Not exactly a question you'd expect from a guy

[sraun]

kosmickitten is about sixteen weeks along now. She's starting to think about dealing with a baby - they're doing baby registration, and she's pondering breast pumps. She thinks she'll be an occasional user - she's not working, and by the current schedule she'll be done with college. So, what she wants is the capability to leave enough milk with bernesemntdog, a sitter, or a relative, that the baby will do fine and she can go do something away-from-baby for a few hours. So, she's looking input. Electrical vs. manual. Any specific brand/model recommendations or dis-recommendations.

If you really want to write a monologue in comments here, go ahead and I'll forward it to her. If you'd like to have a dialogue with her, leave me contact info and I'll have her get back to you.

Comments

[mamabeast.livejournal.com]

i've sent this on to a friend who did the whole pump thing so hopefully she'll help

[mamabeast.livejournal.com]

NYWren (nywren) replied to a comment you left in a LiveJournal post
(http://nywren.livejournal.com/36640.html). The comment they replied to
was:

> http://sraun.livejournal.com/450630.html#cutid1

> can U help here?

Their reply was:

the best advice is to use an electric. hospital grade is the fastest but
can be uncomfortable until you get the settings right for you. The dual
breast ones are fun and quicker then the singles(also good) and you can
buy them at walmart/target/whereever. Not as quick as hospital but
getting your breats to letdown is easier.

I had a manual and until I learned the trick of the message forcing milk
letdown it was about worthless. Once I did though I kept one with me
because I was on the road so much and never knew if I would have electric
or not. It isn't so much strengh and patience as it is getting your body
to relax enough to work. Not something most people have the patience for.
Took me months of trying before I figured it out.

Make sure to pump as consistantly as possible because you body adjusts to
how much is being taken and frequency. If you baby lets go and you have
extra, I would pump it out so your body knows to keep making that amount
or more. So you are ready with extra when you need it. Just because you
pump it doesn;t mean you have to use it. You can toss it- you will make
more!

OH- IMPORTANT-

Lactation nurses can be very helpful but they can be milk nazi's as well
so take them with a grain or two of salt. Do NOT let them force you into
anything you don't feel up to but do talk to them about concerns. They
know more about it then most. Also talk to other Mom's.

My single biggest obstacle was stress and relaxing enough for my body to
letdown the milk. Find your happy place and relax and you will do fine.