time alone between feeds and sleep with the baby. Sometimes I took their clothes off and let them have skin on skin time, one day I was having a little peek and found miss 6 smelling the baby and touching her cooing at her and stroking her, that sacred time was such a beautiful time to watch from the doorway and allow them the space to be together!

[leesha]

I'm going to go against the grain here.... Background story is DS1 born with bilateral Cleft Lip and exclusively expressed breast milk fed thru a bottle for 9 months. DD was exclusively breast fed for 14 months and straight onto sippy cup..DS2 is 11 weeks old and has both.

Ds2 is 11 weeks old and breast fed. From week one I have expressed and he has a bottle at his bedtime feed which DH gives him. It has never interfered with breast feeding and has definately given DH a feeling of being active in the feeding process and gives him a feeling of being useful. There is other ways to do this I know but we all now how special feeding time is

Our DD was exclusively breast fed as I waited the recommended time before I introduced a bottle and she would never take it...I saw a difference in DH and DD's relationship compared to the other two who would have a bottle.

So I am all for the expressing and breast feeding combo!

Pumps depend on your need and I obviously needed a pump full time for DS1 so I have a double electric pump that is still going today I have never used a manual hand pump so I'm not sure as to what is best.
Go to the ABA website and they have a section on storing and handling breastmilk which is fantastic..I could write it all here but you are better off just going there for a read or print it off.....

Are you on facebook? A friend of mine runs an exclusive expressers page you could join. It is private and we are all there for advice and hints etc...we all have different expressing journeys.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do but I think it is lovely you are considering your daughters feelings and role in this new little persons life!

[Maruschke]

Are you on facebook? A friend of mine runs an exclusive expressers page you could join. It is private and we are all there for advice and hints etc...we all have different expressing journeys.

OT but...

I would love those details!