Do I need to have bottles on hand when baby is first born if I expect to breastfeed exclusively?

[Anonymous]

OP here -

Many thanks for all the words of wisdom. It's very helpful!

[Anonymous]

My two cents -- wait on all of it.

Do some research so you know what you want (go to the Breasfeeding Center's pumping class and get a good overview of pumping) and where to find it, but I'd hold off -- it's possible you may need a hospital grade pump and then you'll have to return the one you already bought.

Same with bottles.

My experience - my infant had to be supplemented with formula once in the hospital, and they send you home with premixed formula and nipples that fit on it (Sibley). At my doctors appointment the day after I got home, he wanted me to continue supplementing for a few days after each breastfeeding session (formula OR EBF). We swung by Target, bought the Medela PIS, and used the bottles that the formula had come in and the nipples from the hospital. After I stopped that a few days later, we held off on the bottles for a few weeks while we got BF well-established, and then I bought some bottles (Dr. Brown's).

I thought the Medela PIS was extremely easy to figure out and use. I was pumping two hours after I got home from Target.

[Anonymous]

I definitely recommend having a few bottles on hand. You never know how things will go. I came down with mastitis a week after delivery. It was very painful (not to mention the high fever and aches) -- anyway, even our lactation consultant recommended pumping. Luckily I had a pump on hand already as I definitely was not in shape to go get a pump or bottles. I will let you in on a little tip if you plan to deliver at Fairfax. Ask for a pump in your room right away. When they bring the electric pump, they will also bring you bag that contains brand new tubes, breastshields, bottles and a manual pump. Thoses supplies are yours to keep. I used the pump in the hospital for a little addition stimulation -- and pumped out a little collestrum (sp?) -- they give you a syringe to such it up out of the bottle and you can then squirt it into the babies mouth so none goes to waste. Best of luck!