IF you are on a tight budget, how to prioritize what to spend on to help breastfeeding...

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

So long story short, had to supplement ds, suspected IGT, pregnant with #2, and while we are not as in bad shape financially with this baby, there are certain things that i know i may have to go without.

So I am trying to determine what is the most important things to spend money on:

So far here is my thinking, chime in if you want:

Things I will spend money on:

replacement SNS tube:  these are only like 10-15$ each, I plan to just get one small one

some just in case cans of formula, i don't want to have to have dh go out picking out formula if our baby is hungry and not eliminating enough

Herbs: Goat's rue and shavatari pretty sure i plan to get these both, not sure about any others

commercial pump: ameda or medela

Things i am debating on spending money on:

lactation consultation visits, 140$ for first visit, and then something like 50$ thereafter, with ds, i couldn't even get LC's to take me seriously over the phone, so I am reluctant to shell out money for them to tell me what i already know. I think that that money could be better spent getting take out so i don't have to worry about feeding my family or getting someone to come do my laundry the first week or two! I won't have much of any help from family or friends...

Hospital grade pump rental: I haven't decided on this. I really want to try keeping the baby to the breast as much as possible and really just want the commercial pump for extra pumping following feedings or if she sleeps longer than i like. I did rent one with ds, but at that time he was already 12 weeks and i didn't feel it pumped more than the avent isis manual i had.

what do you all think? I am not a lactation consultant by any means, but i am an experienced breastfeeding mom, i know what signs to look for if the baby isn't swallowing, getting enough milk, and what to look for as far as lip tie etc. I am just feeling that the best thing for me and the soon to be baby is to get off to a good start, not be out at appointments and such and just staying home breastfeeding all the time.

Advice welcome

[myk]

well, i would not spend much money on "just in case" formula. too easy to turn to if the going gets tough.. unless your baby has special needs of some sort (like allergies) you should be able to just tell daddy exactly what formula you want IF the need arises. agree on it in advance, but having it already there can be a mixed blessing. i've got some "just in case" hypoallergenic formula at home because of a strong family history of allergies - if the need arises, there are only a few places where i can get it (and those places don't have great hours), so i went ahead. i also think the stuff is totally vile so i know i won't turn to it unless i'm completely desperate. if i didn't have an aversion to the stuff, i wouldn't even have it in the house. too tempting when you're sore and exhausted.. sometimes the fact that you HAVE to breastfeed gets you through the next 6 hours, and if things take a positive turn, you change your mind and say you know what, let's not get that formula after all.

lactation consultant: not sure. maybe save the money just in case, if you can. the LCs i talked to were of little help when i had difficulty, but i'm glad i tried.

hospital grade pump rental: yeah that was a godsend when i ran into trouble. i had serious edema and latch issues for the first month, and if not for the hospital grade pump, i would have had difficulty building supply as baby simply could NOT compress the lactiferous sinuses properly to remove the milk. i had to do direct feeding, pumping like crazy, and supplementing for the first 3 weeks. after that i bade farewell to the supplements but kept the pump until i was sure DD1 could handle the feeds on her own. then i used an ameda manual pump - didn't work as well as a hospital grade but i didn't need it to at that point.

[tibeca]

Just a recommendation, there are LOTS of different kinds of lactation consultants. Locally, there are even several that will come to your home. Look into it.You may be able to contact them in advance and negotiate a lower rate, something you'll want to do in advance rather than when you are desperate for help.

Also, if available, contact your local La Leche League. There are often resources through them that are not available any place else or they may know exactly who to contact.

[carrierwright]

I'd say plan on an LC visit as well. just in case. The best bet might be to call and talk to a few in your area before-hand (most will do a free pregnancy get to know you talk) and find one that seems knowledgable and willing to work w/you w/your medical history (possible IGT) in mind. That way you don't have to call a stranger, she has a general base if you need her, and you can feel confident in her! Also as you consider rentals for a hospital grade, you may check w/your local WIC Program for their income limits. They have much higher limits than Medicaid and some people qualify when you wouldn't assume you do! They offer FREE hospital grade rentals (some even offer SNS) to their bfing moms, so it's worth the phone call IMO!

[myk]

wow, free pump rentals? that's pretty cool! we don't have anything like that here but that's definitely worth a look!

[ShwarmaQueen]

I empathize your anticipation of problems, as I ponder future kids I can't picture a 'normal' breastfeeding baby either! A special needs baby will do that to you.

That said, I agree w/ PPs- there are so many different types/opinions of LCs- they are money well spent. I was stubborn because I thought I knew everything, having already successfully nursed one baby and boy, do I regret that now! I waited 5 wks (of AGONY) before I broke down and sought professional help. Internet advice is great, but in some cases it takes a trained eye to spot problems and offer do-able solutions. I would spend $100++ on an LC anyday before I would on formula! 

I would also rent a hospital grade pump over buying an expensive electric pump. In my experience, they don't keep up my supply, and certainly wouldn't stimulate it enough to boost it in the case my baby couldn't. For some women, they may work, but for most, the hospital grade are supreme at imitating baby's suction.

GL! Hopefully you'll have one of those **dream** nursers and you won't need ANY of these interventions! 

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by myk 

wow, free pump rentals? that's pretty cool! we don't have anything like that here but that's definitely worth a look!

Does Public Health have any breastfeeding support in Manitoba?  They do in some areas of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, but I have never talked to anyone who had experience with Manitoba.

[myk]

in some parts of manitoba, yes. :) they have lactation consultants in winnipeg, for sure, i saw one when i first had DD1. there are no lactation consultants or even LLL within my Regional Health Authority. i believe Health Sciences Centre may have a breastfeeding clinic.

i was thinking of becoming a LLL leader myself actually. somebody needs to address the need.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by myk 

i was thinking of becoming a LLL leader myself actually. somebody needs to address the need.

  That's such a great idea!

[happysmileylady]

"just in case" formula-do NOT spend money on this.  First, as other posters have mentioned, having it in the house can make turning to it easier.  However, if you still feel you need it in the house, it's incredibly easy to get free samples, to "get you through the night," which is what I assume you mean by having it just in case and not wanting your DH to have to go out to get some.  You can sign up with the formula companies, simply signing up with give you free samples.  Or check free cycle and craigslist.  People often get free samples that they give away or they buy a bunch of one formula only to discover their child is allergic to that kind or whatever.  When getting formula from CL or FC, ALWAYS check it before you take it, NEVER take opened formula.  Really, the folks giving away their formula samples are just normal folks, but sealed cans are always safest. 

pumps: with dd2, I first bought a manual pump, I found it really difficult to get anything out.  I then bought a Medela PISA.  LOVE that pump.  I did have occasion to use a hospital grade pump when I spent a night in the ER.  I honestly didn't find it any different than the PISA.  BUT, every mamma is different and responds to different pumps differently.  It may be worth it to try out the hospital grade, maybe a short rental, just to see how it compares to whatever other pump you use.

LC: really check around on this.  My hospital offers a free BF support group every week.  It's staffed with 2 IBCLCs, and there is a third employed by the hospital who occasionally pops in if the maternity floor isn't busy.  I can email any one of them at any time for advice and with the support group, I can show up at any time to ask any questions, get hands on help, etc.  For free.  I think it's probably the only place around here that I would be able to get free support like that, but with the money you are talking, it might be worth a longer drive.    Even if you find something like this like an hour away, it might be worth the drive to save $140 if you really need that hands on support.  (course, I am one who has no issues driving an hour one way just to go to lunch with my mom so....)

[KatWrangler]

I agree, don't spend money on the just in case formula.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by ILoveMyBabyBird 

Things i am debating on spending money on:

lactation consultation visits, 140$ for first visit, and then something like 50$ thereafter, with ds, i couldn't even get LC's to take me seriously over the phone, so I am reluctant to shell out money for them to tell me what i already know. I think that that money could be better spent getting take out so i don't have to worry about feeding my family or getting someone to come do my laundry the first week or two! I won't have much of any help from family or friends...

Hospital grade pump rental: I haven't decided on this. I really want to try keeping the baby to the breast as much as possible and really just want the commercial pump for extra pumping following feedings or if she sleeps longer than i like. I did rent one with ds, but at that time he was already 12 weeks and i didn't feel it pumped more than the avent isis manual i had.

what do you all think? I am not a lactation consultant by any means, but i am an experienced breastfeeding mom, i know what signs to look for if the baby isn't swallowing, getting enough milk, and what to look for as far as lip tie etc. I am just feeling that the best thing for me and the soon to be baby is to get off to a good start, not be out at appointments and such and just staying home breastfeeding all the time.

Advice welcome

 We are also on a budget and the idea of spending a bunch of money quite frankly sucks. Some things we are doing.. We did end up getting some formula samples in the mail - I'm still not quite sure where I signed up at... I also discovered "Eats on Feets" and we are picking up donor milk this weekend.

I will be taking goats rue, shatavari, a tincture, and possibly marshmallow root. We've decided that renting a hospital grade pump for the first two months at least will be worth it for us (I'm looking at renting from lactationconnection.com), and we are going to purchase a baby scale to do initial weigh-ins. We waited too long before and I don't want it to be dire before we start supplementing, nor do I want to have to travel to the doctor every other day for weigh-ins like we did last time. I have to get a new SNS (lost the old one) - most likely just the starter one because we will switch to supplementing in bottles after the first month if it's still needed because I'll be going back to work.

DH and I have already discussed it and we're going to give it 4 weeks and see what kind of supply I develop and then we will analyze our needs and my mental state and go from there.

ETA: If you can find a good LC it might be worth it.. honestly at this point in time I know more about IGT than any of the LC or IBCLC that are within a reasonable distance of me. I personally won't be spending money for one unless I find we have latch issues that need to be evaluated.

Also regarding the pump, my current plan is to pump after every feeding (because nursing comes first of course) for 10-15 minutes to encourage my supply. I imagine it will be exhausting, but I feel like we didn't start soon enough last time and those first few weeks are critical to milk production.