Breastfeeding, Pumping. Need Advice.

Definitely the dual pump. I bought a Medela when I had my son and used it for a little over a year. Then 3 years later I used it for over a year with my daughter. It was great to have the double. But I worked full-time and pumped at work. Whenever I was home my children ate on one side and I pumped on the other. Maybe you can look into renting a double and see how much you use it.

I have three boys and my little girl is due in 9 days. I've bf and pumped with all of them. GET THE DOUBLE!!!! It's a time saver, two boobs with one pump session. You're gonna need all the help you can get!

Also, I don't know if you have insurance or not, but mine will cover the cost of a pump (mine is rental or buying new) if the dr writes a script and fills out a peice of paper explaining baby'd diagnosis and that you will have to pump due to NICU and/or surgery. Check with them!

I would recommend the dual. I have a single from my daughter and I still remember how much time I spent pumping. With 3 boys I can't imagine you will have a lot of free time.

You could always try renting a pump from the hospital (assuming yours rents?) and see which one works best for you before you buy one...

Good luck!

I would frankly get a good double electric pump because I found it easier to pump both sides at once. My sister said she spent a lot of time pumping for her NICU baby and I can't imagine spending 2x the time pumping if you don't have to. You have a lot on your plate. Ask your insurance if they will cover any rental or help you with the cost, especially since your baby will likely be in the NICU.

I also vote for seeing if you can rent from the hospital. Best of luck and health!!!

Definitely get a dual pump, hospital grade at least during the first few months. Those hands-free pumping bras are also a life saver! Good Luck!

Consider renting a hospital grade one to start - but whatever you do, keep your receipts! Breastpumps, supplies (parts, pads, etc) are all tax deductible now! You need to have the receipts to be able to claim them on your taxes. I'm not sure if pump rental is deductible or not - but it is worth looking into. It saved me a bundle!

And yes, the double pump is worth its weight in gold. I exclusively pumped for my first baby for almost a year with a Medela pump in style in 2006 and I can't imagine how tough it might have been with a single pump. With the baby in NICU, it would be best to be able to get a good milk supply well established and that is hard to do without a really good pump.

C.

I've had two NICU babies and I would try to rent the hospital grade Medela Symphony to get your supply established. Some insurances will cover the cost of the rental and some or all of the cost to buy one as well. You should give them a call to see what your options might be. I had a crappy single pump with my first baby and I was almost jumping for joy when it broke. I bought a Pump in Style for my most recent baby even though I stay at home and he is my last baby. It was totally worth the money in my opinion. GL

I second the idea of renting a pump from the hospital. Depending on how long you use it, it might not be worth the investment (unless you are having more babies in the future). Plus, they work great. A friend of mine rented one (she worked full time after baby and wanted to give bottles) and LOVED it. She literally pumped enough milk to give bottles for a year + (even though baby stopped nursing and only took bottles after 3 months) and even donated some to some charity that sent it to Africa :)

I would absolutely recommend a dual pump if you plan on using it often, and I am sure you will since your kid will be in NICU.

However, not all pumps are created equal, and while you loved Medela you may find that something else you like better.

I would recommend contacting the lactation consultant at your hospital to explore rental options -- then, if you are using something you like, you can buy it afterward.