Best pump for using at same time as breast feeding?

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place...I can't work out which group breast feeding posts should be on

If I were to feed the baby on one side and express on the other (I've got reasons for doing this), which would be the best pump to use?

Thanks for your advice

[phantomhairpuller]

I wouldn't do that personally. Your body will think you're feeding twins and consequently produce enough milk to meet that demand.

I'm no expert tho

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Would it really do that???? I guess it'd be better than not having enough supply lol

[phantomhairpuller]

That's what I was told when I had DS1, I used to feed him and then express from the other boob straight after. HV told me to stop and gave me that reason

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Lol I hadnt even thought about that!! Would be interested to hear what others think about it too (as well as some pump recommendations!)

[Woodifer]

Hi Boys! Sorry phantom I think thats bobbins!

I expressed from one side while feeding from the other as the let down reflex comes much easier when doing this. (It's also easier to express in the morning).

If you express (or feed) a lot at a particular time of day over a few days - you will start to produce more milk at that time. The more milk you take out in general - or try to (by feeding/expressing) the more you produce. When a baby has a growth spurt and needs more milk - they suck a bit more and after a day or so your supply increases.

Kellymom is a really good website about breastfeeding. "The food of love" is a really good book about breastfeeding (there's also a good la leche book friends recommend).

I had been given a medela mini electric - it's not the most amazing but did the job (and could also work on AA batteries when camping/ out and about). I'm 32 weeks with no. 2, This time around i'm considering buying a better electric one (while wishing I had last time to get 2 babies worth of value out of it IYSWIM).

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Thanks woodifer - how did you find the medela practically to use whilst baby was feeding? I'm trying to envision something electric I could just strap on one side and let get on with it whilst baby was on the other...but I'm not sure if it works like that???

[DoingTheSwanThing]

Unless you're pumping every time you feed, you'll not be "feeding twins". Supply and demand and all that
Ime while feeding is a great time to pump - efficient!
I like the medella swing - not much to get in the way of baby since the pump unit is physically separate. I use the neck cord and tuck funnel or bottle in my top and pump hands-free. Swing is almost 5 years old and still going strong... Pricey, but worth it.

[QTPie]

Can't recommend one, but agree with Woodifer about getting a good one. I had a Medela Swing (about £90) and it was "ok but not great": I would have liked something faster.

(I never fed and pumped at the same time. I expressed from 4 weeks old. I usually only pumped once a day 4am feed and then, when that was dropped at 12 weeks, the first feed of the day at 6/7am. DH would feed DS a bottle of expressed as I pumped: this was a quicker way to do that first feed - especially the night feed, much quicker for DH to ed and resettle as I pumped. I would pump more than one feed - so built up a reserve for that occasional afternoon cinema/shopping trip without baby :) )

Am currently doing IVF trying to conceive DC2. If we were lucky enough to conceive, I would look at a professional grade pump or possibly, at least to begin with, would look at hiring a hospital grade pump from the NCT or similar).

Is your baby born yet? Have you breastfed before? If not, I would definitely look at hiring before investing much in a pump. Breastfeeding is an uphill struggle for many (I was very lucky!) and doesn't work out for everyone: so you want to be sure before investing too much.

[PilchardsonToast]

I think it might be a bit tricky to feed and pump at the same time during the early days as until the baby gets a bit stronger you will need to support him. You can buy hands free pumps though that come with a bra type holder thing so you don't need to hold Them but I've never seem one in real life!

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Pilchards - I think that was what I was getting at...recommendations for hands free electric pumps that might work and which won't terrify baby with noise.

Interesting about the Medela Swing - does it come with a neck strap for hands free as standard? & is it v loud?

Can't remember who asked but yes I've bf before. Didn't like it at all but forced my way through (don't get me started, personal reasons not to do with pain or latching issues etc!) so the compromise this time is I'll express whilst feeding to allow DH to feed when I simply can't bare to & to slowly wean baby across to bottles only after I've done as many months as I can cope with!!!

[Woodifer]

I waited til after 6 weeks before introducing bottles of expressed (to help get right supply and demand established, and to try avoid baby deciding to opt for "easier" bottle option in preference to breast - use low flow teats to help try avoid this)

Anyway I just used cradle hold on one side and held the pump against me on the other.

Remember the amount you can express is not a direct indication of the amount your baby is getting - babies are much more efficient than a machine, and your body is geared up towards feeding a baby.

[Woodifer]

PS it may well be worth posting this in the breast/bottle feeding section - if she still posts tiktok is the font of all knowledge!

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Ahhh thank you - I can't seem to find the breast/bottle feeding section via the App??? How would I get mumsnet to move this post over there?

[Woodifer]

Tis under "Topics" then "feed the world"

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding

[DoingTheSwanThing]

Sorry, bit late checking back.
Re neck strap, yes, mine came with it. But I think it was intended for holding the pump unit rather than funnel! I changed to a different size of funnel (several sizes available direct from Medela) and that one had a hole that looked like it might be intended for the purpose... May not have been, but works great.
It's not exactly quiet, but certainly not intrusive and none of my three have been dusturbed by it humming down their ears. I think the noise level was pretty similar to the lactaline I briefly tried in hospital but significantly quieter than a Phillips one I tested via MN... Don't buy one of those, it broke!

[HadALittleFaithBaby]

I do this with my Philips avent pump. I bought a single pump and express from one side while feeding in the morning. I only express once a day and give that milk in a bottle in the evening. Therefore my supply/demand is consistent. There's no neck cord on it - you need to hold it in place to maintain the suction - but I support her with one hand and hold the pump in the other.