Breastfeeding moms - need your help

[MinMinn]

You are so generous to offer to buy this for her! I pumped for three babies using the Medela Pump-in-style. I found out on baby #3 that any old Gerber baby bottles fit on the pump, so if she needs more bottles you can get them really cheap at a drugstore or BabiesRUs -- or anywhere. Just those regular skinny Gerber plastic deals. I'd use those to pump into and then save the fresh milk for the next day of daycare. I only froze what I pumped on the last day of the week. It's best to use fresh milk for baby, but frozen is second best.

For saving milk in the freezer I really liked the plastic ziplock bags - I forget what brand - maybe Lansinoh - you can buy at CVS. They say in cute purple writing "My Mommy's Milk!" on the side. (so cute!)

So maybe buy the pump and some extra collection bottles (gerber) and some ziploc bags to get her started.

Good luck to her!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

For saving milk in the freezer I really liked the plastic ziplock bags - I forget what brand - maybe Lansinoh - you can buy at CVS. They say in cute purple writing "My Mommy's Milk!" on the side. (so cute!)

Yep, those are the Lansinoh bags. They are cheaper than the Medela bags, and they freeze flat, too, to take up less space.

 

[Belle2667]

Thanks for all the replies! I will have DDIL check her insurance. We have an added bonus in that she works for Babies R Us so she gets a nice discount (though I will check the competition just to compare prices!)

I love that some of those bags say "my mommy's milk" on them. How cute!

Again, thanks for your help. I was making myself crazy reading the amazon replies since I didn't really even know where to start.

 

[wilderness01]

We usually tell patients to rent a hospital grade pump at first to develop a nice supply and then you could switch to a Medela. We used to sell the pumps in the unit, but do not anymore. A hospital grade pump is stronger and needed by many of our patients to establish or keep up their supply for the first month. Congrats on the upcoming birth of your grandbaby.

 

[fairestoneofall]

i used a single pump with both of my kids and it was more than fine. however, i am a SAHM. if i'd been working, i would've definitely invested in a double pump.

with my DD, i actually would pump one side every morning and nurse her from the other side. it ended up working wonderfully and i always had milk available.

with my first, i had an electric pump (it was given to me by a friend who never used it). it broke though, so i ended up just getting a manual to finish up with DD. i used that with my second child. i much preferred the electric.

 

[VAfamily1998]

No, my insurance bought me a breast pump for my oldest child, who will be 17 in a few weeks.

It must depend on the insurance...I had babies in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2006 and my insurance (Tricare) would not pay anything towards a breast pump.

I was a stay at home mom, and only needed to pump for an "emergency supply" and the occasional time I as out and my mom or husband had the baby by themselves. I had a Avent Isis manual pump and for my needs, it was great. If I needed more frequent pumping, it would have been great to have a double electric pump. With my first, we had a lot of complications and we were separated most of the 1st couple weeks of his life. I was in the hospital and they let me use their hospital grade pump and was wonderful, but probably not necessary for anyone just doing occasional pumping.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Because of breastfeeding issues I ended up exclusively pumping with my youngest child. I made it to 7.5 months before we switched to formula.

I had the Medela double pump. It was absolutely fantastic, my only issue is that, at least at that time, when double pumping you had no hands free option which was an issue. To sit there for 20 minutes, every 3 hours with no free hands was a hassle. Can't talk on the phone, take care of baby, scratch an itch etc - lol

If there are good double pumps that offer some sort of hands free option, even if you can get one hand free, then I would definitely look into that.

 

[twinboysmom]

Meddle hands free model, don't remember what it's name is. Worth a little extra money.

 

[gatormom2tots]

Another vote for Medelia PIS

 

[cassiez76]

i had the playtex breast pump. it was awesome and didn't cost a lot. it fit all my bottles (i used the playtex drop ins) and it came with lids.

i didn't make enough milk to keep pumping and my psoriasis came back to where i couldn't nurse anymore, but it was a great pump and did a good job!

also you don't have to buy any extras and the milk never touched the tubing...which i found happened on most of the other pumps.

here's the link http://www.walmart.com/ip/Playtex-Petite-Double-Electric-Breast-Pump-BPA-Free/10817661?sourceid=1500000000000003260330&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10817661