Bottles, Sterilisers, Breast Pumps?

I bought an Avent Breast pump set which included a small 125ml bottle which I got when I was pg. I also bought a few extra bigger bottles to have on hand as well even though I knew I was going to exclusively BF.

The pump came in handy when my milk came in and I had to express some off. It also came in handy to help boost my supply and when Jackson started dropping feeds to ease the pressure a bit.

As for the bottles, well for us they were a waste of time really cos Jackson refused to take a bottle until he was 9 months old. But it was still good to have on hand IYGWIM.

As for a steriliser, I didnt bother with a bought one, not worth the money IMO when you only use it for 6 months once a week (if you BF of course). I just boiled them in a pot for 5 minutes, which does the same job

I don't have a pump. The hospital loaned me one for first wee bit to help supply come in after dd had been in nicu. I personally would just wait and see.

I would wait too...

If you stay longer in hosp, you can always borrow their equipment.

I bought bottles and a steriliser just in case I couldn't BF (my mum and grandma never could) but never thought to get a breast pump!

I went and got one about 3 days after she was born as hospital recommended it but tbh I didn't need it!

It was handy for expressing though which I stopped doing after she was 1 month old because I didn't need too and I was comfortable breastfeeding out and about etc.

All in all it was a waste for me but not the end of the world, going to hold onto it for #2 again - just in case!

Yeah I wouldn't get carried away buying that stuff just yet. I was expressing from day 1 but only because our DD was prem and not feeding orally for 2 weeks. We started doing the bottle of EBM at around 8 weeks old. Before then I was just too busy/tired/unsure of everything I didn't want to add anything else to the mix. Although as Westiesgirl said it can be handy to help relieve the engorgement in those early days - but you can do it by hand as well.

I just used the steriliser tablets (since that's what they used in the NICU I thought they would be good enough for home). You can get them from the supermarket.

Just remember all these things you can get really easily from most baby shops, so you can play it by ear a bit, unless you're really short of money and needing to plan ahead.

Kellz wrote: I would wait. You shouldnt need anything other than your breast sto bf! Plus plenty of good healthy protein filled food, water and rest! I would get hold of a copy of the LLL book "The womanly art of Breast feeding" - most librarys will have it , and have a good read BEFORE you have baby, and if you have never watched someone bf, then find someone who you can watch - and /or attend a LLL mtg before baby is born- all things I wish I had done to prepare myself!

Totally utterly agree 100%.  You can always buy bottles etc later, it's not like they're going out of stock hehe. I wouldn't bother with a sterilser either. If you have water, a stove and a pot you're all good

I borrowed a pump from a friend and used it a few times before I bought one. Has been really handy as then someone else can give a bottle of EBM when you need a rest. Also it is really handy now as I mix EBM with fruit and veges for her meals.

I found my breast pump great but should have read the instructions and got it set up before I was so engorged at 3am one morning I had to express!!

I got the avent set too, with a little bottle which was enough for a month or 2 atleast. I never got a steriliser, just boiled on the stove or used a tablet.

HuntersMama wrote: I found my breast pump great but should have read the instructions and got it set up before I was so engorged at 3am one morning I had to express!! .

lol!!! That was me too, only I was pg and it was in the middle of the day

LLL = La Leche League Here is the web site

And this will help with the acronyms

Edited by WestiesGirl

When it comes to breast pumps the electric ones are very expensive.

Are the manual pumps any good? Are the electric pumps really the way to go? Anyone know of somewhere where they are a decent price?

I would definatly go for a new one rather than a second hand one.

Any tips or points when it comes to breast pumps will be great.

Thanks for the tips sugarbaby. I will definatly look into it. I just want the flexibility and if my milk is going to be anything like my first baby i had way to much to begin with. I wasted a load and if i can express the extra and store it. I think that would be great.

Anyone know how long breast milk can can freeze for?

Cheers all