do i need a breast pump?

[CinderToriella]

This may be a silly question but do i really need a breast pump?

i honestly dont think i will be away from bubs for the amount of months i plan on feeding her. but should i get one anyway?

I just dont want to spend the money on it if i wont get any good use out of it

[mbear]

Nah...i wouldnt. Ive breastfed all 4 of mine and didnt end up buying one. Wherever i was, bub was, so didnt see the need in getting one. Maybe wait until baby is a few weeks old....

[MantaRay]

I wouldn't worry about it. If you do need one later you can get it then. Lot of people who buy pumps "just in case" end up never using them!

[indie24]

I never used a breast pump for DD. If I ever needed to I just hand expressed enough milk for a feed if I was going to be away from her. It might have taken me a couple of attempts but I never felt the need to go to the expense of buying one.

[~Raven~]

Just wait till you need one I reccon.

Unless you see one for a super bargain sale price then nab it

[No.5]

I bought one whilst pregnant and its still sitting in the cupboard - I used it twice - it was a waste of money!

[Tiff+2]

I got given one when I was preg with DD thinking I'd never use it, but I got a LOT of use out of it! It saved me from crazy swollen boobs in the first few weeks before the boobs worked out supply and demand. I was never away from DD, but still used it heaps!!!

I am going against the grain here but I completely recommend having one on hand! I have lent mine to my aunty and talked to several people who have had to quickly pop down the shop and buy one in desperation and (what felt to be) boobs about to explode!! I know that sounds stupid, but you really have no idea how much milk you will make until the time comes.

Also you could be completely the opposite and not have much milk at all, in which case after bubby feeds you start pumping away (as they're already been emptied) in order to encourage a larger milk supply.

It is something you could just wait and see, but I was so releived I had it on hand. Best gift I was bought!

[Stevie]

i didnt buy one, but had some problems while bfing (oversupply) so i had to express for comfort, my best friend had a hand pump that she never used, and lent it to me, now i express every night (if i dont do it after the last feed of the day, i wake up with massive sore bbies) and that way i have a small supply if i need to leave her with someone (MIL or DH)
i wouldnt buy one incase u never find the use for one, and if you do end up needing one you can just go buy one.

[Bloom]

I'd say not to buy one but to find out where you get buy/borrow or hire one at late notice. You may well not need it, but if you do then you'll know where to get it. I ended up needing to hire one when DS was 6 days old as my milk had not come in yet and I needed to boost my supply. Trying to figure out where to get one and calling places for prices while sleep deprived and crazy with hormones isn't fun...

[*EJ*]

I would say wait and see if you have the need for it once baby arrives. I had one given to me which was great because i did get more use out of it than i realised i would. But that could have been because of the fact that it was there. If you don't have one you'll get by in other ways.

[Fleur]

I'd say not to buy one but to find out where you get buy/borrow or hire one at late notice.

:yeahthat: Exactly what I was going to say.

When DS2 was 4 days old, we made an emergency dash to the chemist; my milk was in & he couldn't attach. I had to express before I could feed him. Luckily they had one there so not too much of a drama.
With DD2 I bought a pump ahead of time, being prepared; but due to other issues we have ended up fulltime expressing. I never used the pump I originally bought but ended up with a different, 'super-dooper' pump.

So IMHO the best bet is to make sure you can get one at short notice if you need to, then wait & see ...
HTH

[Mummato2]

Also you could be completely the opposite and not have much milk at all, in which case after bubby feeds you start pumping away (as they're already been emptied) in order to encourage a larger milk supply.

It is something you could just wait and see, but I was so releived I had it on hand. Best gift I was bought!

:yeahthat:

I didn't have a huge supply so had to pump to encourage it.

I got caught out on a Sunday where the only place I could get one was a pharmacy - and boy did I end up paying $$$ for it!

[~Kim~]

Exactly what Ruth said.
I have 2 different experiences. With DD we had terrible feeding issues and I didn't have one. DH had to rush out and get one one Saturday afternoon just so we could feed the poor creature. I used it for a while then put it away. I then went back to work and it became invaulable. I have definitely had my money's worth.
With DS I have retireved it out of storage once, but I have never left him for more than an hour so have to say could really have done without it for him.
So short answer is no, I wouldn't get one before bub and just know where you can get one if you need it.