Do I bring...

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: My pump to the hospital? I forget. I know your milk doesn't come in for 3-5 days right? So isn't it important to use the pump to stimulate the breasts when baby is sleeping and not suckling? I remember the hospital providing a pump to get me going and to get any collustrum that I had, but I was wondering if it would be a good idea to just bring my own. We were in the hospital for 7 days last time, which could happen to us again, so I'm only wondering......

Pack it or leave it?? TIA

Jamison'smama replied: I don't think it's necessary to take yours--something else to pack. If you need a pump, the hospital grade pump is generally better. I used the hospital pump a little bit when the nurse insisted Jamison wasn't getting enough fluid.

PrairieMom replied: I would bring it. That way if you need it, it will be there, and if you don't, it can just sit in the corner, it won't hurt anything. I'm bringing mine.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: If I was going to be in the hospital that long, I would bring it ~ just because when my milk came in I had to pump a lot because I was so engorged. I don't remember - are you having a c-section, or is it just normal where you are to stay at the hospital for that many days?

If you aren't going to stay more than a couple days I wouldn't bring it - nursing the baby every couple hours or so should be enough to establish your milk supply... if you pump between feedings you might end up getting pretty sore.

amynicole21 replied: Leave it. Your milk probably won't come in before you leave and you also don't want to create an oversupply issue. Don't pump for the first few weeks if possible.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Hmmm, I was told to pump last time, right from the start, so I'm confused that some of you say not to pump for several weeks. I never got sore. Maybe they made me pump since Wil was so sleepy from the bili-lights and never woke to nurse. It was hard keeping him awake even when he was nursing, so maybe that's why they made me pump to keep things up.

I'm not having a C-section (hopefully not)...We were in the hospital 7 days last time because Wil was jaundiced (blood type incapadability) and his bili tests wouldn't go down. I didn't want to leave him, so both DH and I stayed the whole time. It was a nightmare at the time. I'm assuming Wesley will have the same problem since DH and Wil are both A's and I'm an O. So I'm preparing myself for the same problem.

Anyhow, I may call the LC at my ped and see what she says...but thanks for the advice!

luvmykids replied: FWIW, I didn't pump at all until I wanted to start using bottles.

mom2tripp replied: Rae--pumping from the start can cause your body to make an oversupply of milk--it's best just to let it come in and go from there--there's really no need for pumping right away, JMHO

holley79 replied: I was told by the nurse not to pump right away and the LC told me the same thing. They provided me with a hand pump just to kind of help with engorgement because Annika wasn't able to latch when I was so full. If you aren't having latch problems and stuff I wouldn't worry about taking the pump. It's just totally up to you though, KWIM?

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
This is the only reason I pumped ~ after my milk came in I could NOT get Roo to latch because I was too engorged. I'd pump a couple ounces out of each side before nursing him. It wasn't enough to make more of an over supply issue than I already had. But still, if you end up staying a week like you did with Wil, your milk might come in while you're there and so the pump might come in handy.

FWIW, Andrew was really sleepy and it was hard to keep him awake to nurse (and to get him to wake up to nurse in the first place) too, and I still ended up with an over supply.

I hope Wesley doesn't end up with bad jaundice. Andrew was mildly jaundiced - it wasn't that serious but they still made us stay a bit longer and he had to be in the bili bed... I hated not being able to hold him.

NEWMOM05 replied: I would say not to bring, because if you need one the hospital has one. It's just another thing to have to worry about packing.

ashtonsmama replied: I used the hospital's, and I think I'll do the same this time...but good question!

KingMom replied: I brought mine last time but left it in the car, no need to bring it in the hospital unless you need it.

I ended up using the one at the hospital and never needed to get mine out until after we got home.