Pump helppp

How cheap are you looking? Manual sucks in my opinion. Vinted has sooo many electric ones for cheap. I have the elvie pump. You can get one for between 40 and 60 on vinted! It's a closed system so second hand is fine

I’d probably end up getting an electric one when I go back to work after 1 year but I just didn’t know if I’m ready to regularly pump yet so just wanted to try how the bottles would go etc. I heard good things about Elvie

I just use the medela harmony manual pump. I don’t pump often, usually to empty my breast last thing at night on the occasion baby hasn’t fed of it completely before bed. For this I feel it is perfect. I get aprox 2 oz in about 5 mins. I haven’t felt the need to buy an electric one yet. I have about 10 4 oz bags in the freezer just so I have a small stash just incase we need to do a bottle for any reason. From what I have read and from what my health visitor said is that max baby will likely drink of breast milk is 4 oz in one go so I just freeze in 4 oz. Honestly the pump is so easy to use and cheap, I wouldn’t bother with an electric one for your needs yet. I also had a Haakaa and honestly do not see the hype. I got hardly any milk from it, from my understanding they’re more designed to collect let down from the opposite breast whilst your feeding but I may be wrong there!

@Jodie thanks! Do you pump until you get 4oz at once then so can freeze that as one batch?

You can combine milk from separate days. I was advised by a lactation consultant just to pump one or two ounces a time if your aim is just to have a small stash so that your body doesn’t produce another full feed and then risk engorgement. She said if I want to pump 4oz consistently everyday to pump the 4 oz at the same time every day so it becomes an ‘extra feed’ but you may not get 4oz to start with. (I hope that make sense?) So I will pump 1-2oz (however much my breast gives that day) put it is a sterilised container at the back of the fridge and then pump again the next day and combine it. Then freeze it. You can have milk in the back of the fridge for 4 days before freezing it. So I build up to 4oz then freeze as long as it’s within 4days of the first lot of milk. I would definitely do your own research on safe milk storage etc as i don’t want to be giving you any wrong info but that’s what I have been doing. It’s sounds daunting and confusing but honestly it’s so simple ❤️

Where I live there is a brilliant breastfeeding group run by lactation consultants and they are so informative in all this so if there’s anything like that near you you should pop down. I’m sure they’re friendly and will be able to offer personalised advice

@Jodie ah that makes complete sense. I tried googling it but there’s sooo much advice. We do have free clinics here too so it’s worth me asking for extra advice there too. Thank you 😊😊

I’ve got a lanisoh electric pump second hand and I think it’s great. I was told, when looking for a pump, to get one that’s hospital grade as it’s more powerful. I also have a manual pump (again, second hand) but never use it as it just seems to take loads of effort and such a repetitive movement to get not that much milk. If you’re planning to get a stash, I’d recommend pumping first thing in the morning as that’s when you’ll likely have the most milk and then will have more to store for him. Also, just wanted to manage your expectations but it might be unlikely that your baby will accept milk from a bottle if you’ve EBF. I also breastfeed but have used the bottle loads with my little girl in the past but had a few weeks off and now she’s not accepting it at all after multiple attempts. I’m going to try an open cup or sippy cup instead. Hope that helps x

I have a Haakaa and a Medela electric pump. I use the Haakaa waaay more often. It’s convenient and hands free. Sometimes I use the pump on one side and the Haakaa on the other at the same time and I end up getting about the same amount. The Haakaa is more gentle on my nipples as well. It took some getting used to at first but I definitely recommend the Haakaa overall.

As far as building a stash I wear the Haakaa while she’s feeding and switch every time she switches. I usually get a couple ozs without scheduling an extra session for pumping.

I would stay away from Elvie. I got hardly any milk and lactation consultants told me to avoid hands-free pumps because they can cause mastitis (putting too much pressure on the boob). I use Medela and it’s so quick (it’s the symphony yellow one they use in hospital). You can rent it for £50 a month (expensive but so worth it because it saves me time) or they have other models too that are cheaper.