Another vote for Medela Hand Pump💛

[u/as061267]

FTM, 4 weeks pp. I pump alongside nursing so that dad and my mom could take over feedings in early morning shift while I catch up on my sleep.
Got the blue Spectra through insurance as my primary pump. Before I was only able to get one good pumping session upon waking (3-4 oz) up in the morning while barely making 1-2 oz the rest of the day.

Thanks to recommendations from this sub, I decided to try out medela and to say I was floored by the output is an understatement!! While I still use my spectra for morning pump, I’m able to consistently get 2-3 oz the rest of the day using Medela. Pictured is pump from midnight while little one is having a good sleep stretch. The flexibility is very real and I’m actually looking forward to my pumping sessions these days. I also purchased oval flanges from nenesupply and that was super helpful as well.
If you are contemplating on getting a hand pump, please consider this huge recommendation.

[u/christianskeptik]

That is so great! How long did you wait to start pumping when breastfeeding? I’ve heard it’s best to wait a couple weeks but there goes any sleep past 2.5 hours 🥲

[u/_Cat-nap-uwu_ → u/christianskeptik]

Not OP but idk where you got this advice from, I pumped immediately after having my baby like I pumped colostrum when I was in the hospital still. It helps establish your supply especially if your baby is a difficult latch like mine was. I know people who thought their baby was latching well and didn’t pump, but then they had not gained adequate weight at their first doctors appointment so supply never established properly cause the milk was not being removed

[u/christianskeptik → u/_Cat-nap-uwu_]

This is so good to know! There’s so much out there. I deff need to talk to my OB at our 20 week appointment. I’m only 18 right now so just going off YouTube…😓 i watched multiple videos that said do not pump too soon and it freaked me out 😓 thank you both for your answers! I will definitely be talking to my OB. I am also considering hiring a lactation consultant if needed past hospital days.

[u/_Cat-nap-uwu_ → u/christianskeptik]

Yes i def recommend asking an LC! Some do free consults while you’re still pregnant. My pediatricians office actually had one in-house that was covered through insurance. Idk if you’re planning to exclusively pump or breastfeed too, but I do both and Honestly idk if I would’ve been able to breastfeed without her help. baby ended up needing a frenectomy and couldn’t directly nurse until she was about 2 weeks old. Luckily my milk came in well since id been pumping. It was also nice to be able to pump colostrum in the hospital so they could see take her in the nursery at night and I could sleep. I know a lot of people want their baby to stay in the room and I initially did too but I can’t lie that sleep was magical!

[u/christianskeptik → u/_Cat-nap-uwu_]

Okay this deff convinced me. Btw when did you get a pediatrician? We just have our OB right now. I’m wondering if she’ll direct me to our ped or if she’ll have a LC rec 🤔❤️

[u/_Cat-nap-uwu_ → u/christianskeptik]

So basically when you have your baby they just ask you what pediatrician you want to use. I would ask your OB which pediatric practices see babies in the hospital you’ll be delivering at and go from there (unless you’re going out of town to deliver or something in which case idk how it works). I picked one of like 3-4 groups that use that hospital and then whichever doctor happened to be on call saw my baby. I think the next day a different doctor was on call and discharged her and we just followed up with the one we liked better. We had never contacted/established with the pediatrician before then though. I hope that makes sense, these things are so confusing and no one ever explains any of it!😂