Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Im registering and trying to decide on which pump/bottles/storage bags.

Im having twins so Ive decided that the double is necessary. I have no idea if it will be difficult for me but I assume I would go the electric route just for speed purposes especially once I go back to work.

Can you tell me what your system is?
do you pump into bottles or bags?
What pump do you use and why?
What bottles do you use with and without the pump and why?
Did you prefer drop ins?

As a side... My insurance does not cover pumps :(

Thanks in advance!

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Would you be up for renting? Some medical supply companies do this. Just another option. Some pumps on the market arent that expensive either. Medela and ameda tend tobe higher priced but evenflo which has decent reviews, is much lower, can be purchased at target. Also you can use coupons..Sorry cant help much with many of your questions, but ihope this helps a bit.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I exclusively pump (yes it's exhausting) so I bought myself an electric pump- medela pump in style. $250 at bru. But honestly you could prob just buy used and change out all the parts that come in contact with breastmilk. I went with the PIS bc it's all everyone talks about on here. I have no complaints.

I pump into whatever bottles I have on hand that fit the pump but only feed with dr Browns bottles. I then either refrigerate the milk or freeze it if fridge supply has built up. I use the Lansinoh freezer bags for this. I have yet to defrost one so I can't comment on any leakage or anything.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I had the medela double pump - not the freestyle, the model below that one (it's in a backpack). I had no issues with it - except that I just hated pumping. I preferred pumping into bottles at work because they seemed safer to commute home with (via the subway and LIRR). If DS was getting those bottles for the next day, I would simply put them in the fridge. Otherwise, I would transfer the bottles to the freezer bags and freeze. At home I varied - but generally I found it easier to pump into bottles.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I have the freestyle pump. I pumped when i went back to work,

For me, tandem breastfeeding was easiest and the twin breast friend was a must. I tried to BF exclusively but then my twins got juandice really bad and had to be admitted so i had to start supplements. for a while, i did give one a bottle, nurse the other, but after a while it was easier to swap every other feeding - so at 9 they would both nurse then at 12 they would both get a bottle then at 3 i would nurse both, This way was easiest on me. I could get out with my older son. After awhile i was almost exclusively Bfing except for one meal but when i went ack to work my supply dwindle i could only enough for one bottle a day for each.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I have twins also.

First, I rented a pump from the hospital for the first 2 months (this is when you're really establishing your supply.. plus babies were in NICU for 2 & 4 weeks so it was necessary).

I have the Medela Freestyle and love it. It's small, portable, hands-free... I can go on and on!

I pump into the bottles we got from the NICU. If your babies are in there, you'll get PLENTY! With my singleton, I pumped into the Medela bottles and stored the milk in Medela or Lansinoh bags.

For bottle-feeding, I just attach a nipple to the storage bottles. With my singleton, we tried a bunch of different bottles. Every baby is different, so you'll have to see which your babies like. We like Dr. Brown's, Breastflow and Born Free bottles... but the twins just use a nipple attached to the storage bottles from the NICU.

I don't tandem BF. It's too hard for me! I nurse separately. One baby nurses usually for 15 minutes one side, the other baby usually 10 minutes on the other side.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Thank you everyone!! i have some great options to consider. No matter what I register for, if I get it.. Ill hold on to the receipt. Im also going to schedule a meeting with an LC.. Im so nervous about not being able to do it.

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I breastfed my twins for 6 months.

The twin breastfriend pillow was the best! I called it my "little table" it made things so much easier.

I had the medela freestyle but also rented a hospital grade pump for the first month bc my twins were in the NICU for a bit.

You will find a system for you that works. I pumped alot. DS had issues with gas when he bf so for a while I bf dd and pumped for DS. Once he was older I could tandem nurse and it really wasn't that bad.

Good luck

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

I pumped for my DS when I went back to work for about 1-1/2 yrs. I used the old PIS. It was in a black carry case. It was a bit bulky and cumbersome to carry back and forth to work. I ended up leaving it at my office and then got a second pump- the swing pump. I really liked it because if was compact and electric. (I hate hand pumps.) When I started weaning off the pump, I used it to pump in the car at times. It was very discrete. By the time I was done, the motors had gone on both my pumps. But since I used them over a year, the warranties had expired.

For my DD, I have the Medela Free Style. I chose it because of its size. It's very similar to the swing pump, only it's a double. I also really like that it times the session length so I don't have to watch the clock. You can program it to trigger a second letdown, however, my body responds very well to the pump so I just press start and let it go.

During maternity leave, I started building a freezer stash by pumping one side while BFing on the other (1X a day). It was very easy. I used a hands free pumping tube top to keep it in place.

I pump into the medela bottles and carry them home from work that way. When I get home, I make up the bottles for daycare and separate the excess into freezer bags. (I use the Lansinoh bags.)

Regarding bottles- my DD really didn't want to take a bottle. We started by trying Tommy Tippy, Platex drop-ins and the Adiri Natural Nurser. She ended up taking the Born Free bottles.

I am presently working in the office from 9-2. I pump at 10:30 for 20 minutes and again at 1:30 for 10 or so minutes. I'm averaging about 12 oz for both sessions. (i.e. that's my total for the day) DD gets 2 bottles at DC. I've been leaving 3.5 oz bottles. We're upping them to 4 oz tomorrow. (I am calculating that she needs about 1.25 oz an hour based on how often we BF. I plan to stay at 4 oz.)

If your looking for good information of BFing and pumping, you should also check out the kellymom.com website.

GL

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Re: Please talk to me about your breastfeeding "system"

Posted by thiadora

I pumped for my DS when I went back to work for about 1-1/2 yrs. I used the old PIS. It was in a black carry case. It was a bit bulky and cumbersome to carry back and forth to work. I ended up leaving it at my office and then got a second pump- the swing pump. I really liked it because if was compact and electric. (I hate hand pumps.) When I started weaning off the pump, I used it to pump in the car at times. It was very discrete. By the time I was done, the motors had gone on both my pumps. But since I used them over a year, the warranties had expired.

For my DD, I have the Medela Free Style. I chose it because of its size. It's very similar to the swing pump, only it's a double. I also really like that it times the session length so I don't have to watch the clock. You can program it to trigger a second letdown, however, my body responds very well to the pump so I just press start and let it go.

During maternity leave, I started building a freezer stash by pumping one side while BFing on the other (1X a day). It was very easy. I used a hands free pumping tube top to keep it in place.

I pump into the medela bottles and carry them home from work that way. When I get home, I make up the bottles for daycare and separate the excess into freezer bags. (I use the Lansinoh bags.)

Regarding bottles- my DD really didn't want to take a bottle. We started by trying Tommy Tippy, Platex drop-ins and the Adiri Natural Nurser. She ended up taking the Born Free bottles.

I am presently working in the office from 9-2. I pump at 10:30 for 20 minutes and again at 1:30 for 10 or so minutes. I'm averaging about 12 oz for both sessions. (i.e. that's my total for the day) DD gets 2 bottles at DC. I've been leaving 3.5 oz bottles. We're upping them to 4 oz tomorrow. (I am calculating that she needs about 1.25 oz an hour based on how often we BF. I plan to stay at 4 oz.)

If your looking for good information of BFing and pumping, you should also check out the kellymom.com website.

GL