Money spent on these products can drill a hole in a family’s tight budget. As a working mom myself, i focused on finding cheaper alternatives . I have searched high and low to find the most sulit breastfeeding supplies around.
[caption id="attachment_187" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
My pumping at work essentialsAlways check your gear before heading out![/caption]
Here’s a list of my breastfeeding essentials and practical alternatives:
Double Electric Breast Pump
My most expensive "for baby" purchase so far is my Medela Pump-in-Style Advanced breast pump. I bought it for P13,000 from an ebay seller. Yes, it was splurge, but I didn’t regret buying it considering how reliable the pump was. I had manual pump before this and my hand almost gave out after several weeks of pumping regularly for 4 to 5 times daily! The reason i decided to invest on this pump is because i read many good reviews about it. It's also recommended by my officemates who breastfed. So far, i'm really satisfied with this pump!
Later I’ve read mommy blogs and most of them recommend the Ameda brand as a cheaper alternative. This can be purchased from Baby Mama. Babymama sells double electric pumps for as low as P4900.
You can also learn to express breast milk by hand. This requires skill and a lot of practice. Hand expressing saves the day when you accidentally forgot a piece of your pumping equipment.
You may also settle for a manual single pump. My First Years Manual Pump proved very useful in my first weeks after delivery. But I think double electric pumps are a "must have" for working moms. You might as well invest in a reliable pump when you’re working to save time and effort. You cut the pumping time in half if you use double electric.
Breast milk storage
Moms seeking to build up milk supply before going to work need to store milk efficiently. She needs to decide which type of storage to use depending on her need. Say, if you have limited storage space in the refrigerator or freezer, you may opt to use breast milk storage bags. You may want to use bottles to which you can pump directly then store right away, no need to transfer from container to container. Make sure you're using BPA Free plastic for storage.
These are the most affordable containers i found:
Evenflo Simplymilk 50z (P400 per 4 pcs) - If you have Medela electric breast pump, you can pump directly to these bottles. Medela bottles are much more expensive than Evenflo, each set of 3 50z Medela bottles costs P870 at Medela House.
Playtex bottle liners 8 oz (P425 for 125 pcs) Most blogs I read discouraged using bottle liners because they may be too messy since they don’t seal on their own. My solution is not to fill to its full capacity to avoid spillage. For example, you may put only 4 oz of breast milk in a 8oz bottle lines to make sure you can twist and securely seal the plastic. Playtex bottle liners come with sealing clips to close the bag, but you can also use rubber bands to seal the storage bags.
Spectra milk bag (200 pesos per 30 pcs) from Baby Mama These are the cheapest self-sealing milk bag i found online. Lansinoh bags cost P350 for 25 pcs. The capacity of Spectra bags is 70z, for Lansinoh bags 12 oz. Spectra bags have single lock, Lansinoh bags have double sealing system. Both are self-standing. Since these bags are for single use only, please recycle these plastics. I used mine as container of laundry detergent for use when we go to the province on weekends.
Baby food glass jars with lids (Earth’s Best & Gerber) Glass containers are a good storage alternative. Just make sure to sterilize these jars, including the caps. These glass jars have a 1.5 oz and 2.5 oz capacity, good if you intend to store milk in small increments. Using these jars for breast milk storage is a good way to recycle.
Nursing Cover
Nursing covers gave me the confidence to breastfeed outside the house. The cheapest i know is at Php 300 from Nxt9. But a flowing blouse with hem that can be easily lifted might be a good alternative. Any ordinary shawl might also work, just tie the sides around you neck while pumping or breastfeeding and it will provide the cover you need.
Breastfeeding wear
Blouses and shirts specifically designed for discreet breastfeeding are a bit pricey, some up to more than P1,000 per pc. I have not purchased any of these. I just bought ordinary blouses the with buttons that fully open at the front and with wide v-neck designs.
Breastfeeding supplements
My OB recommened supplements to ensure that i get adequate vitamins and minerals while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding moms are at risk of mineral deficiency as most of her minerals will be channeled to breast milk. Supplements will also boost moms' milk supply.
My OB prescribed Natalac malunggay capsules twice a day. Each 250 mg costs around P8.50 per cap. I found a cheaper version of malunggay capsule at 500 mg per cap at P2.50 from agricultural shops in Quezon Memorial Circle. She also recommended to take Caltrate Plus to ensure adequate calcium supply. From Mercury Drugstore i bought Rhea Calcium Lactate 625mg tablets at P 100 per 100 pieces. The label says the tablets are for lactating moms.
Hands free pump support
I wanted a pump support to hold the horns of my double electric pump to free my hands while expressing milk. But I was surprised to find that it costs about Php 1500 in malls! I’ve decided I won’t shell out P1500 for a pump support so I improvised.
I cut holes on one of my old bras. I just made sure that the diameter of the hole is smaller than the diameter of my breast shield so it won’t slip. I put it on as a normal bra and slip on the breast shield before pumping. So far, this improvised hands free works.
Kellymom provided a step-by-step guide how to make an ordinary nursing bra a hands free support.
Nursing Bra
A good nursing bra provides easy access and support. The cheapest nursing bra I found were from SOEN, worth P250 to P300. Invest in just 2 – 3 pieces. Breast size is largest 1 - 2 months before delivery. Breasts may still be engorged from initial milk production until one month post partum. You could go back to using your regular bras 4 to 6 months after delivery because you breast size will normalize.
Pregnancy and breast feeding resources
Whenever I had breastfeeding questions I turned to books and the internet for answers. I bought second-hand baby books from Booksale . The internet is a universe of free information. Just make sure the source you're using is correct and reliable. These websites are my trusted information provider: Kellymom, Work and Pump and Chronicles of a Nursing Mom
I also downloaded free Android smartphone applications like Baby tracker from Babycenter and Pregnancy tracker from What to Expect. These applications give day-to-day tips of pregnancy and baby care, also breastfeeding tips.
Moms, armed with the necessary tools, you can be confident in taking your breastfeeding journey. Don't be intimated by the the long list of breastfeeding essentials. The supplies are just nice-to-have but your determination will be a good motivation to explore cheaper breastfeeding options. In the end, YOUR BREAST IS ALL YOU NEED FEED BABY!
Note: I’m not paid by the sellers I mentioned in this post.
Also worth reading:
***
No comments:
Post a Comment