My daughter is on a MBU recovering from postnatal psychosis. She is determoned to try and maintain her milk flow until her drug schedule allows her to breastfeed again. She is getting very tired and has a short concentration span when expressing with the mains electric pump and she is considering buying a Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump - Wearable, Portable and Discreet Double Electric Breast Pump with App connectivity.
Is there anyone on this forum who has used a hands-free breastpump and can give some information about whether such a device is worth the investment?
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
Ruth
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GirlatHart
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hi there, I’m a mum that had Ppp in 2018. I was expressing for twins prior to developing ppp. I was lucky prior (or not as perhaps it contributed to the ppp due to lack of sleep) to use the hospital grade pump which is amazing. They are REALLY expensive, even to hire. But they can be hired so that might be worth looking into. I wonder if the MBU might be able to arrange for one to be loaned from the hospital neonatal unit / special care your daughters baby was born in? medela-rental.co.uk/shop/sy... To use it hands free you can either buy a pumping bra with holes cut out at nipple or just cut two holes in an old bra that will hold the cap in and mean your hands are free! Game changer! I can absolutely understand wanted to keep breast milk up but also wanted to add there is absolutely no shame in using formula and if that’s best for healthy better rested mum, baby will be ace. There can be a lot of pressure so sometimes mums need permission to do what’s best for them. That said if everyone thinks it the positives for mum outweigh the impact then I hope you can get a good one organised. Sending lots of love and hope the link works xx
Hi GirlatHart, I have not used a wearable breastpump so I am sorry I can't give advice on whether they are worth it. I pumped with my second born as we were doing combination feeding to help me sleep through the night, I used a double breastpump with a usb charger and a pumping bra and I found it a game changer in terms of allowing me to do other things at the same time. It really is no fun to have to sit next to a plug for 30 minutes, so I think your daughter will feel a great deal of freedom if she can walk around.
I think at the moment, it could also be helpful to focus on the wins, celebrate those and build things up slowly from there. If your daughter is able to pump once a day that's already huge. Reminding her that this is only temporary and that there are successful stories of re-establishing breastfeeding will bring her hope, but having a big goal is overwhelming, specially when we feel frail in ourselves. It is important not to loose sight that what matters the most for mum and baby is a healthy mum, and that goals may change and that is also OK.
I cannot emphasize how much rest I needed when recovering from pp, my brain had been in overdrive for so long that I could not keep my concentration for more than a few minutes. Conversation or any task that required steps were beyond me; I felt like re-learning the basics.
You are a very supportive mother and your daughter is lucky to have you near every step of the way, do also look after yourself as it can be very taxing.
I never used the wearable device, I had the medela pump and found it to be very good quality and it worked well when I was able to pump.
Whether it is worth the investment really depends on personal circumstances. I think if it will make pumping easier for your daughter to maintain then I’m sure she would be extremely grateful if it will help with her wish to breastfeed. It would be good to agree with the care team e.g midwife to discuss suitability of use - could too much use lead to overproduction issues?
It might also still be useful once she is able to breastfeed in case she wishes to bottle feed so that she is able to rest overnight once at home if partner feeds.
However I appreciate they are an expensive piece of kit - perhaps others are able to contribute donations towards it instead of baby gifts?
I used an Elvie when I was in an MBU before they put me on lithium. They fit really neatly into your bra and even when I was high, I think I was able to manage to use them. They’re expensive, but good. But also agree with others’ comments on medical grade pumps - I was able to express on around 10 minutes using those. You can also rent a Medela one which are the best of the best. Good luck with it!
I am so sorry to read your daughter is unwell! I hope she is getting the help she needs at the MBU and that she is on her way to a perhaps slow but steady recovery. You are a great mum for using this forum and trying to support her in the breastfeeding journey and recovery overall.
I am pregnant at the moment, preparing for no. 2 after having had PP with no. 1. So I am carefully exploring ALL options, from things around psychiatry to the “normal things” like breastpumps, formula milk etc.
I have many friends that are recent new moms and all of them are very happy and impressed with two options: Elvie and Tommee Tippee, both hands free and can be worn in the bra so quite discrete. They are indeed expensive but really good and convenient.
If you do decide to proceed with one of those, you can consider looking for second hand ones on websites like Facebook marketplace and Gumtree. So many women sell unused ones that they couldn’t return in time or for even less money you can buy (hardly) used ones and just ensure a good sterilizing job is done. I know some women don’t like this but if it would really be an issue in terms of hygiene then hospital wouldn’t offer rentals either right?
BUT, and here is were I fully agree with other people who’ve responded, at the moment rest is best for your daughter. Adding stress due to pumping or the pressure to ensure milk supply is perhaps too much for her.
My mom also had to talk me out of breastfeeding which wasn’t easy and I continued a little anyway (because I was on a med that allowed me to combine) but it was the best thing for me and thus my son to just take off the pressure. Society puts too much pressure on women to breastfeed anyway in my opinion, and I really disagree with the “breast is best credo” put out there but obviously women internalize this message and they do naturally want the best thing for their babies. In some cases it is simply not best though. There is no shame in using formula milk and there are many perfectly healthy babies, kids and adults around who thrived on formula milk 😊. Perhaps you can remind her of a few people she knows herself. I hope you or someone else could have that chat with her. I am grateful my mom did!
Supporting her no matter what she desires to do is of course the most important.
Wishing you all the best and do indeed also take care of yourself! X
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