Help! Overwhelmed with bottles for pumping!!

[grapesoda]

I am due in 2 weeks and was completely overwhelmed by all of the bottle and b'feeding storage options out there!!
I will have a 4.5 maternity leave but of course will want to begin pumping earlier, and will want to introduce the bottle during that magic window of time that they were talking about in my b'feeding class. But I'm so confused on how to store/freeze, what bottles to use, and which nursing bras to use!!
1. I am pretty sure I am going to go with the Medela PIS (will be pumping at work) but am open to any suggestions regarding this.
2. I've heard Gerber storage bags are best so I bought a 25 pack of these. I want to use disposable bottles - now do these storage bags work with disposable/regular bottles and is there a particular brand of disposable bottles that you all like best?
3. I also noticed storage bottles next to the storage bags. Are these so that you can just put a nipple on right away and feed (why wouldn't you just b'feed?) or to throw in the fridge? Will I need these?
4. Another stupid question but how do you warm up a disposable bottle? Or can you? Would you just use a regular bottle?
5. Are there different kinds of nipples for regular and disposable bottles?
6. Should I count on using regular bottles from time to time for whatever reason, or is it normal to use disposable exclusively?
7. Any suggestions on nursing bras?
8. Nursing pads - how many should I get and do I get the light or medium or what?!?
9. Should my baby going to d/c have any bearing on what type of bottle to use?

I do know that its good to try a few different brands of bottles and nipples on the baby, and so far I have the Playtex nursing starter set, which comes with 4 different types of nipples and 2 sizes of bottles. I also have Avent storage bottles but in my mass confusion did not think to look at nipples for them.

Sorry for all the ignorant questions - I was actually feeling really good about my research on everything else... until I went bottle shopping. Any advice would be much appreciated by this suddenly overwhelmed mom-to-be!!
Thanks so much for listening!!!!

[stillplayswithbarbies]

>1. I am pretty sure I am going to go with the Medela PIS
>(will be pumping at work) but am open to any suggestions
>regarding this.

I selected the Ameda Purely Yours because it weighs less and I wanted it to fit into my backpack that I already carry to work for my computer.

>2. I've heard Gerber storage bags are best so I bought a 25
>pack of these. I want to use disposable bottles - now do these
>storage bags work with disposable/regular bottles and is there
>a particular brand of disposable bottles that you all like
>best?

Yes they work fine with disposable bottles. I'm using the Playtex bottles with the silicone nipple.

You might want to look at http://www.pumpmate.com . This is what I am using because I can pump directly into them, freeze in them, and then just slip them right into the disposable bottles for feeding.

>3. I also noticed storage bottles next to the storage bags.
>Are these so that you can just put a nipple on right away and
>feed (why wouldn't you just b'feed?) or to throw in the
>fridge? Will I need these?

You can freeze the milk right in the bottles, then defrost and feed. I started out that way, but it got too expensive and I ran out of room in my freezer.

>4. Another stupid question but how do you warm up a
>disposable bottle? Or can you? Would you just use a regular
>bottle?

The same way you do a regular bottle, you just sit it in some warm water.

>5. Are there different kinds of nipples for regular and
>disposable bottles?

Yes. They are not interchangeable. The neck of the disposable bottle is wider. You will have to experiment to see which nipples your baby likes. You will want a nipple with a wide base so that baby has to open wide and latch on like he does the breast.

>6. Should I count on using regular bottles from time to time
>for whatever reason, or is it normal to use disposable
>exclusively?

It is okay to use just disposable. It's all I use.

>7. Any suggestions on nursing bras?

Bravado.

>8. Nursing pads - how many should I get and do I get the
>light or medium or what?!?

I like the Lansinoh brand. One box to start out with until you see how much you will leak. Most of the time at home I sat around braless and shirtless, so I only needed pads if I went out.

>9. Should my baby going to d/c have any bearing on what type
>of bottle to use?
>

Probably not. If the daycare tries to tell you what bottle to use, you should find another day care. It's up to the baby what kind of bottle they use. :)

>I do know that its good to try a few different brands of
>bottles and nipples on the baby, and so far I have the Playtex
>nursing starter set, which comes with 4 different types of
>nipples and 2 sizes of bottles. I also have Avent storage
>bottles but in my mass confusion did not think to look at
>nipples for them.
>

Try the cheaper one first, the Playtex. You have lots of types of nipples to try there before you try the more expensive Avent ones.

>Sorry for all the ignorant questions - I was actually feeling
>really good about my research on everything else... until I
>went bottle shopping. Any advice would be much appreciated by
>this suddenly overwhelmed mom-to-be!!
>Thanks so much for listening!!!!

No apology necessary, we have all been there. :)


...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[grapesoda]

Karen,

THANK YOU so much for your response!!! I know i had tons of questions and I really appreciate you taking the time to answer every single one!

And if anyone else out there has suggestions, i would LOVE to hear them! You don't have to answer every question =) I was hoping to get more responses so i'd love to hear from you all =)
Thanks a bunch!!
Jen

[KGoes]

I use the PIS and have been pleased, although there is no question that hauling it around with briefcase, etc. is more of a load.
I use Lansinoh bags for breast milk storage because you write on a tab, which is helpful when I forget to label the bag before I fill it.
I use Avent bottles/nipples, etc. I either pump directly into the Avent bottles (there is an Avent adapter for the PIS) so they are dc ready or directly into a storage bag attached to the horns with a twist tie. The bags so straight into the freezer. To use, I just heat them the way I would a bottle and then pour into a bottle.
I have both medela and bravado bras. Go with a good brand and then try them on. I bought one sports-type bravado bra for the hospital and then went up an entire size once my milk came in. That is not as much fun as it sounds. I was glad that I had not invested a lot in bras before DD arrived.
I use Lansinoh breast pads. I am one giant leak and have never been able to go braless/shirtless - even after just feeding or pumping - and Lansinoh is the best I have found in terms of comfort, discretion and leak prevention.
My local maternity store is extremely sympathetic to nursing mothers, and if there is one in the small town in which I live, there is bound to be one near you. Check with an LC at the hospital or the La Leche League. I started with the basics and then gradually expanded to products that were helpful to my needs. The owner introduced me to some convenient products like the Avent adapter, Medela quick clean antibacterial wipes and microwave sterilization bags that have made my BF while working life a lot easier.
You sound way more prepared than I was - you'll be fine!
Kelley
DD born 7/30/03

[stillplayswithbarbies]

If you store in the bags, be sure and lay them flat to freeze. They take up less room that way, and thaw faster, than if you just let them sit in a lump.

I love the sterilizer bags! I wash my parts every day in hot soapy water, but one day a week I use the bags to sterilize them. It's probably not necessary, but it makes me feel better, especially since I leave my parts at work.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[peanut4us]

StillPlayswithBarbies was pretty thorough, but I thought that I would throw in my 2 cents worth:

1. I have a Pump N Style with the backpack version (very handy). I like it a lot but I only use it at home because my company provides a private room for lactation and a hospital grade pump (Medela Lactina). Just a thought, but if you know anyone else at your company who is pumping, maybe you could rent a Lactina together. It's wonderful! You would each just need your own hygiene kit ($20).

2. I don't know a thing about disposable bottles. We have only ever used regular ones. I can tell you that Gerber bags are great and of all the "good" bags seem to be the cheapest. Hint: Make sure you always have an extra box of these in your pump bag. You'll be surprised at how quickly you go through them.

3. The storage bottles are what I pump directly into. I know that it is possible to pump into a bag, but I have no idea how that works. So at work, I pump into 2 bottles, then divy up into bag(s). And yes, if you ever needed to, you could just throw a nipple on it. In fact, when Sara was little, and I pumped at home, I didn't bother with bags to store milk since she ate it within a day, I just pumped into a bottle and threw it in the fridge until I needed it.

4. We warm up the milk still in the bag. It's super fast, especially if the bag was frozen. We just get out a pyrex baking bowl and fill it with warm water and throw the bag in. Come back in a few minutes, and voila!

5. I have found with regular bottles that you can mix and match. Sara's favorite nipples are the slowflow Evenflo nipples, but she likes Ventaire bottles (go figure?!). The only non-mix and match are the Avents because they are wide mouthed. I don't like them for this reason. Also, you can't pump into them with a Medela pump unless you buy an attachment doo-hinkey.

6. Actually, I don't know anyone who uses the disposable ;) So I don't know the answer to that one. I'm not sure if they make the disposables in the 4 ounce size. That size is very handy for the first several months because your baby isn't likey to eat more than that at a time.

7. I use Bravado nursing bras. I really like how they stretch but still support. My only beefs with them are these: 1) the elastic around your rib cage gets permanently folded, hence slightly uncomfortable, 2) The cup tends to stretch out pretty fast. washing makes it snap back for me, but I tend to "fall out" at night if it's time for a wash.

8. Nursing pads - Totally personal preference, but I HATED the Avent ones... they were rough on me and itchy, not soft on my newly chapped bazooms. I tried Johnson and they were much better, but hands down, the Lansinoh rocked, they actually cover your whole boob, so it's more discreet looking and they are super thin. That said, mercifully, I was never a big leaker, so I don't know how well they would work if you were a big leaker.

9. You could ask your day care. But I think that you are the mommy and you are paying them to do it your way. We were just going to use normal bottles before DH decided to stay home with Sara.

The only other thing I can think of is your "work pack". I probably take too much, but I thought i would tell you what pumping supplies I have with me everyday. I take a largish backpack (a standard LL Bean size) with the followign:

--1 small cooler with 2 ice packs (I found that one ice pack wouldn't keep all the milk cold all day)
--pump parts (horns, valves,etc... you will need your pump too if you don't leave one at work)
--gerber bags
--antibacterial wipes (I have to touch 5 door handles between my office and the lactation room, yuck!) They are also handy for spills.
--a bag with 4-6 clean 4 ounce bottles (depending if I am planning on pumping 2 or 3 times that day)
--a large squre tupperware that can fit up to 6 4-ounce bottles. I put the dirty bottles in there with a piece of paper towel, which controls the smell when you open it at the end of the day
--paper towels for cleaning me off when I'm done and for drying my pump parts after I wash them
--little bowl for holding/washing dirty pump parts (I found the little bowl they gave me at the hospital for Sara's sponge baths works great)
--little container of dish detergent NOT antibacterial. My LC said not to use antibacterial soap on anything that would get into Sara's body.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but I thought it might be useful.

[RiaHannam]

Another idea---
I use the Avent Isis pump with the disposable bottle and Gerber Seal & Go liners. I pump right into them, freeze then defrost and feed in the same liner. I use the Avent disposable holder for it. You could also use a Playtex disposable bottles if you prefer.
I have no idea if you can get an adapter for a PIS or PY pump to pump into the Avent system though.
I'm not a regular pumper - only enough for an occasional evening out so I don't do this on a regular basis. I just wanted to throw out there what I do!
HTH!

Maria and Taggert (5/13)

[calebsmama03]

You sound very prepared and will be just fine! I agree with all of what Karen originally posted, with a few additions. I have a PIS (borrowed from a friend) but recently tried and am thinking of buying a Purely Yours for myself for several reasons - it is lighter and smaller, it can run on batteries without an expensive adapter kit, it is less expensive and it is a "closed system" so the tubing stays clean.
Right now I pump directly into my avent bottles but have used the gerber bags and they are by far the best - LOVE the zipper seal!
I also have Bravado bras but while they are VERY comfy I have several beefs with them - the band and stretch issue as Joey referred to (but they do shrink back and are as comfy as new after a wash). Also, they only come in cotton and if you prefer to wear more form-fitting clothes as I do, it tends to "cling" (eg: if I lift up my arm my shirt stays bunched up when I put my arm back down and I have to tug my shirt back into place - not sure if that makes sense or not!) and they are pretty huge style wise, so not good if you wear tank tops in the summer (they are all racer back/sports bra style). I would for sure get a few of them but also try some others. Honestly my fav right now is a cheapy from Target! I still have yet to find the perfect nursing bra.
I use washable bra pads but next time will probably use disposibles. The washables I've used (Avent, medela, gerber) all seem to leak through with even a little bit of leakage because there is no waterproof backing. I haven't used many disposible pads but I found Curity (hospital freebie) AWFUL - too bulky. Avent were OK. It really depends on your breast shape/size. I am small/average and prefer contoured ones. Don't stock up till you find some you really like. The good thing is that giving birth in winter - if you wear a lot of heavier shirts or sweaters - the pads won't show through as much as with lighter summer t-shirts!

Good luck, and congratulations!
Lynne
Mommy to Caleb 3/3/03

[votre_ami03]

I just returned to work last week & am using the Avent Isis (manual pump). I am planning to purchase the Ameda Purely Yours, but wanted to give pumping & working a chance first (it's working!).

I use Avent bottles & Gerber bags. I line my Avent bottle with a bag & pump directly into the bag, seal it & freeze it. The bags freeze quicker than the bottle. My mom warms up the bags/bottles by placing it in a cup of boiling water.

I never bought a nursing bra & still don't see the need for one.

I bought Avent disposable pads, heavy flow for the beginning & then I used Gerber light flow. I still leak now & again, but it's not bad.

Christy & baby Nolan 7/22/03