As a teacher I don't think I could have planned my baby's spring arrival any better! He joined us 6 weeks before the end of the school year allowing me to extend my maternity leave through the summer.
I have been faithfully breastfeeding and am getting darn good at it-oops, I just squirted him in the eye as he let go to give me one of those full face smiles.
We have our little rhythm of nursing worked out and now the hard part is upon me, choosing a breast pump.
I fully intend on continuing to nourish my child with this liquid gold he loves so much, but feel a little overwhelmed when I discover just how many choices there are to choose from.
Some big things to consider when choosing a pump is how often you plan on expressing your milk and the size of your budget.
I know that I am going to be away all day as I'm going to back to work full time so I will need something that is efficient and speedy.
A breast pump that pumps from both breasts at the same time and is electric powered will work best for me.
Now for the price..
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WOW, these are expensive!!! Double breast electric pumps can run several hundred dollars, so be prepared for sticker shock! Renting is also an option through your local La Leche league, hospital, or pharmacy.
(A fair estimate of rental costs is one dollar to three dollars a day for a good quality model.
) But ask around before you decide: Friends or relatives may have a used pump to loan or sell you (though you'll want to buy your own accessory kit).
For stay at home moms that only need occasional pumping sessions (emergency freezer stash or an occasional evening out), a single electric or manual pump should do the trick.
Single electric models are considerably cheaper than a double electric, but do take twice as long to express the milk.
Battery operated pumps are also a much cheaper option, but they can burn through the batteries quickly and are much slower at accomplishing the task at hand.
Whatever pump you do end up choosing, suction control is a key feature to consider since some women are more sensitive to suction (ouch!) than others; also some women may need more vacuum power to get the milk to flow.
It is so important to start using your pump and offering your baby a bottle BEFORE you go back to work.
My son absolutely refuses a bottle now, but I know that I have at least 3 more weeks to work with him before I need to go back to work.
In fact, to minimize the chances of your baby refusing a bottle later on, it's best to introduce it as soon as your milk supply is well established.